Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck sat during the team’s first preseason game but is ready to go in Week 2. He may only see a series or two against the Baltimore Ravens, but Luck will aim to please the home fans. Luck is one of the best signal-callers in the NFL and the Ravens’ starters will get a good early test. On the flips-side, the Ravens are aiming to have a better season in 2016 and getting into a rhythm in the preseason would be a good sign.
This Week 2 preseason duel will be held on Saturday, August 20th, 2016, at 7 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Baltimore Ravens +3
Indianapolis Colts -3
Over/Under 41
Odds Analysis
The money has come in heavily on the visiting Ravens. While the line hasn’t moved, the wager is now listed at -125 on Baltimore while the Colts can be wagered on to cover at +105. Since preseason results are often a crapshoot, experienced bettors like to take the points since the outcome can go either way. Even though the Colts have the home field advantage, the crowds aren’t rabid in the preseason and don’t have a big effect on the outcome.
Quarterback Rotation
Andrew Luck had an injury-plagued 2015 season, missing nine games, and he wasn’t great when he was under center. Luck is still one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL and could have a nice game against the Ravens.
The Indianapolis backup is Scott Tolzien. He was 12-of-23 for 140 yards and a touchdown in his debut and will aim to show that the Colts are in good hands if Luck does down again. Stephen Morris is the third-stringer. He threw for 104 yards and a touchdown on only nine attempts to help the Colts beat the Buffalo Bills, 19-18, in their first exhibition game.
The Ravens’ starter is Joe Flacco. An injury shelved him for the end of the 2015 season, but it wasn’t going very well when he was on the field. Like Luck, Flacco didn’t play in the preseason opener. He is returning from a serious knee injury, so it’s unknown how much he will play, if at all, against the Colts.
Ryan Mallett saw the most action for Baltimore in the preseason opener, passing for 91 yards on 11-of-15 passing with a touchdown and an interception. Josh Johnson was 8-of-11 for 83 yards, while Jerrod Johnson finished 1-of-2 for seven yards.
Coaching History
Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano has not fared very well in preseason games with a 6-11 overall record. He has won just one game in the 2014 and 2015 preseasons combined, but is off to a better start in 2016 with the opening win.
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh is an impressive 21-12 in his career in the preseason. Harbaugh has gone 4-0 twice in the preseason in his career, and he has started with a win this year. Harbaugh’s preseason record might not be predictive but it’s something to consider since some coaches put more emphasis on winning than others do.
Free ATS Pick
If Luck and Flacco play sparingly as expected, it’s really tough to gauge which team will come out on top. The Ravens have a better defense, but also features several veterans who may not have a huge impact in the result. The Colts are hoping to find out about how some of their younger players will fare, and this preseason game could be important. There’s not a big talent gap between these teams, so following the trend and taking the points with the Ravens is the smart play in NFL wagering.
NFL Odds: Colts 21, Ravens 19
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