MNF Wagering Preview - Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

If the NFL betting board, they’ll have to do it without their starting running back and with their quarterback banged up.

With Willie Parker on the sidelines and Ben Roethlisberger expected to play with an injured right hand, the Steelers host the Ravens as tenuous 5-point favorites at Heinz Field in this week’s Monday nighter.

Parker will sit out the game after suffering a knee injury in Pittsburgh’s 15-6 loss last week at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. The speedy Parker was held to only 20 yards rushing on 13 carries, as the Steelers failed to cover as 3.5-point road underdogs. Big Ben left the contest in the fourth quarter with an injury to his throwing hand after being sacked eight times by an Eagles defensive front that made the Steelers offensive line look like Swiss cheese.

Rookie Rashard Mendenhall will make his first career start at running back for Pittsburgh, which split two games with Baltimore last season. The Steelers dropped the Ravens 38-7 as 9.5-point home faves before Baltimore returned the favor with a 27-21 triumph as 3-point home pups last December 30. Both games played over the listed total set by oddsmakers, fitting into a larger trend between the AFC North Division rivals.

The over is 7-1 in the Ravens’ last eight games against AFC opponents, while the over is a bankable 41-15-2 in the Steelers’ last 51 home games. Head to head, the teams have gone 10-4 O/U over their last 14 meetings, while Pittsburgh is 10-4 against the number in its last 14 games at Heinz Field.

Baltimore is coming off a 28-10 handling of the Cleveland Browns last week, as the Ravens ran for 151 yards on the ground in the home payday. RB Le’Ron McClain went for 66 rushing yards on 17 attempts with two touchdowns for Baltimore, which used a balanced ground game to stifle Cleveland as 1-point favorites. First-year QB Joe Flacco was solid if unspectacular for the Ravens, going 13-for-19 for 129 yards with two interceptions in the win.

The problem for Steelers backers is Parker and Roethlisberger aren’t the only players injured or playing hurt. Cornerback DeShea Townsend is day-to-day with a heel injury, while nose tackle Casey Hampton is slated to miss the game with a strained groin. Hampton’s absence is of particular importance for online bettors, because the big run-stuffer could be useful against the Ravens considering how much they rely on the running game. This is especially the case with Flacco under center, as Baltimore does everything to slow down the game to avoid putting too much pressure on the young QB. With Hampton on the shelf, the Ravens should have an easier time running the ball and executing their offensive game plan.

Baltimore sports the best defense in the league, although the numbers should be taken with a grain of salt after only two games. Still, the Ravens have been characteristically impressive on the defensive side of the ball, allowing an NFL-best 161.5 yards per game against in their two paydays.