Here is the official betting preview of the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. The sportsbooks have Pittsburgh as the five-point favorite with a total of 34-34.5. Based on yards allowed per game, these are statistically the league’s top two defenses.

Because of Hurricane Ike, the Ravens had an unscheduled bye week and have played just two games, winning and covering both. This is their first road game and their toughest foe.

The Steelers are 2-1 straight up and 1-2 versus the number. This is their only home game in a five game stretch in which four-of-five are on the highway. The won and covered their only home game so far crushing Houston 38-17. Their last two games have produced a total of 16 and 21 points combined.

The Steelers defense has carried them. According to Bob Warner of Lines-Maker.com, they are allowing just 2.8 yards per rush against teams normally allowing 3.8, 4.9 yards per pass to 5.8 and 4.1 yards per play to 5.0.

There are several key injuries for tonight’s game. The Steelers will be without their leading rusher Willie Parker, meaning rookie first-rounder Rashard Mendenhall gets his first career start. In the past four series meetings, no Pittsburgh running back has exceeded 42 yards rushing.

Two key players will start but could be less than 100 percent: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and Ravens RB Willis McGahee.

Out for Baltimore is key defender Samari Rolle. They will start Corey Ivy or Frank Walker, two players who looked horrible in the preseason according to Brian Gould of ScoresOddsPicks.com.

The Steelers rush defense has also been great in the series, allowing just 81.8 yards rushing per game and 3.4 yards per carry in the last five meetings at Heinz Field. The Steelers are a stunningly spectacular 13-0 straight up on MNF since 1992. Baltimore meanwhile is trying to snap a six-game primetime losing streak.

If you are betting on this game, the biggest side and total are detailed on the home page of OffshoreInsiders.com