NFL Betting: Steelers and Ravens Head to Wildcard Battle

If we have learned anything from Wild Card weekend in the NFL over the years, it is that it can very much live up to that “Wild” tag. Teams that are seeded 5 and 6 can come in hot and get on a roll that takes them all the way to the Super Bowl. This is the weekend that really does separate the men from the boys and let us know who we should really start to take seriously. So let’s get in the NFL betting action and analyze the odds and lines for this matchup. The Pittsburgh Steelers did not look as though they would be anywhere near a playoff spot early in the season, but this is a team that has ridden Big Ben and his career year to an AFC North Division title. Anyone that has to face Pittsburgh in the postseason is sure to be shuddering at the prospect of facing that offense, but the black and gold attack took a severe hit in the final game of the season when Le’Veon Bell was taken off with a knee injury. Bell is a major cog in that offense, and while the good news is that the injury is not as serious as first thought, it is still likely to keep him out of this game. The Steelers snapped up free agent RB Ben Tate who was just cut by the Minnesota Vikings.

A quick look back at the last time the Ravens traveled to @heinzfield. PHOTOS: http://t.co/S52we89rkR pic.twitter.com/MaWH0HgKWA — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 31, 2014

The Baltimore raven somewhat limped into the playoffs, struggling to beat a bad Cleveland Browns team, and then only getting because the Chargers couldn’t get the job done in KC. It has been something of a typical performance for the Ravens this season. They have been pretty solid defensively, but they get sporadic efforts from QB Joe Flacco. He can go from looking like a world beater to a third-stringer in the space of a single quarter. If it comes down to a battle of QB arms here, the Ravens could be in trouble. BETTING ODDS Home field advantage is a huge plus for the Steelers, who have been made 3-point favorites for this game. The Steelers were 9-7 ATS on the season, but saved their best for the big games, going 5-0 ATS versus teams with a winning record. The Ravens were 8-8 ATS on the season, and just 2-4 ATS versus division opponents. These two spilt the series this season, but Pittsburgh blew out the Ravens in the game played at Heinz Field. Game Odds: RAVENS: +3-105, OV 46 ½ -110, ML +140 STEELERS: -3-115, UN 46 ½ -110, ML -160 Even without Le’Veon Bell in the line-up, the Raven still have to figure out a way to shut down Roethlisberger and his talented WR group, led by Antonio Brown. I don’t believe they can, and I like Pittsburgh to win and cover.