Steelers vs. Ravens odds: Pittsburgh’s advantage grows

The Steelers thought they lost their competitive edge, but here’s why their odds are even better with the game now on Tuesday night.

There’s nothing most Steelers fans wanted to do more than load up on food and plant themselves in front of the couch in preparation for a Pittsburgh Thanksgiving night showdown against Baltimore. After losing a hard-fought overtime game aginst the Tennesee Titans, the Ravens would be asked to travel to Pittsburgh just three days later on a short week and take on the NFL’s only undefeated team.

However, both players and fans were furious to learn that the game had been postponed – initially until Sunday afternoon. Now, this anticipated contest won’t be played until Tuesday night at 8:00 PM Eastern Time on NBC, barring any more setbacks. While the anticipation is still there for one of the Steelers biggest games of the year, many thought they would lose their competitive advantage with the game being moved.

It turns out that’s probably not the case. The Ravens will now be without at least 14 players who have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list – including quarterback Lamar Jackson, running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram, and defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams. All of these could prove to be huge losses on Tuesday night.

The Steelers odds grow with changes

Back when the Steelers were still scheduled to play on Thanksgiving night, Pittsburgh opened the week as 4.5 point favorites, Now, that line has already expanded to 7.5 points, courtesy of The Action Network. It’s not very hard to see why.

While the Ravens have had more time to study for this game (albeit remotely), the team has been forced to self-quarantine and have missed out on valuable practice days. In fact, when they are able to come back together again, they will only be able to complete a walkthrough together as a team before facing the Steelers at Heinz Field.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is about as healthy as they come. Though several players were recently placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, including defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt and now James Conner, they continue to be one of the healthiest teams in the league and could become even greater favorites in this contest before kickoff.

Robert Griffin III has started just one game since he was a member of the Cleveland Browns back in 2016. Ironically enough, that start came against the Steelers last year at the end of the season. However, despite a Ravens win, Griffen really struggled against Pittsburgh’s defense. Now with an offense that is significantly improved from last year, it will be an incredibly daunting task for RGIII and the Ravens to keep pace with Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

Anything can happen when you face a good organization and your toughest division rival. However, there’s no doubt that the Steelers still hold the competitive edge in this contest. Keep an eye on the odds as we approach kickoff – assuming the game is still on for Tuesday night.