Big Ben is 7-0 in his career against the Ravens. The Ravens are 8-0 in their past eight home games in September.
One streak will end Sunday, but oddsmakers have it as even odds on which it will be.
The Steelers open the 2011 season against their hated AFC North rivals knowing that they have been consistently beating them. Pitt backers open their betting season knowing their team has also been doing the job against the spread. [ Matchup Report and Live Odds ] http://oddsshark.com/nfl/pittsburgh-baltimore-odds-september-11-2011
In the past seven meetings, the Steelers are 5-1-1 ATS. And they get a single point from the oddsmakers (2 at one shop tracked by OddsShark.com) as the line currently sits at -1 for the Ravens.
Nearly 70% of visitors to OddsShark.com http://oddsshark.com/nfl were backing the Steelers, who will face a new-look Raven team that bolstered its offense this summer. The question is whether their aging defensive core is still solid and Roethlisberger will test it quickly with the speedy Mike Wallace.
Speaking of player stats, some of the most fun new wagers being made online these days are fantasy-football-style player props. Big Ben is 18/1 odds to win the MVP award and the same odds to lead the league in passing yards. Rashard Mendenhall is also 18/1 to win the rushing title.
Most teams focus on offensive players for props, but in Pittsburgh's case, their most recognizable players are often defensive players. So you have season defensive totals (5 INTs for Troy Polamolu, 10.5 sacks for James Harrison and 10 sacks for Lamar Woodley) along with suspension over-unders for the mouthy Harrison (over-under is 1).
Check out the list of current Steeler prop odds and check out the stats and matchup trends on every game before you make your office pool picks this weekend. [ See Week 1 picks article from Odds Shark at Yardbarker.com ] http://oddsshark.yardbarker.com/blog/oddsshark/week_1_nfl_trends_point_to_winning_pool_picks/6633820
Ben Roethlisberger – Total Passing Yards in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 3,800 -115
Under 3,800 -115
Ben Roethlisberger – Total Passing Touchdowns in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 24½
(-120)o
(-110)u
Ben Roethlisberger – Total Interceptions thrown in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 10½
(-115)o
(-115)u
Rashard Mendenhall – Total Rushing Yards in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 1,100
(-115)o
(-115)u
Rashard Mendenhall – Total Rushing Touchdowns in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 9½
(-115)o
(-115)u
Mike Wallace – Total Receiving Yards in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 1,050
(-130)o
(EVEN)u
Mike Wallace – Total Receiving Touchdowns in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 8½
(-115)o
(-115)u
Hines Ward – Total Receiving Yards in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 700
(-115)o
(-115)u
Hines Ward – Total Receiving Touchdowns in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 5
(-115)o
(-115)u
Jerricho Cotchery – Total Receiving Yards in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 400
(-115)o
(-115)u
James Harrison – Total Sacks in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 10½
(-115)o
(-115)u
James Harrison – Total times fined by the NFL in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 1
(-150)o
(+120)u
LaMarr Woodley – Total Sacks in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 10
(-115)o
(-115)u
Troy Polamalu – Total Interceptions in the 2011 Regular Season
Over 5
(-115)o
(-115)u