Three Point Underdogs Against the Squeelers??

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

I know that this is just for the odds makers, but if I am Brian Billick, I'm pasting this HUGE on the bulletin board as soon as you walk into the facility, "They think that they're better than us"!:179421: I'm also calling players on my spare time reminding them that we are 11-3 and Pissburgh is 7-7 and they are better than us???:nerd:

[RavensInBrazil]

Well they ARE 5-1 in their last 6 games, and they're at home, so you can bet a lot of idiots will bet against us

[StingerNLG]

Three point underdogs away should put us about even with them. They are getting hot again, and it's another game we can't sleep on.

[Jggjaron]

well you have the 3 point home field advantage so i gotta say that i can't ask for more against the steelers since this is the odds makers making this up.

[camdenyard]

Pittsburgh is still a difficult place to win. I'm not surprised.

[POPSinPA]

No respect I tell you, even from the betters. :insane:

[skaybaltimore]

It's amazing to hear all the "interpretations" (i.e. rationalizations) on this one. Get real, peeps. We're FOUR FULL GAMES AHEAD OF THEM. WE'VE CLINCHED THE AFC NORTH DIVISIONAL TITLE, and they're PRAYING for a MIRACLE to get a wild card. They've beaten up on CRAP teams. WE TOTALLY DEMOLISHED THEM THE LAST TIME WE MET. This is patently absurd, ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT. GET REAL, Ravens fans. You do NOT have to buy into all this CRAP. We are a better team than the Steelers HERE, THERE, or ANYWHERE. With Hines Ward; without Hines Ward. On a Sunday. A Thursday. A hoilday. A jolly day. With a cat. Without a hat. With a Seus. Or with a moose.

Man....this town needs some major REALITY ORIENTATION. Stop playing the perennial victim/underdog. Unless BB chooses to play this as a semi-bye week (which, btw, I'm not opposed to), WE WIN. End of Story. Game over. Lights out.

But there are always gonna be those who run around wailing: "Oh...THIS TEAM SCARES ME", even when it's only the ever-lovin Little Sisters of the Poor.

Like they used to say about Earl Weaver: "He wasn't happy unless he was unhappy". Some folks here just aren't happy unless they have something to worry about.

GO RAVENS!!!

[StingerNLG]

With respect skay, anytime you start looking past another team, they will beat you. Pittsburgh like it or not is coming off a 5-1 run. One of those teams being the Saints and Drew Brees.

If this game means anything to Baltimore's chances of home field, then you don't overlook going into Hinez Field and playing a physical Steeler team that wants revenge for that beatdown here. Just like Cincy wanted it against us after we beat them here too, and got it, and kept us from clinching the division then.

They would like nothing more than to spoil any momentum we are going to carry into the playoffs. So I am not sleeping on the Steelers unless the Ravens don't care and will be sleeping on them.

[skaybaltimore]

With respect skay, anytime you start looking past another team, they will beat you. Pittsburgh like it or not is coming off a 5-1 run. One of those teams being the Saints and Drew Brees.

If this game means anything to Baltimore's chances of home field, then you don't overlook going into Hinez Field and playing a physical Steeler team that wants revenge for that beatdown here. Just like Cincy wanted it against us after we beat them here too, and got it, and kept us from clinching the division then.

They would like nothing more than to spoil any momentum we are going to carry into the playoffs. So I am not sleeping on the Steelers unless the Ravens don't care and will be sleeping on them.Who's talking about looking past anyone or anything? I'm talking about LOOKING AT REALITY! Where were you while we were beating KC at home? I'm talking about looking at OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, not how the media portrays us. Didn't WE ALSO beat New Orleans? So how is what I'm describing in any way "looking past" Pittsburgh?

I'm talking about this ridiculous habit that pops up week after week where Ravens fans start their neurotic, LET'S WORRY ABOUT THIS NOW threads. I, for one, am tired of all that negative crap. But that has nothing whatsoever to do with looking past the Steelers. They are a team in disarray, and we ought to put their lights out. Period. If we can't, then we're not the team I know the Ravens to be. And in my mind, there's not even a question as to whether or not we will beat them. What I'm saying is all this worry-wort chit has less to do with the Ravens team, and more to do with issues originating with Ravens fans.

GO RAVENS!!!

[StingerNLG]

I'm talking about LOOKING AT REALITY!

So am I. Against Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh is not an easy or automatic victory.



Where were you while we were beating KC at home?

Sitting on the couch watching the game??



'm talking about looking at OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, not how the media portrays us.

When did I say anything about the way the media portrays us? I don't care how the media portrays us. I care about the Ravens.



Didn't WE ALSO beat New Orleans?

Yes, and that means...........



They are a team in disarray, and we ought to put their lights out.

How does a team in disarray win 5 out of their last 6 games? The New York Giants are in disarray (much to my delight BTW). Pittsburgh WAS in disarray. They aren't right now.



And in my mind, there's not even a question as to whether or not we will beat them.

And I respect that. But I'm also not buying that that we're just going to walk into Hinez and beat them the way we did when they were here. This game is going to be a fight.



What I'm saying is all this worry-wort chit has less to do with the Ravens team, and more to do with issues originating with Ravens fans.

What issues? I believe everyone in this room wants us to go 13-3 right now.

[skaybaltimore]

Stinger, if you can look at a 7-7 team, and honestly believe that they deserve to be a 3 point favorite when playing an 11-3, divisonal winning team, then you and I are simply going to agree to disagree on this one.

GO RAVENS!!!

