:howdy:Hello Bryan24K...
This question has already been answered on here numerous times over this past week...
In historical terms there have been 54 instances in which two teams have met three times in a single season, in 36 of the 54 meetings the two teams split the regular season meetings, however, in 18 of the 54 meetings one team won BOTH regular season meeting and entered the third affair with a mark of 2-0...
...the team that won BOTH meetings won the third match up 11 of the 18 times it has happened for a winning rate of 61.11%.
However, this same situation came up just last year when the Cowpokes of Dallas defeated the G-Men New York twice during the regular season by finals of 45-35 and 31-20 but lost to New York 21-17 in the playoffs enroute to the Giants winning the Super Bowl.
Strangely enough, in recent history Pittsburgh is 2-0 in third same season meetings when they had won the first two against the same team and then faced them in the playoffs and in both cases the team the Steelers beat a 3rd time in the same season was the Cleveland Browns who in turn spun off the Raven franchaise.
Take care and be well my friend
Dirtydog
:wink:
IMO it is an overrated and useless theory.
The team that won the first two meetings is usually the better team. However, in this instance, both games were very close with one going to OT and one decided with virtually no time left. Baltimore has somehow gotten this far by playing great D and running the ball.....much like 2000 when they won it all. However they didnt have a rookie QB then.
To me the points seem a bit high at 6, but that may be a tell.....Baltimore beat up and on the road for the 3rd straight week in a hostile environment with a rookie QB. THe difference in this game is Joe Flacco and what he does. If he gets rattled and turns the ball over the Steelers will win & cover easily. If he stays poised and calm like he has all year for the most part the Ravens can stay within the number....will be tough for them to win outright though although it is possible.
The team that won the first two meetings is usually the better team. However, in this instance, both games were very close with one going to OT and one decided with virtually no time left. Baltimore has somehow gotten this far by playing great D and running the ball.....much like 2000 when they won it all. However they didnt have a rookie QB then.
To me the points seem a bit high at 6, but that may be a tell.....Baltimore beat up and on the road for the 3rd straight week in a hostile environment with a rookie QB. THe difference in this game is Joe Flacco and what he does. If he gets rattled and turns the ball over the Steelers will win & cover easily. If he stays poised and calm like he has all year for the most part the Ravens can stay within the number....will be tough for them to win outright though although it is possible.
Thanks for the info Dog! You always hear that it is hard to beat the same team 3 times in the same season, but like most age-old adages, they don't hold up. I was leaning towards the Steelers, but was concerned about this. I think Steelers become an even stronger play if the Eagles win (although I like the Cards), as at least one home team usually wins (I think like 80 or 90% of the time) in the Conference Championships.
