How bout my Ravens

The running up the middle did set up a few sweet shots down the field (first play of the second quarter on first down and another one in the middle of the fourth on 2nd - I don't remember if they were play action or not, or if there were others) which would have been huge game changing plays if Flacco delivered the ball to the open receiver instead of painfully overthowing. 

So yeah, considering that run, run, run strategy is built to capitalize on the few big opportunities, and Flacco couldn't do that, it would make sense to go a different route.

The alternative may have led to more turnovers . . . but yeah, the playcalling was very Billick-esque.

Well, Cameron runs the offense, not Harbaugh.  Running McLain worked just great against the 'Skins in the 4th quarter.  Obviously the Steelers aren't the 'Skins.  I don't know that passes were working.  Flacco doesn't have the poise and presence yet of a guy like Ben R.  It would also help if McGahee would pick off a blitzer now and then.   

If the Steelers do their part we'll have a re-rematch….

Shemp wrote:
After the Steelers do their part we'll have a re-rematch….

Just a quick correction to your statement…

vansmack wrote:
Sounds like you want to play for pinks!

If the Ravens win, I leave your board.

If the Steelers win, you give me the keys to your club.

How 'bout it?

As there are some that regard me as the rightful owner of the club, it has been suggested that I take Merriweather off your hands this time next weekend…

there's just one problem

I'm not sure we'll win

C'mon Seth, have a little faith!!

Seth wrote:
there's just one problem

I'm not sure we'll win

Seth wrote:
there's just one problem

I'm not sure we'll win

Surprisingly, Vegas doesn't think so either.  Then again, I didn't think the Charger game was a 6 point game either. 

I was thinking this week's matchup would be a 3, maybe 3.5 point spread.  5 seems way too high for teams meeting for the third time.  I'm very interested to see where the spread ends up on Friday.

i thought everyone would be taking the ravens in this game. but they arent even ahead in the poll on the balmer sun's website. scary

godsshoeshine wrote:
i thought everyone would be taking the ravens in this game. but they arent even ahead in the poll on the balmer sun's website. scary

If they play the Steelers the way they played Tennessee they have no shot.

why does it surprise anyone that the Steelers are favourites? 

  didnt they beat Baltimore twice, have a better record ANd are playing at home? Are the Ravens playing without Rolle and Suggs?

  I know they played 2 close games already but from someone who doesn't watch football a ton, I would certainly think a Ravens win would be a sizeable upset.

  You Steelers fans arent trying to play the underdog to cover your asses are you?

well, a few reasons. first, its really hard to beat a team 3 times in one season. second, the ravens were hotter coming into the playoffs, and finally espn loves ray ray and joe flacco

of course the ravens were seen as being hotter when fwp was still injured so who knows now. should be fun

I dont see anything that special about Joe Flacco. 

Win a game, 13-10 and somehow its the QB's heroics? did he even throw for 200 yards?

I thought I was clear, but maybe I wasn't.  I'm not at all suprised the Steelers are favored.  I am surprised that they are favored by 5 points when their previous two meetings were decided by a total of 7 points.  In my eyes, this is a three point spread game.

But this is Vegas and they take a lot more into consideration than the actual outcome of the game.  They know the Steelers are an immensely popular team and that folks will bet on them in huge numbers.  Vegas will start high, let the fans jump on and then balance the number at the end of the week - I suspect this spread will drop by Friday.  Their goal, after all, is to make money and they do a great job of it.

they had UNC favored by 3 points against Wake last night.  that couldnt have made them much money.

it made me some!

oh brother

i suppose i was being hyperbolic with the 'everyone' picking the ravens, but expected (at least) the ravens fans on this board to be confident. or the poll on the baltimore sun's site to be skewed

num wrote:
they had UNC favored by 3 points against Wake last night.  that couldnt have made them much money.

it made me some!

I bet they did make a ton of money as the more popular team didn't beat the spread. 

Watching ESPNs Streak for the Cash last night, UNC was the more popular pick to win (not even by a point spread) by a difference of 93.9% to Wake's 6.1%.  I'm guessing that's not entirely accurate, but is at least representative that the general public probably put more money on UNC to cover 3 points against Wake, when in fact they beat the spread (and won the game).  That's how Vegas wins money, and I bet they won a ton yesterday on that game and the Giants, probably not as much on the Steelers.  They cleaned house last week with the Colts going down and on both Arizona games too.

it also proves that 94% of America bets with their head up their ass!

and i bet next you'll tell me ESPN says 90% of people think Louisville is beating Notre Dame by 9 tonight!

num wrote:
it also proves that 94% of America bets with their head up their ass!

If they didn't, Vegas wouldn't have a sportsbook.

I don't have the info on the ND-LOU Game as the game is not on the Streak for Cash, but since the game opened with Louisville a 3.5 point favorite and is now a 6.5 point favorite, I'd say the majority of America certainly thinks Lousiville is going to win, and perhaps big, otherwise Vegas doesn't move the line that far.