With a total of just 38 points scored in the four games these two teams have played between them, it's easy to think that Saturday's game between the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams might very well be a snoozer.
ODDS
At least at this point though, the action hasn't been on the under, rather on the Colts. The Rams opened up at -2, and they have quickly dipped to -1.5, as bettors are showing confidence in Indy’s first team.
The total feels like it's just too high at 42.5.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
We haven't seen a whole lot of Andrew Luck in this preseason, and we can't help but wonder if that is going to be the case again in this one. Even though traditionally, we see starters play into at least the end of the second quarter in the third preseason game, Luck might be an exception to that.
Matt Hasselbeck will again play off of the bench, while Bryan Bennett, who has been miserable this preseason, will finish things up.
The Rams’ first-team offense has yet to do much, putting up just three points in the first halves of games in the preseason. Jeff Fisher doesn't sound overly concerned right now, which is why we wonder aloud if we just aren't going to see as much of Nick Foles as maybe some would figure.
Fisher instead, seems content to use all of his quarterbacks on a game in, game out basis in the exhibitions.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
Say what you want about Chuck Pagano not necessarily caring about this game, but Jeff Fisher is the one with the miserable record in Week 3 of the preseason. The veteran coach is just 5-12 in his 17 attempts at winning his third exhibition.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's not because of a lack of effort or a lack of toughness or those things. It's not guys turning down stuff. It's a fundamental part of the game, and we're going to get better at it. We'll continue to work at it." – Colts head coach Chuck Pagano on the poor tackling his team has displayed thus far in the preseason
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
Special teams are always an underrated facet of the game, and the Colts have had real problems thus far this season defending punts and kick returns. Both Andy Studebaker and Sergio Brown are gone, and they were special teams aces in previous years for Indy.
Rather than use veterans, Pagano is letting virtually nothing but rookies play on the coverage team, and thus far in the preseason, it’s really getting the best of the Colts.
INJURIES
The Colts are still without long-term absentees Vick Ballard and Robert Mathis due to offseason injuries.
The Rams lost E.J. Gaines last week with a foot injury which is going to end up costing him the whole 2015 season.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
We don't trust either of these teams. We think it would be more wise to wait and live bet the under in this game after the first seven minutes or so, but we're still all about the under right out of the blocks.
These two offenses have been terrible, and though both coaches should probably be more concerned, they just don't seem to be bothered much at all.
St. Louis 16, Indianapolis 13
BookMaker opened the spread for this Saturday game at -2 in favor of the St. Louis Rams. The NFL odds total surfaced at 42.5. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker's new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here, and start wagering today! The Week 3 game between the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams will go down Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Edward Jones Dome.
