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Steelers vs. Ravens Early Picks, Predictions & Odds for Wild Card Weekend

Sean Tomlinson

Last Updated: January 6, 2025 1:12 PM EST • 4 min read.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns as we look at our Steelers vs. Ravens early picks.
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns. Photo by Mitch Stringer/Imagn Images

The next chapter in a bitter rivalry that's often resulted in defensive slugfests takes place on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET (Prime Video) when the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers during their wild-card round matchup at M&T Bank Stadium.

The two teams split their season series, though the most recent affair was in Baltimore and it resulted in a 34-17 drubbing as the Ravens triumphed.

Now we look ahead to the NFL Wild Card Weekend odds while making our Steelers vs. Ravens early picks and odds, and frosty forecasted conditions could be a significant factor.

My early Steelers vs. Ravens prediction: Ravens -9.5

NFL picks made Monday; odds subject to change. Our NEW NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Prediction: Ravens -9.5

Best odds: | Implied probability: 52.38%

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As a dedicated fictional on a surely well-renowned piece of cinema once said, the weather is "just wind, it blows all over the place!"

So yes, it's tough to lean heavily on a weather forecast five days out. But if the current projections for Baltimore on Saturday are even somewhat true, we're in for a snow globe that only Yukon Cornelius could love.

Up to 10 inches of snow could fall on Saturday in Baltimore. That includes two-to-four inches in the evening, and 25-mph wind gusts are also forecasted for during the game.

It's often said that weather is the great equalizer, but I'm unsure that's the case in this matchup.

Even the most skilled passers and passing offenses are limited in those conditions. But that's not how Baltimore thrives anyway, and making the Ravens lean even more into their punishing ground game is a recipe for a thumping.

The Ravens boast the league's best rushing offense at 187.6 yards per game, and the gap isn't close. The Philadelphia Eagles lurk in the rearview at 179.3, but then there's a steep drop to the Washington Commanders at 154.1.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson smile as we offer our Steelers vs. Ravens early picks.
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson smile after the game against the Houston Texans. Photo by Troy Taormina/Imagn Images.

Lamar Jackson is fresh off a season with 915 rushing yards, and at the age of 27, he's already topped Michael Vick to become the league's all-time leading rusher at the quarterback position. Even better for Baltimore, Derrick Henry was in the NFL Offensive Player of the Year odds conversation for a chunk of a season when he finished not far off 2,000 rushing yards while averaging 113 per game.

Pittsburgh's defense can be tough against the run, ranking sixth in that area. However, Jackson and Baltimore's running backs combined for 216 rushing yards during the most recent clash between the two rivals, including 162 from Henry.

Don't miss our guide for how to bet on NFL or this week's best sportsbook promos.

Steelers vs. Ravens live odds

See the NFL odds from our best NFL betting sites for every Wild Card Weekend game.

Moneyline

  • Ravens best odds: -500 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 83.33%
  • Steelers best odds: +425 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 19.05%

The Ravens are unsurprisingly the most significant favorite of Wild Card Weekend on the moneyline at our best NFL parlay betting sites, though there are wide gaps in the early pricing.

offers easily the best odds at -500, with Caesars and bet365 at -550. Then there's a canyon between the DraftKings offering and the -588 at , which leads to an implied probability of 85.47%.

There's a similar chasm for those wanting to back the underdog Steelers. DraftKings is at +380, far shorter than BetMGM at +425.

Spread

  • Ravens best odds: -9.5 (-110) via Caesars
  • Steelers best odds:

Our best NFL prop betting sites are universally giving this game the largest spread for Wild Card Weekend too. The Bills-Broncos matchup is predictably slanted at -8.5 or -9 for Buffalo, but the next closest is the Eagles at -4.5 or -5 against the Green Bay Packers. The other three games are all at a field goal or lower.

The early action on the spread so far is nearly split, with the Steelers getting slightly more. It might be wise for Ravens backers to wait until a little later in the week to see if the weather forecast - and the threat of limited scoring in general - takes the spread down a little.

Over/Under

  • Over best odds: 45.5
  • Under best odds: 45.5 (-110) via Caesars

The Ravens averaged 30.5 points per game on their own during the regular season, and they're not far removed from putting up 34 on the Steelers. So this moderate total indicates the possibility of poor weather is already baked into the number to some degree. But expect it to fall further if the forecast holds throughout the week.

It's at 45.5 across the board at our best sportsbooks now, though Under backers can get a marginally better price through the -105 at FanDuel.

Steelers vs. Ravens injuries to watch

How to watch Steelers vs. Ravens

  • When: Saturday, Jan. 12
  • Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
  • How to watch: Prime Video
  • Weather: 23 degrees, 100% chance of precipitation, wind 17 mph NW
  • Favorite: Ravens -9.5 (-110 via Caesars)

NFL betting odds pages

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Written By:
Sean Tomlinson
Sean Tomlinson has been in the sports media wilderness since 2009, and he joined Sportsbook Review in 2021. His work has been referenced in The New York Times and Forbes. He's also made appearances on The Fan 590 and TSN 1050. Sean is a regular bettor who places bets daily while using a handful of books. Most frequently, he uses FanDuel and bet365 due to the quality experience on those apps. While he'll often take an analytical approach, Sean enjoys the fun, recreational side of betting too, and embraces alternative markets on events like the Westminster Dog Show or Eurovision, or the many novelty props tied annually to the Super Bowl, for example. Beyond sports, Sean is also interested in the betting markets tied to politics, and especially those connected to American elections. He sees betting as a way to explore and engage in a deeper way, and takes that same view to his work. He plays poker periodically too, and is an avid fantasy sports player. Sean also previously spent time with Bleacher Report and theScore, all after earning his media studies degree from the University of Guelph-Humber.