Vegas Play of the Day: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015 | 11:22 a.m.

Football lines are endangered on Las Vegas betting boards.

Sad days are ahead with only a handful of games left to bet on this season, so we must take advantage in the South Point-lined Play of the Day, which started with $10,000 bankrolls.

Baltimore Ravens plus-3 at Pittsburgh Steelers: $330 to win $300

Out of every AFC playoff team, Pittsburgh has the most glaring weakness. The Steelers' defense can’t stop anyone.

They gave up six yards per play on the season and ranked second-to-last in Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA. They were able to get by with a prolific offense in the regular season, but it’s only a matter of time until their defensive disdain bites them in the postseason.

It should be tonight. In cold and rainy conditions at Heinz Field, this is the type of game where Pittsburgh would traditionally commit to the run.

But there’s no telling whether they’ll have success on the ground with Le’Veon Bell officially ruled out. Replacements Ben Tate, Dri Archer and undrafted rookie Josh Harris don’t inspire much confidence.

Pittsburgh backers — the Steelers have more than double the amount of tickets — likely expect Ben Roethlisberger to throw the Steelers to victory anyway. The 32-year-old had a career year, and Baltimore’s secondary is considered second-rate.

But the Ravens defensive backs have become maligned to the point that they’re actually underrated. Baltimore is not that bad against the pass. The Ravens are 15th in pass defense in DVOA, and have given up less than five yards per pass attempt in their last four games.

They’ve got more defense than Pittsburgh. That will be the difference.

Standings: Bern (61-52-1, $11,526), Keefer (57-60-2, $9,227), Brewer (54-59-3, $5,755)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.