Ravens vs. Steelers NFL Week 5 Prediction
Coming off back-to-back losses after opening the season with back-to-back wins, the ravens will look to rebound on Sunday when they visit AFC North rivals the Steelers at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the home side catching 3.5 points, is the value with the Steelers?
Game Snapshot
451 Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) at 452 Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5); O/U 44
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, October 6, 2019
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Public Betting Trends
According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Ravens are receiving 57% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.
Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Spin
Lamar Jackson completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in the Ravens’ 40-25, Week 4 loss to the Browns. As a runner, Jackson produced 66 yards on nine attempts. The interceptions were Jackson’s first picks in his last eight games. Jackson had under 100 yards passing at halftime and racked up 70-plus yards and his third touchdown on the final meaningless drive in garbage time. The stat line is fine, but it was a disappointing game for Jackson against a defense missing its two starting corners. Jackson’s touchdowns went to Miles Boykin, Mark Andrews, and Willie Snead. Jackson will again be a top-five fantasy passer next week against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Spin
James Conner (ankle) wasn’t listed on the Steelers’ final injury report. Conner is banged up, but will suit up Sunday against the Ravens. The Steelers debuted a full-blown two-back committee on Monday night, as Conner (64% snaps) and Jaylen Samuels (46%) were each heavily involved all game. They both finished with 10 carries and eight receptions, with most of the pass-game work coming via high-percentage tap passes. We wouldn’t count on this Mason Rudolph-led offense enabling two high-end fantasy RBs on a weekly basis, but the coaching staff clearly feels most comfortable getting Conner and Samuels involved as much as possible.
NFL Betting Trends
Baltimore
The Ravens are 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five trips to Pittsburgh and are 6-2-1 against the number in their last nine games versus the Steelers overall.
Pittsburgh
The home team is winless against the spread in the last five meetings between these two teams, but the underdog is 7-1-1 at the window in the last nine meetings.
Prediction
After feasting on the Dolphins and Cardinals’ dreadful defenses in Weeks 1 and 2, Jackson has come back down to earth the past two Sundays. Against the Chiefs and Browns, respectively, Jackson completed just 46-of-77 passes for 257.0 yards with a 3-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and just 56.0 yards per game rushing. The Browns blitzed Jackson with great success last week and while the Steelers don’t have the rush that Cleveland does, I expect Pittsburgh to copy that game plan today. Meanwhile, the Ravens’ defense has also been exposed the past two weeks. The Chiefs will have success against most opponents this year but the Browns offense was struggling mightily before hanging 40 points on Baltimore last week. I love the value in the Steelers here.
NFL Week 5 Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers +3.5