Given how bad the AFC South is, this meeting for first place is likely to end in a tie. The Houston Texans have owned or shared the division lead since the season began, but that once comfortable cushion has evaporated, and now the Texans must avoid a four-game losing streak to keep their streak alive. The Indianapolis Colts made it a three-way tie in the division with Monday’s night’s victory and could knock the Texans from their pedestal with a Week 14 win.
This contest in Week 14 of the regular season will go down Sunday, December 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Houston Texans +6
Indianapolis Colts -6
Over/Under 47
Odds Analysis
The line opened at Indianapolis -6.5 and was wagered down a half point to its current number. The Texans have lost some followers after sliding back to the pack in the division with just 37 percent of the spread wagers on the visitors. The first meeting was toss up in the Texans backyard, so the spread tells us what the oddsmakers think. Houston’s been a disaster on the road going just 1-5 SU and ATS, including their trip to Mexico, which has a lot to do with the line.
Injury Report
Jadeveon Clowney – The Texans’ defensive end had some extra pressure added to his plate when J.J. Watt was lost for the year, and Clowney has delivered. But with him out of the lineup against Green Bay, Houston applied little pressure on Aaron Rodgers, allowing him to throw two second half scoring passes. Andrew Luck could have similar results in a controlled environment if not under duress.
D’Qwell Jackson – Indy’s middle linebacker was suspended Tuesday for PED use, ending his regular season and providing a distraction for a team that doesn’t need one right now. Jackson wasn’t having a great year, but he was the team’s best option at the position. The Colts have a collection of inexperienced players to fill the void.
Matchup to Watch
It was the type of game a team could look back on once the season ended and say ‘what if.’ The Colts experienced one of those games back in Week 6 and it came against the Texans in Houston. It’s hard to lose a 14-point lead with just three minutes left in regulation, but the Colts probably had the biggest meltdown of the Chuck Pagano era in that game and lost in overtime. The Colts had a chance to tie the Texans atop the division and essentially suffered a two-game setback that they spent the rest of the season making up.
The teams are headed in opposite directions now and the Colts finally caught up last weekend when the Texans lost their third straight and Indy vanquished the Jets for their third win in four games. Now the payback will be extra sweet with a chance to knock Houston from a perch its held since the start of the season. The biggest reason for the change in fortune has been quarterback play. Andrew Luck is the best in the division while the investment Houston made in Brock Osweiler has yet to pay off.
Free ATS Pick
Osweiler has been terrible all season and it’s crazy to think he can turn things around in the final month of the year with his team scrambling for a playoff spot. This was the Texans division to win and they let it slip away, even though they have the current tie breaker over both Indy and Tennessee by virtue of their earlier wins. The one thing that may save the Texans is the success they’ve enjoyed inside the division. They’ve beaten each foe once already and finish the year with three of four against their AFC South brethren.
But that’s not likely to happen. The Colts have a superior advantage at the most important position and Luck has fallen into a groove. He was surgeon-like in carving up the Jets in a crucial Monday night victory. And there lies the difference. The Colts won the game they needed to in order to claim their share of the lead while the Texans have failed in their opportunities to extend what was a once comfortable lead. I like the Colts and Luck to put another dagger in the Texans with a cover win.
NFL Odds: Colts 24, Texans 17
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
