It\u2019s time for the official betting preview of the
\nBaltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. The sportsbooks<\/a> have Pittsburgh<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\nas the five-point favorite with a total of 34-34.5. Based on yards allowed per
\ngame, these are statistically the league\u2019s top two defenses. <\/p>\n

Because of Hurricane Ike, the Ravens had an unscheduled
\nbye week and have played just two games, winning and covering both. This is
\ntheir first road game and their toughest foe. <\/p>\n

The Steelers are 2-1 straight up and 1-2 versus the
\nnumber. This is their only home game in a five game stretch in which
\nfour-of-five are on the highway. The won and covered their only home game so
\nfar crushing Houston<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> 38-17. Their
\nlast two games have produced a total of 16 and 21 points combined. <\/p>\n

The Steelers defense has carried them. According to Bob
\nWarner of Lines-Maker.com<\/a>, they are
\nallowing just 2.8 yards per rush against teams normally allowing 3.8, 4.9 yards
\nper pass to 5.8 and 4.1 yards per play to 5.0. <\/p>\n

There are several key injuries for tonight\u2019s game. The
\nSteelers will be without their leading rusher Willie Parker, meaning rookie
\nfirst-rounder Rashard<\/span> Mendenhall gets his first
\ncareer start. In the past four series meetings, no Pittsburgh<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\nrunning back has exceeded 42 yards rushing. <\/p>\n

Two key players will start but could be less than 100
\npercent: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and Ravens RB Willis McGahee. <\/p>\n

Out for Baltimore<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\nis key defender Samari<\/span> Rolle<\/span>.
\nThey will start Corey Ivy or Frank Walker, two players who looked horrible in
\nthe preseason according to Brian Gould of ScoresOddsPicks.com<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

$\"promo\/euro\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

The Steelers rush defense has also been great in the
\nseries, allowing just 81.8 yards rushing per game and 3.4 yards per carry in
\nthe last five meetings at Heinz Field. The Steelers are a stunningly
\nspectacular 13-0 straight up on MNF since 1992. Baltimore<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>
\nmeanwhile is trying to snap a six-game primetime losing streak. <\/p>\n

If you are betting on this game, the biggest side and
\ntotal are detailed on the home page of OffshoreInsiders.com<\/a><\/span><\/b>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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