The Denver Broncos (+7) are making a trip east to face the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. CBS has the TV rights and this early afternoon game is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos
In this Sunday AFC game, Indianapolis is tabbed as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 7 points. The Broncos are also receiving +220 moneyline odds while the Colts are -260. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 44 points, and if one team can create a bunch of points early on, it will likely lead to a solid live betting opportunity.
Early action has leaned toward the Colts. The line originally opened at -5 and the total was initially 43.5.
The Broncos have lost 3.3 units so far and are 3-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an Over-Under mark of 2-5.
The Colts have been a pleasant surprise for moneyline bettors this season, gaining 3.4 units. The team is 4-2 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-2.
The Broncos are 2-5 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Colts are 4-2 SU.
The Broncos hope to get back in stride after a 30-6 defeat to Kansas City last week. The Broncos defense did its part in the loss, holding the Chiefs to just 193 passing yards and 80 rushing yards. On the offensive side of the ball, Joe Flacco completed 21-of-34 passes for 213 yards. Phillip Lindsay (only 36 yards on 11 rush attempts) and Royce Freeman (35 yards on 10 carries, one TD) provided the running attack while Courtland Sutton (six receptions, 87 yards) and Emmanuel Sanders (five catches, 60 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Indianapolis is coming off of a 30-23 win over Houston in Week 7. Jacoby Brissett completed 26-of-39 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Marlon Mack (44 rushing yards on 18 attempts) spearheaded the running attack as Zach Pascal (six receptions, 106 yards, two TDs) and T.Y. Hilton (six catches, 74 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Denver has run the ball on 44.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Indianapolis has an overall rush percentage of 47.2 percent. The Broncos have rushed for 109.6 yards/game and have five scores on the ground this year. The Colts are logging 128.7 rush yards per game and have three total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Colts could have the edge when it comes to quarterback protection. Their offensive line has allowed just seven sacks while their D-line has registered 16 sacks. The Broncos O-line has given up 24 sacks and their defense has logged only 13 sacks.
The Broncos offense has logged 235.4 yards/game through the air overall and has six passing scores so far. The Colts have put up 231.3 pass yards per outing and have 14 total pass TDs.
Denver should possess an advantage when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 107.3 yards and pass for 205.4 yards per game. The Indianapolis defense has allowed 268.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 111.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Broncos are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.26 to opposing QBs, while the Colts have given up a 7.13 ANY/A.
Offensively, Flacco is up to 1,471 passing yards this season, and has completed 66 percent of his 202 attempts with six passing scores and four interceptions. Flacco has a 5.51 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 3.70 over the last two games.
Jacoby Brissett has managed to complete 116-of-177 passes for 1,237 yards, 14 TDs and two INTs for Indianapolis. His ANY/A stands at 7.45 for the year and 7.35 over his last two games.
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts NFL Pick
SU Winner: Broncos, ATS Winner: Broncos, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Over/Under for Denver’s last game was set at 49.5. The under cashed in the team’s 30-6 loss to Kansas City.
- Denver, as a team, has averaged 4.4 yards per rush attempt over its past three games and 3.4 over its last two.
- Indianapolis has averaged 3.4 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.4 over its past two.
- The Indianapolis offense has lost three fumbles this season while Denver has lost four.
- Over its last three matchups, Denver is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Indianapolis’ previous match was set at 46.5. The over cashed in the 30-23 win over Houston.
- Over its last three contests, Indianapolis is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Indianapolis has won five of its last six games SU, with a -7-point defeat to Oakland on September 29th accounting for its only loss over that stretch.
- The Broncos offense has created five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Colts have put up one such play.
- Both defenses have allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Denver defense has given up four pass plays of 30+ yards while Indianapolis has yielded five such plays.
- The Denver offense has created four rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Indianapolis has created five such runs.
- The Broncos defense has allowed four rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Colts have given up five such runs.
- The Indianapolis defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 16 times this year. Denver has produced 13 sacks.
