Texans vs Colts NFL Handicapping
The Indianapolis Colts look to make some noise in the AFC playoff picture when they take on a Houston Texans squad coming off an extended rest.
Houston Texans (2-11) at Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
Date: Sunday, December 15, 2013
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium
City: Indianapolis, Indiana
O/U Odds: 45.5
Spread: Indianapolis -5.5
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
NFL ATS Matchup Stats | NFL Betting Insight!
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NFL Picks!
This matchup looked like it would carry far more weight before the season started, but instead Indianapolis will only look to expand their lead in the AFC South, while there’s little more than pride on the line for the Texans.
The Indianapolis offense found a new weapon in its last game, a back-and-forth affair with Cincinnati which saw the Bengals come out on top, 42-28.
*CLICK HERE* GRAB OUR BEST Expert NFL FOOTBALL Picks for 2013 GAMBLING season!
Rookie wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers made his first start for the Colts and made the most of his opportunity, bringing in six balls for 107 yards and two scores, including a 69-yard strike. His emergence helped Andrew Luck get back to his dominant ways as Luck completed 29 of 46 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. The team’s ground game was non-existent again as Trent Richardson and Donald Brown combined for just a hair above three yards per carry.
[soliloquy id=”82219″]
The team’s defense had all sorts of trouble with the Bengals’ attack. Andy Dalton completed 24 of 35 passes for 275 yards and three scores without an interception. The Bengals may have had even more success on the ground as Giovani Bernard gained 8.3 yards per carry on his 12 totes and BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored twice.
Houston’s last game might have been the low point of a disastrous season as they fell to Jacksonville in prime time, 27-20.
Matt Schaub came off the bench to see time at quarterback and may get the nod over Case Keenum against the Colts. Whoever gets the start, they’ll surely lean heavily on Andre Johnson who continue to draw heavy targets for the team, catching 13 passes for 154 yards on Thursday night against the Jaguars. In total, the Texans outgained the Jaguars 406-281, but they also commit the only two turnovers of the game and that was all the difference.
Houston’s defense continued to have no success in coming up with big plays. The team’s defense came up with just one sack and failed to force a turnover. The lone bright spot was that they did a good job of getting off the field when they had the chance, stopping Jacksonville on 10 of 14 third down opportunities.
Indianapolis has been hit or miss since returning from their bye, and while Houston gave them plenty of trouble in the last meetings between these teams, expect Indianapolis to take care of business at home.
The Colts are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 home games, and the home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings between these teams.
The Texans are 2-5 in their last seven trips to Indianapolis.
The play: Indianapolis -5.5
