Please DO NOT bet the Steelers this weekend!!

I'm shocked to see this as a consensus pick for 75 percent of you folks. This is a overwhelming play on the Ravens, if any. There isn't much value in this game on either team. I hate to do this, but I have to expose my Steelers this week for several reasons.

1. Injuries/Players Resting - Big Ben will be out most of this game, if not all of it. (Ankle) No point in risking the only chance the Steelers may have in the playoffs. Charlie Batch has been practicing with the first team all week.  Safety Troy Polamalu has also been sore and will most likely get plenty of rest this weekend. Najeh Davenport will not get all of the workload against the Ravens - the Steelers could not afford losing their starting RB leaving them with a rookie and a recently re-signed Veron Haynes for the playoff run. 

2. Who will win and how - with a Batch/Smith match up at QB, this is going to be a snoozer. Don't expect the Steelers to run Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes on any crossing patterns this week. Troy Smith will get a chance to throw down field this week with nothing to lose against the hated Steelers. A weak Steelers backfield will be even weaker without T Marvel Smith. Add the fact that the Steelers will rely on rookie Carey Davis and Veron Haynes to go through the motions - Steelers won't be lighting up the scoreboard on Sunday.  The Ravens loss of Willis would normally matter, but not this week. Musa Smith will get a chance to shine as a starter Sunday, for whatever that is worth.  He will be up against a Steelers run defense that isn't even close to it's usual form with the loss of DE Aaron Smith a few weeks ago. The fact that All-Pro Casey Hampton might take a nap after halftime leaves the Steelers defense against the run below average at best.

3. Logical  look  - This might just be the most heated "rivalry" currently in NFL. The Ravens have only this game left  and would like nothing more than to paste the Steelers. Look for the fire they had before they collapsed after having the Pats dead to rights.They have beaten the Steelers 4 straight times at home against the Steelers. With a San Diego win against Oakland Sunday, the Steelers will get the number 4 seed regardless. This game is nothing but a hassle to the Steelers. Main objective - get in and get out in one piece.  If they would get behind by a score or two, this one is over. Not playing to win, nor should they. They could always get some turnovers and pull a victory out here, but very unlikely at best.

If you must play this game, take the Ravens moneyline. Hope I swayed a few of you folks. As always, good luck!!

As always???   This is your first post here.

Thanks.

I'm  just in no way understanding  why this is a  top  pick of the people. I think it's a garbage game best avoided, but it's the pick of the week in the NFL. I would just like someone to explain what the thinking is. Even the slight chance that they could get the 3 seed instead of 4 doesn't matter at all due to the fact it will still be a wild card home game. Under would be good, just too low a total.  Any random points off turnovers or big special teams plays could blow that in an instant.  Line dropped from 3.5 to 3 now, maybe I'm on to something - lol.  The Steelers have also been one of the worst road teams in the NFL this year. Although 3-4 on the road, they've lost to Arizona, NY Jets, and Denver.  They struggled early against the Rams last week on the road. With the other two wins being at Cleveland (week one with Charlie Frye starting and traded by halftime that game) and against the Bengals earlier this year.

Plain and simple Ravens stink and have no heart or gut they lose big....................Pitt 24 Ravens 7

Sorry to say, but Charlie will have less than 10 attempts by halftime.  The third seed isn't even worth talking about because it means almost nothing. It really doesn't matter who you play in the playoffs this year because your going to have to go to Foxboro at some point anyways.  San Diego wraps that 3 seed up with a win after whooping up on Oakland. They will still play next week at Heinz Field. They are 0-4 in Baltimore past 4 years.  One of the only true "rivalry" games left in the NFL.  The Steelers are a dreadful pick here and I'm sorry 3 out of 4 will lose money.  There just aren't any good reasons at all. Zero. Zip. Save your money.  It's called gambling for a reason.  Good luck anyways.  I tried.

 welcome walktheline...........To me looks like Ravens have all ready quit on this season.   They're just playing out the string.   Injuries on both sides cancel each other out.   Even though Troy Smith has looked good in spot duty, this is the real deal, an NFL start.  While he is pumped up and ready to show the world what he can do, the rest of the team has already odered up there U-haul or Hertz vehicles to move there gear out of the Ravens complex.   I'm going with the vetran Charlie Batch and the Steelers in this game.

Just wish I could have knocked this from the consensus top spot.  I guess not.  Good luck Steelers backers, you might need it.

If you don't like the Steelers here, then stay off the sides.  Charlie Batch has been very good off the bench in previous starts and he has probably known all week that he is getting the call tomorrow.  Also, say what you will about the 3 vs 4 seed, nobody wants to play Jacksonville right now and I think the Steelers will be praying for the Chargers to fall flat so they can slide into the 3 spot and take the softer path in the first two rounds.  In my opinion, both teams have something to play for here.  The Ravens are playing for pride, but that has long since left the building.  I personally like the Steelers at -3 and will take them for a small play.

Glad to see you on the Offenseless RAVENS.  Don't you think Pitts DEFENSE will win this game.  Don't you think they win and cover just so they don't have to face the PATS in the playoffs?

Same scenario goes with SD against the happless RAIDERS.

GL

No, I don't think a defense that has only two sacks in its last four games will win the game for them. This just in - someone will play the Pats in the AFC Championship game.  The Steelers came out flat against the Jags and got rattled and will win when they meet again.  They almost came back in that game after being totally out of it with several march down the field drives through the air.  The Jags aren't the  threat people think they are and nobody is "running" from them. Roethlisberger isn't playing. Batch has not started since opening day 2006 and has 5 pass attempts all year.  Steelers starting left tackle Marvel Smith is out for the year.  This hurts an already weak offensive line that has given up 47 sacks this year. Which is amazing considering that Ben is the best at avoiding pressure in the pocket hands down.  Oh yeah, they haven't won in Baltimore in 4 years - including a Super Bowl Champion team and one that went 15-1 that year. Only loss - at Baltimore.

Everyone knows that Troy Smith is not playing this week,right?  I wouldn't touch this game if I was given money to bet on it.