Why Are Baltimore Ravens Listed As Underdogs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18?

With the Baltimore Ravens expected to rest many of their key players on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the betting favorite to win their Week 18 matchup.

Even after back-to-back convincing wins over two of the NFL's top teams, the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins, the Baltimore Ravens are heading into their Week 18 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers as underdogs. 

Per SISportsbook, the Ravens have opened as 4.5-point underdogs to the Steelers despite having clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed and solidifying themselves as the NFL's top team according to the league standings. So why would the Ravens be listed as underdogs against the 9-7 Steelers?

Nov 1, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) rushes during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Putting aside the fact that the Steelers got the better of the Ravens in their Week 5 matchup, it is very likely that Pittsburgh won't be facing the same Baltimore team that has propelled them to an impressive 13-3 season. 

Instead, it is expected that with nothing left to gain in the regular season as their playoff destiny is already taken care of, the Ravens will rest their starters against the rival Steelers. If that is true, then it would make sense why the Steelers would be the favorites in their rematch, as the Ravens would be without their MVP candidate quarterback Lamar Jackson, among others.

However, the Ravens won't be the only team that looks different come Saturday's matchup. 

After second-year signal-caller Kenny Pickett helped the Steelers defeat the Ravens in Week 5, he will watch from the sidelines in the rematch. Following an ankle injury that has seen Pickett sidelined for the last four games, the Steelers have named former third-stringer Mason Rudolph as their new starter, as he has been the one under center for their two-game win streak.

Ravens John Harbaugh Reveals 'Two Fold Thought Process' After Clinching No. 1 Seed

Rudolph took over as the starter in Pittsburgh after two lackluster starts from Mitch Trubisky and hasn't looked back since. The Steeler's offense has been one of the worst in the league, averaging 17.9 points per game, which ranks No. 27. However, since the emergence of Rudolph, the Steelers have found a spark, averaging a much better 32 points per game. 

So whether it is the full-strength Ravens or not, they'll look to avoid the season sweep by the Steelers on Saturday.