The Colts have yet to win a game outside the weak AFC South but thanks to their dominance within the division, they still are a first place team. Indianapolis takes on another first place team, but one that actually looks the part. Top overall draft picks in 2011 and 2012 battle when Cam Newton and the undefeated Carolina Panthers host Andrew Luck and the Colts on Monday Night Football.
ODDS
Carolina opened as a 6.5-point favorite with the total at 46. The Panthers are a blistering 5-1 ATS while Indy is just 2-5 ATS at the betting window. The total was wagered a half point to 46.5 while the spread remained at -6.5.
KEY INJURIES
Khaled Holmes – Has been ruled out for Monday’s game with a neck injury suffered last week. Indy’s starting center didn’t return in the second half against the Saints after getting hurt in the second quarter. Jonotthan Harrison played the second half and took first team reps in practice during the week and likely will start.
Phillip Dorsett – Fractured his fibula last week and is out at least a month. He doesn’t have more than two catches in a game, but his snap total had started to grow the past few weeks. Quan Bray was promoted from the practice squad to fill the void.
Ryan Kalil – Is doubtful for Monday with an ankle injury. Carolina’s Pro Bowl center is expected to be a game-time decision with Fernando Velasco ready to step in if Kalil can’t go. Right tackle Mike Remmers could also play center.
KEY MISMATCH
Cam Newton’s multi-dimensional skill set of being able to pass and also run is something the Colts will have to contend with. Newton has led the Panthers to an undefeated start by throwing for 1,275 yards and nine touchdowns while also rushing for 245 yards and four scores. “He’s a matchup nightmare,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. Indy spent the past two games trying to defend the quick passing games of the Patriots and Saints. Now the NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense will try to stop Newton and Carolina’s read-option offense. Newton has thrown for at least 3,000 yards and rushed for at least 500 yards in each of his first four seasons. He also has 37 career rushing touchdowns. The key in dealing with the Newton and the read-option, according to several Colts’ defenders, is to know your assignments and your lanes because a slip up can lead to a big play. “You better be disciplined,” Pagano added.
KEY STAT
-8 – Indianapolis’ turnover margin. The Colts rank next to last and have turned the ball over 15 times, which is tied for the second-most in the NFL. Carolina is tied for sixth with a plus-4 turnover margin.
BETTING ANGLE
If the Colts can avoid the slow starts that have plagued them this season, they will have a better chance of handing Carolina its first loss of the year. Indy has been shut out in the first half in three of their seven games this season. And not surprising, they’ve lost them all. The Colts fell behind Buffalo 17-0 in Week 1, trailed the Jets 10-0 in Week 2 and they spotted New Orleans a 20-0 lead at the break last weekend. The Colts have been outscored 72-58, and quarterback Andrew Luck has thrown four interceptions in the first half. Indy has proven it’s not a good enough team to come back from a significant deficit. Not only do the slow beginnings put the Colts in a hole, it also causes them to alter their offensive approach. They start relying on Luck’s arm and abandoning the run game, becoming less balanced and more predictable.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Luck and the Colts have struggled all season now reports have surfaced that the Colts quarterback has been playing since Week 3 with multiple cracked ribs. That might explain some of the difficulties. But the problems extend beyond what he has, or hasn’t, done this season. The Colts have allowed teams to march up and down the field while giving up nearly 25 points per game and the defense hasn’t helped out the offense. Indy will need to win some games outside the division and the stretch coming up against Denver and Atlanta following Monday’s tilt will give us a better idea about the status of the club. And right now things don’t look good. The Panthers are rolling and playing at home with a bit of a swagger makes beating them a difficult task. Carolina hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record this season, but victories at Seattle and against Philadelphia were impressive.
Carolina 29, Indianapolis 22
BookMaker sent out the NFL betting odds for this Monday game at Panthers -6.5 with a total of 46. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers game is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2015, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
