A hard-hitting division rivalry takes center stage Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, when the 5-5 Ravens and 6-4 Pittsburgh Steelers hook up for what is almost a must-win bout for both teams (8:20 pm Eastern, NBC).
The big question about Sunday's game is Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger's health, after Big Ben took a knee to the head in Kansas City last week and suffered his fourth concussion as a pro. Roethlisberger apparently passed some neurological tests earlier this week, and is expected to start Sunday night.
If, however, Big Ben doesn't go, the Steelers would be down to their third-string QB, second-year man Dennis Dixon out of Oregon, because backup Charlie Batch broke a bone in his wrist last week, and will be out of action for up to a month.
Because of the uncertainty at quarterback for the Steelers, we have held off on posting numbers for Sunday night's game at BetJamaica.com as of Friday morning.
Pittsburgh started 1-2 this season, then won five games in a row, and seemed poised to make a run at a second straight AFC championship. But the Steelers have since lost two straight, after falling in overtime at Kansas City last Sunday 27-24.
Baltimore started 3-0 this season, then lost three straight, and has gone 2-2 since, after losing 17-15 at home to Indianapolis last Sunday. It was the second straight game the Ravens failed to score an offensive touchdown.
So Pittsburgh and Baltimore both trail the 7-3 Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North race.
On the season, the Steelers are outgaining opponents by 102 YPG, third-best in the league, and outrushing foes by 42 YPG, which ranks sixth-best.
The Ravens, meanwhile, are outgaining opponents this season by 39 YPG, which ranks 10th, and outrushing them by 24 YPG, which ranks 14th.
Last year the Steelers swept the regular-season series from the Ravens, winning 23-20 in overtime at home and 13-9 in Baltimore. The Ravens covered the pointspread in the first game as six-point road underdogs, but Pittsburgh covered the second game, winning outright as three-point dogs. And while the first game went OVER its total of 34, the second game stayed UNDER its total of 33.
Then in the AFC championship game the Steelers out-uglied the Ravens 23-14 at Heinz Field, covering the spread as six-point chalk on a late Troy Polamalu interception return for a score. That touchdown also sent that game OVER its posted total of 35.
In those three games these teams played last year, Pittsburgh outgained Baltimore by a 285-220 YPG margin, but the Ravens outrushed the Steelers, on average, 96-71.
The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers are just 3-7 vs. the BetJamaica.com pointspreads so far this season. Meanwhile, Baltimore is 6-4 vs. our numbers.
Pittsburgh has gone 5-5 on the BetJamaica.com totals so far this year, as Steelers games have averaged 41.5 points, while Baltimore is 4-6 on the BetJam totals, as Ravens games have averaged just about 41 points.
Bettors should check the NFL futures market at BetJamaica.com for updated odds on who will win the conference championships and Super Bowl 44.
Just before this season started, we were listing Pittsburgh at +325 to win the AFC title again, while Baltimore was getting +900. As of Friday morning BetJam is listing the Steelers at +1,200 to win the conference championship, the Ravens at +2,800.
And just before this season began, we were offering Pittsburgh at +700 to win the Super Bowl, Baltimore at +2,000. As of Friday morning, BetJamaica.com is listing the Steelers at +2,500 to win the Big One, the Ravens at +6,000.
Also, we sent Pittsburgh off this season with a wins OVER/UNDER of 10.5, Baltimore at nine. So both teams need to go 5-1 the rest of the way to go OVER their numbers.
Make sure to check BetJamaica.com this weekend for updated odds on the Sunday nighter as kickoff approaches, and Roethlisberger’s status is confirmed.