NFL Betting – Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, January 3rd – Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park – 1:00 PM ET
NFL Point Spread: Bills -8
The Colts got in a lot of trouble with their fan base when they pulled their starters last week. Instead of trying for a perfect season, the Indy subs played and were handily defeated by the New York Jets.
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Head Coach Jim Caldwell defended the move, and said the Colts aren’t trying for a perfect season; they want a Super Bowl. But the Colts players were clearly displeased with the move, even if they won’t say it publicly. Time will tell if that decision will come back to haunt Indianapolis.
The Bills are looking at another lost season. They are one of two teams in the NFL who have yet to play in a playoff game this decade (the Texans are the other). Interim head Coach Perry Fewell is not expected to return next season. The Terrell Owens experiment was, by all accounts, a failure. 
There were some bright spots; the strong play of safety Jairus Byrd earned him a Pro Bowl berth, making him one of two rookies to make it on the AFC squad. But if the Bills want to make it back to relevance, they’ll need a lot of work in the offseason.
What The Colts Have To Do To Win
There is virtually no chance that Peyton Manning and the rest of the starters will play more than a series or two, if any at all. So it will be up to Curtis Painter and the rest of the B-squad to try and end the season on a high note. That means that the Colts and their number two ranked passing offense means nothing because the players who earned that ranking won’t be playing. This game will be a trial run for the Painter and the Colts to see where they will stand if the worst-case scenario occurs and Manning gets hurt.
What The Bills Have To Do To Win
The Bills are playing for pride, just like they’ve done every Week 17 this decade. They’re lucky to be playing the Colts backups, meaning they can finish the season 6-10 instead of 5-11. But for a fan base that once saw their team make it to 4 straight Super Bowls, this is a low point for the franchise. No news on whether Ryan Fitzpatrick or Brian Brohm will start, but both will want to make an impact and make their case for the roster next year. That’s how the Bills can win this game: playing on pure motivation to make next year’s squad.
Outlook & Pick
The Bills were ravaged this season by injuries. Thirteen of their players currently sit on the IR, including starting QB Trent Edwards, rookie sensation Byrd and cornerback Terrence McGee. That means backups galore will be playing on both sides. It’s not going to be a pretty game, but since the Bills seem to have incentive to play hard and are in front of a home crowd, the game should go in their favor.
NFL Point Spread Pick: Buffalo
Prop Betting: Team To Score First And Score In First Six Minutes
No team is going to come out with any real fire, so don’t expect scoring early. In fact, there may not be much scoring at all. Feel sorry for those who spent money to see this one.
Prop Betting Pick: Bills Will Score First, No Score In First Six Minutes
