Monday Night Football NFL Picks and Predictions: Texans at Colts Betting Odds
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 11/1/2010
Houston ended the hex Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts had over them with a resounding 34-24 Week 1 win. Now they will try to end the hex the city of Indianapolis has held over them.
The Texans have never won in Indianapolis in nine tries. This appears to be their best shot. For one, this is arguably the best Houston squad since the franchise was founded in 2002. Another reason is the health of the Colts, who are admittedly banged up even after a bye week.
The Colts have looked far from spectacular in their last three games, losing a stunner at Jacksonville, struggling through a 19-9 win at home over Kansas City, and being forced to hold on for dear life two weeks ago in a 27-24 win at Washington.
Houston has had issues of its own. It needed a furious fourth-quarter rally to top Kansas City two weeks ago, 35-31, and before that they were thoroughly outclassed at home by the New York Giants in a 34-10 loss. Oh yeah, and the Texans are responsible for the Cowboys only win of the year, a demoralizing 27-13 setback in Houston.
Yet despite the injuries and inconsistencies, the winner of this game will join Tennessee in the driver’s seat in the AFC South.
In the first meeting Manning attempted 57 passes and finished with 433 yards and three touchdowns, but it mattered little as they rushed for only 44 yards. Compare that to Houston running back Arian Foster’s coming out party when he rushed for 231 yards and three scores.
Monday Night Football Texans at Colts Injury Report
The weekly injury report is tough reading each week for Indianapolis fans. The skill positions have been hit the hardest. Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez remains questionable with an ankle injury (he has only played one game this season) and running back Donald Brown is questionable nursing a hamstring. He has missed three games. The Brown injury is compounded by the fact that Joseph Addai is not expected to play much if at all on Monday night as his shoulder continues to bother him.
Those are not even the biggest losses. Wide receiver Austin Collie has been ruled out Monday night and all-everything tight end Dallas Clark is out for the season with a unique hand/wrist injury. And adding insult to injury, kicker Pat McAfee is suspended this week after his drunken escapades in downtown Indianapolis during the bye week.
The minor injuries Houston is dealing with do not begin to compare with what the Colts will be missing.
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts Betting Odds and Line Moves
The Colts opened as 5.5-point favorites, according to this week’s NFL odds, and that line has remained steady at most sportsbooks with some slight movement pushing the line to six points at some places. The current total of 51.5 has risen after opening at 49. NFL odds are courtesy of Sportsbook.com.
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts Betting Trends
Texans are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as a road underdog
Colts are 7-1-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record
Colts are 6-1 ATS in their last Monday Night Football games
Colts are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a home favorite
Over is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings
Over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Indianapolis
Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings
Monday Night Football Picks and Predictions: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts
As banged up as the Colts are, they still have Manning under center and he’s the main reason the Texans are 2-15 all-time against the Colts. The Colts have revenge on their mind after a disappointing opening-week loss at Houston. Manning should will the Colts on to win this game, but without all those weapons Indianapolis will struggle to score points and cover the spread. Look for the game to stay ‘under’ the total and for the Texans to cover.
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