Steelers can cover against distracted Ravens

Thursday night

STEELERS (1-0) at RAVENS (0-1), 8:25 p.m.

Ravens by 2 1/2;O/U: 441/2

TV: Ch. 2/NFL Network; Radio: WCBS (880), WFAN (660, joined in progress after Yankees game ends)

It would be easy to talk about how Thursday night's game is a big, early season AFC North contest.

But we all know better.

It's kind of difficult to know what to expect in light of the controversy surrounding the Ravens and the Ray Rice scandal this week.

This game could be the sort of escape the Ravens need from all the negative attention they've dealt with since Monday, and the thing that brings them together.

Or it could be a very, long night.

The Steelers, who nearly blew a 24-point lead vs. the Browns last week, are 3-0-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last four meetings vs. the Ravens.

The Black & Gold have covered five of their last six in Baltimore, and are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven as underdogs in games with spreads of four or fewer points. The Ravens, two seasons removed from a Super Bowl title, surely don't want to start 0-2 and fall into a two-game hole in the division this early in the season.

I can't back the Ravens, who are 1-5 ATS in their last six divisional games, and 2-4 ATS in their last six when favored by four or fewer points.

The pick: Steelers