Forty is the new 20 and Colts’ quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is making all the quadragenarian’s feel pretty good. Heck, Brett Favre might even end his retirement if Indy’s backup continues to play the way he has.
The Colts are 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS when Hasselbeck starts. He gets the nod again Sunday night against the Steelers.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Pittsburgh Steelers -7
Indianapolis Colts +7
Over/Under 47
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Colts are getting seven points at home against a struggling Steelers defense. Sounds like a gift to me. While Indy doesn’t have the best track record against Pittsburgh, going 2-12 SU in their past 14 meeting, the Colts are a good bet, covering the spread in six of their last seven.
KEY INJURIES
Anthony Castonzo – Is questionable as he continues to recover from a knee injury that sidelined him last week. The Colts adapted by moving right tackle Joe Reitz to the left side and inserting rookie Denzelle Good at right tackle.
Heath Miller – Pittsburgh’s tight end is questionable to play due to a rib issue suffered last week in Seattle. Rookie Jesse James could be in line for his first career start if Miller is held back.
KEY MISMATCH
The Colts had to contend with Atlanta’s Julio Jones two weeks ago. It was the size of Tampa Bay’s Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans last week. Now it’ll be about the speed and exceptional route running of Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown. One of the top two or three receivers in the NFL, Brown is second in receiving yards and he has 16 receptions of at least 20 yards this season. He set a Steelers record with 17 receptions for 284 yards against Oakland on Nov. 8. So it’s understandable why Colts coach Chuck Pagano joked that his defensive backs need to take a 5-Hour Energy to keep up with the speedy receiver. Vontae Davis is expected to get the first shot at trying to slow Brown down – with the team providing as much help as possible for him. Brown had his way against the Colts last season with 10 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns on a day where quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 522 yards. The Colts know they have to stay glued on Pittsburgh’s receivers because Roethlisberger is one of the best in the league at extending plays.
KEY STAT
5.08 – Indianapolis’ yards per play. The Colts are 30th in the NFL in this category while the Steelers rank first in the league with 6.41 yards per play.
BETTING ANGLE
No Andrew Luck, no problem. The Colts picked up yet another victory last week with their injured quarterback still sidelined with a lacerated kidney, and improved to 4-0 this season with 40-year-old Hasselbeck under center. Hasselbeck joined Warren Moon and Brett Favre as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to win four consecutive starts after turning 40 years old. And the Colts haven’t been conservative in their play calling with the backup starting. Hasselbeck put the ball in the air 42 times last week against Tampa Bay and is making good decisions with the football. He takes aim this week at a Steelers secondary that has allowed 1,025 passing yards 10 touchdowns over the past three games and must deal with shifty receivers T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief. The Colts have covered in each of Hasselbeck’s last three starts and are 6-1 ATS in their last seven.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
In a matchup with two great passing offenses and two struggling secondaries, there are bound to be plenty of points scored. Hasselbeck has dipped into the fountain of youth and the Colts have benefitted. When Luck went down many were writing Indy off, but playing like a kid again, Hasselbeck has kept Indy atop the AFC South standings. Once known for their vaunted defense, the Steelers have been shredded through the air this season, boasting the 30th ranked pass defense. You know things aren’t going well when Russell Wilson throws five touchdown passes against you. Ben Roethlisberger did all he could to help get the Steelers a win last week, throwing for 456 yards against Seattle. It just wasn’t enough. He’ll need to do more against the Colts to offset the struggles of the defense, and somehow he will. Pittsburgh’s outstanding receivers will run through the Colts secondary and Big Ben will have a big night getting the Steelers a road victory.
Pittsburgh 33, Indianapolis 28
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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 matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers will kick off Sunday, December 6, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Heinz Field. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
