The Colts probably have a better chance at winning the lottery than making the playoffs, but there is a chance. First of all they must beat the Titans, which would be easier to do if they had even a third-string quarterback to take snaps. Indy is 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings, but they had a guy named Andrew Luck starting the last seven of those.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Indianapolis Colts N/A
Tennessee Titans N/A
Over/Under N/A
ODDS ANALYSIS
Plenty of questions regarding the quarterback situation for the Colts still remain. Until those are answered, the line and total will remain off the board. Tennessee is likely to go with its backup Zach Mettenberger while the Colts will choose from a list of potential candidates.
KEY INJURIES
Kendall Wright – Left last week’s game in the second quarter with a MCL injury and did not return. He is second on the Titans in receptions and third in yards and is questionable to play in the finale. Veteran Harry Douglas will likely see more snaps.
Matt Hasselbeck – Is doubtful to play Sunday after injuring his throwing shoulder last weekend. His backup, Charlie Whitehurst, went on injured reserve Monday with a hamstring injury. Andrew Luck hasn’t been ruled out, but it’s unlikely he plays. The Colts signed Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley earlier in the week and have Stephen Morris on the roster.
KEY MISMATCH
Tennessee is a bad football team, one that might not get any better for a while. There isn’t enough talent on either side of the football, and when they mix in killer mistakes like they did last week, on both offense and defense, that’s when blowouts happen. They have been outscored 97-30 over the last three games and look like a team that can’t wait for the season to end. The defense turned in an awful 15-minute stretch of play in which they made Houston quarterback Brandon Weeden look like Tom Brady as he led three touchdown drives and a field goal drive, turning a 10-0 game into a laugher. With little rush and poor coverage, this defense can’t stop anyone. And that’s a good sign for Indy, who likely goes with a quarterback that just joined the team. A simplified game plan will include plenty of handoffs to Frank Gore and short, quick passes to T.Y. Hilton or tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen.
KEY STAT
-14 – Tennessee’s turnover margin. Thanks to their league-high 32 giveaways, the Titans are next to last in differential. The Colts are 11th in takeaways with 24 and have a minus-5 differential.
BETTING ANGLE
Quarterback roulette is taking place in Indianapolis as the Colts try to salvage their longshot playoff hopes. With their top three quarterbacks hurting, the Colts moved swiftly to address a glaring need. First, they signed former Tampa Bay starter Josh Freeman. Ninety minutes later, they announced the signing of Ryan Lindley. Coach Chuck Pagano insisted he had not yet ruled out Andrew Luck, who has missed six straight games with a lacerated kidney and torn abdominal muscle, and that Hasselbeck was doubtful after getting banged around last week. Third-stringer Whitehurst was put on injured reserve with a hamstring problem. The signings could be an indication that neither Luck nor Hasselbeck will be ready on Sunday. What it all means for the NFL regular season finale against the Titans remains unclear.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
One thing we know for sure is that we don’t know who will be quarterbacking the Colts on Sunday. The carousel of players at the position continues and one guy who was on the team’s practice squad most of the season waiting his chance is now on the other sideline. Alex Tanney was signed by the Titans to serve as their backup when Marcus Mariota injured his knee. Otherwise he might be starting for the Colts this week. The Colts have plenty of fight left in them, evidenced by last week’s do-or-die win in Miami with Whitehurst taking over for Hasselbeck. The Colts stood tall defensively and did just enough on offense to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Plenty has to go right for Indy to sneak in, that includes beating the Titans. With all that’s gone wrong so far this season, things will start to even out. Besides, Tennessee isn’t that good and allowed Cowboys castoff Weeden to chew them up last week.
Indianapolis 20, Tennessee 12
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