Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck’s ascent to NFL superstardom hit a big speed bump in 2015, as injuries and ineffectiveness dealt him a bitter pill. He is still young and talented, and hopes to start Week 1 of the regular season off right against the Detroit Lions. The Colts suffered through a tumultuous 2015 but the oddsmakers have showed some belief in them by instilling Indianapolis as a four-point home favorite to knock off the Lions.
This contest in Week 1 of the regular season will go down Sunday, September 11, 2016, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Lions +4
Colts -4
Over/Under 50.5
Odds Analysis
While it’s not by a huge margin, the gamblers are believing in Luck and the Colts in this one, as 54 percent of wagers are backing Indianapolis to cover. The over-under is pretty high with a pair of solid quarterbacks and questionable defenses, and the bettors still like the “over” at a clip of 71 percent.
The money line gamblers are again heavier on the Colts, as their -200 payout is getting bet on 58 percent of the time, compared to 42 percent for the payout of +170 in the case of a Lions win.
Injury Report
Eric Ebron -- The former first-round pick has never lived up to that billing in Detroit. The athletic tight end injured his ankle in the preseason of what he hopes to be a breakout year and has missed significant time. However, Ebron did return to practice this week and hopes to play against the Colts. Detroit lost star receiver Calvin Johnson to retirement this offseason, and Ebron’s development is huge.
Vontae Davis -- The Colts’ star cornerback suffered an ankle injury in the preseason and is expected to miss the beginning of the season. The Colts are already short on impact talent on that side of the ball, and the loss of Davis a big one.
Patrick Robinson -- The other starting cornerback for the Colts suffered a groin injury in the preseason but returned to the practice field this week. He seems on track to play against the Lions, and that seems essential with Davis out.
Matchup to Watch
Ameer Abdullah vs. Colts’ Front -- The Lions running back flashed his potential a season ago but had fumbling issues and was never given the full-time job. He is the most talented runner on the team and could be poised for a big season, but must prove it early on.
The Colts’ run defense can be shaky, and the Lions would be well served to pound the rock and see if they can establish the run. Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford can get turnover-prone when he has to drop back too often in obvious passing situations, so a big game by Abdullah would help Stafford and receivers Marvin Jones and Golden Tate through the air.
Free ATS Pick
The Colts aren’t super explosive on the ground as running back Frank Gore is nearing the end of his career. Their defense can be hit or miss. They are favored because of Luck, who has the potential to be one of the five best signal-callers in the NFL this season.
This is a huge season for the Colts as they look to bounce back to playoff form after an ugly 2015. This is a very winnable game for them.
The Lions have a very good cornerback in Darius Slay and a few other solid pieces defensively, but overall the depth isn’t there. Detroit needs to play well offensively to stick in this one, and the pick here is that they will pull that off.
While there are plenty of concerns with Johnson’s departure, Detroit will show it was more than a one-man band and capture an impressive road win behind Abdullah and Stafford.
NFL Odds: Lions 27, Colts 24
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