[StingerNLG]

I understand your point skay. But all I am saying is that 7-7 team was 4-6 when they came to Baltimore. They won three straight since then.

And three points is in their house. That's not a killer by any means.

[Big Biff]

Pittsburg at home is ALWAYS dangerous. Since we humiliated them a few weeks ago, they'll be even hungrier. Since they're trying to stay alive, that just adds to it too.
Should we beat them? Absolutley! Is it a done deal? Not even close!

[camdenyard]

Skay, if this were college football I would say you have a point. But NFL teams are pretty evenly matched talent-wise, and on any given Sunday, the worst team can beat the best.

JAX has been beaten by Houston this year...TWICE.

Pittsburg is fighting for their playoff lives, and we have a home playoff game just locked up. The motivation factor, combined with the home field, combined with the fact that we took them to the woodshed last time, works against us. That's a fact.

Will the Ravens win? I hope so, I think they should, but it ain't gonna be 27-0.

[jbecks307]

All I can say is everyone who thinks a better record equates into a "should-win" here must only watch Ravens games...The Titans are on a 5 game winning streak having knocked off the Colts, Jags, and Philly along the way- all with better records.The BUCS should have beat the Bears last week and the Redskins beat the Saints at home...
Not to mention our secondary is banged up bad and Big Ben is starting to be consistent with his game...And, betting lines reflects how the house thinks the public will bet...I can assure you it will not be 3 points by Sunday- if anything it will go up because we have never swept the season series with the Steelers- they swept it back in 2002...and 3 points for a road team is standard so what they are saying is we are even which considering all the injuries we have and I suspect slight speculation that Boller will be under center, the line is, I think fair. But why complain???? Bet the HOUSE on the Ravens and take the points-- its a win-win baby.

[skaybaltimore]

It's a matter of respect, jbecks307. And the Ravens seem to get dissed more than just about any other team in the league, maybe not from the straight Vegas betting line, but by the so-called "pundits". But be that as it may...
1. I like your idea
2. I honestly think that for some reason, the Ravens play better/respond better when they're pegged as the underdog rather than the front runner.

So either way, as you said, it's a WIN-WIN, baby!

GO RAVENS!!!

[jbecks307]

All I can say is "pundits" don't know anything and the more they pick against us the more confident I feel...I recall back in 2001, not one "expert" picked us to win any of the playoff games on our way to winning the SB...Mike Ditka was particularly harsh...And Skay, Im totally with you- this team is way better when we feel disrespected, I can recall the start of least year, with Super Bowl talk and blah blah...and we saw how that ended up...I like this Ravens team a lot and I like it even more with a chip on their shoulder. If you can find me 3 "experts" or "pundits" worth my time...please, pass them along.

[StingerNLG]

BTW, I want to clarify. I don't think the Ravens are going to lose this game Sunday. I just don't think we walk into their house and have sex with their sisters out on the field. I think this will be a hard fought physical football game. Steelers may be playing for pride at this point, but I guarantee knowing that team they are still pissed about the whipping we put on them at M&T.

In the end I personally feel this game is going to be won or lost on the defensive line. We stop Willie Parker, it won't be long before Benjamin starts throwing picks. But if they start converting 3rd downs a lot, that's going to be a problem.

[highwater]

Skay, you really seem to have a bug up your ass about the point spread on this game. I don't see the problem. I understand the spread -- the Steelers have won five of their past six, and last week they demolished a Carolina team that we lost to at home. I just don't see this as a sign of disrespect like you obviously do.

And I don't have a problem at all being the underdog -- we were three point dogs at Kansas City and how did that turn out?

[skaybaltimore]

BTW, I want to clarify. I don't think the Ravens are going to lose this game Sunday. I just don't think we walk into their house and have sex with their sisters out on the field.:eek:

Really??!!!

(That's sure not what the guy said when he sold me his ticket to the game on Sunday...

...DAMN IT...)

:rolling:

GO RAVENS!!!

[StingerNLG]

:rolling:

Now, if that really happened, I am thinking PPV. :D

[skaybaltimore]

Skay, you really seem to have a bug up your ass about the point spread on this game.Moi?

:taz:

GO RAVENS!!!

[psuasskicker]

I put a unit on the Ravens +3.5 and the under 36.5 for this weekend for a couple reasons...

1) I look for covers with the O/U. Who do I think will cover and what do I think has to happen if they don't. Here, I think that for the Steelers to cover the spread, they must completely shut down our O and not let our D score, and I don't think our D will allow them to score more than 21. 21-17 is the only score I worry about, hence the U off-sets my risk with Ravens to cover.

2) I also think it goes Ravens cover + U a LOT more than Steelers cover + O (should go without saying, but I expect to win two a good bit more than I lose two...far more than enough to cover the vig).

3) Home field is usually 3 points. I think it's nuts to think that any 7-7 team vs. an 11-3 team can be even money on a neutral field, especially when that 7-7 team played that 11-3 team earlier in the year and got absolutely obliterated.

The Steelers are 3-0 in their last three and 5-1 their last six (all three teams they beat suck, BTW). But we're chopped liver? We've won two straight including a tough one @ KC and are 7-1 our last eight.

That line just doesn't seem right to me. I love that it's +3.5 and not +2.5 cause I think this one could easily come down to a FG at the last second, either way. The only thing that concerns me is how many won't play. If 3 of our injured 6 sit out, then I don't think there's much if any EV+ here. But I expect our D to shut down their run game, and Ben hasn't been a good passer when forced to throw a lot.

- C -

[Sports Steve]

The three points is only a home field amount given.


:jester: :jester: