Steelers vs Ravens Prop Bets: Steelers Pick'em Apart

Prop bet #1: Pickens 'em apart

Not a bad time for Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-year man George Pickens to show out. Since that infamous lackadaisical goal-line non-block that he got slayed for against the Colts in Week 15, you can’t knock his performance in the following weeks.

Pickens is coming off a 7-catch, 131-yard receiving effort in a 30-23 win over the Seahawks, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

That’s one week after a season-best four catches for 195 yards and two scores in a 34-11 whipping of the Bengals in Week 16.

Those are his first 100-yard games since he went back-to-back in Week 6 against these same Ravens and Week 7 against the Rams.

In the first matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Pickens hauled in six balls for 130 yards and a score – his best yardage game of the season until these last two weeks.

No Ravens statistics are going to help figure out how they will defend him, because so many regulars will be out. What’s notable is that stud corner Marlon Humphrey – who Pickens lit up most of that Week 6 game – will be sitting out this one too.

This is one that Pickens should be able to clear with ease.

George Pickens prop: Over 51.5 receiving yards (-115 at DraftKings) 25% boost available

Prop bet #2: Too good to pass up

Part of the reason Pickens has found new life has been the emergence of Mason Rudolph.

The 2018 third-round pick has picked the perfect time to play the best ball of his career.

Rudolph is coming off a solid road win in Seattle, completing 18-of-24 passes for 274 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, and getting sacked just once.

The week prior, he went 17-for-27 for 290 yards and two TDs. He’s completing a stellar 68.6% of his passes and the key is his willingness to push the ball downfield and taking shots that are available.

Rudolph’s average yards per passing attempt was 11.4 against Seattle and 10.7 against Cincy. To put that in perspective, injured starter Kenny Pickett went above seven yards per attempt just three times in 12 starts.

Baltimore’s pass defense surrenders just 195.6 passing yards per game, the fourth-best mark in the NFL, but again, not all the components of a dominant defense will be available to harass the backup pivot.

Expect Rudolph to cruise past this total on Saturday.

Mason Rudolph prop: Over 194.5 yards passing (-115 at DraftKings) 25% boost available

Prop bet #3: Run amok

Any Steeler fan will tell you Najee Harris’ Week 17 game against the Seahawks is what the team expected when they drafted him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The ‘Bama back carried a season-high 27 times for a season-best 122 yards and two scores in the win over Seattle.

That’s the first time Harris has crossed the century mark on the year, and just the third time he’s even topped 80 yards rushing in a game this year.

He now has three scores in the last two games and has plus odds to find the end zone again.

As a team, the Steelers pounded the rock, carrying 46 times for 202 yards total.

Baltimore’s run defense ranks 13th in the NFL, surrendering 106.6 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry. They are first, however, in rush TDs allowed surrendering just five. Every other team in the league allowed at least eight.

Sorry to harp on it again, but while Baltimore’s D should still be competitive, I expect the Ravens to be mostly vanilla on offense and defense, with the main goal of getting to the bye week healthy.

Temperatures at kickoff from M&T Bank Stadium are expected to be around 40 degrees with some sun and cloud cover.

I think the Steelers stay committed to the run game, and Harris should have ample opportunities to find his way to paydirt again.

Najee Harris prop: Anytime TD (+125 at DraftKings) 25% boost available