Week 16 NFL Picks: Vegas Odds, Over/Under Advice, Spreads and Predictions

There are several vital games on the NFL schedule this week, but the Christmas Day game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers stands out as the most compelling and important matchup of Week 16.

These two hated rivals are playing for superiority in the AFC North. If the Steelers (9-5) win, they will clinch the division title. If the Ravens (8-6) win on the road, they will move into first place and gain an edge over the Steelers, since they won the previous meeting between the two teams in Baltimore.

The Steelers went through a midseason slump but are on a roll now. They have won five games in a row and have the offensive weapons in Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown to cause serious problems for the Ravens’ fifth-ranked defense.

While the Ravens have built up good numbers on defense, they were taken apart by the New England Patriots offense in Week 14 and are vulnerable against quality opponents—a description that clearly fits the Steelers.

But while the Steelers appear to present the bigger threat in terms of putting up big numbers on the scoreboard, do not count out the Ravens. The sight of the Steelers’ brings out the best in John Harbaugh’s team. The Ravens have won the last four meetings in this series and six of the last seven.

Baltimore should be quite confident when it goes to Heinz Field, and if the Steelers don’t gain an early advantage, the pressure will mount on the home team.

The Steelers are five-point favorites in this game, according to OddsShark. The Steelers have dominated their December schedule in recent years, having recorded a 13-1 straight-up mark and a 12-1-1 record against the spread in their last 14 December games.

The Ravens have the weapons they need to give the Steelers a full 60-minute battle. Baltimore’s recent edge in the series between the two teams …

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