Andrew Luck and the the Colts have only beaten the Chargers once, by a field goal, in the last seven tries but are slight home favorites. Indianapolis is winless heading into this showdown and it’s an important one as an 0-3 start would be tough to overcome.
Watch this regular season Week 3 matchup live on Sunday, September 25, 2016, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chargers +2.5
Colts -2.5
Over/Under 52
Odds Analysis
The Chargers may be dealing with injuries, but still have quarterback Philip Rivers leading the way, and the bettors are choosing San Diego to cover at a 53 percent clip in large part because of his presence.
A shootout is expected, as the scoring total is one of the higher ones of the week and the wagers are still coming in on the “over” at a 93 percent clip.
Injury Report
Danny Woodhead -- For the second week in a row, the Chargers have lost a playmaker to a torn ACL. The running back suffered the injury in San Diego’s win over Jacksonville last week after a productive first few quarters of the season. The Chargers also lost receiver Keenan Allen to a torn ACL in Week 1.
Vontae Davis -- The Colts’ best cornerback is dealing with a sprained ankle and seems doubftul to play in this one, although it’s important to check on his availability as the game gets closer.
Patrick Robinson -- Indianapolis’ other starting corner is dealing with a concussion, though reports have him nearing a return to practice. The Colts would welcome him back to the lineup with open arms as Antonio Cromartie and Darius Butler were injured last week as well, leaving the team perilously thin at the position.
Revenge Angle
The Chargers have defeated the Colts ten times in Indianapolis since the team relocated from Baltimore in the early 1980s. San Diego leads the matchup 18-10 all time and has certainly been the better team lately, winning the last three in a row.
Twice in recent years, the Chargers have crushed the Colts’ hopes by defeating Indianapolis in the divisional game in 2008 and then in the wild card game the following year.
The Colts last win against the Chargers was in the 2008 regular season in San Diego where a fourth-quarter field goal gave Indianapolis just enough for a victory. A win Sunday, against a team that’s had their number for so many years, would be a needed confidence boost for the Colts.
Free ATS Pick
The Chargers offense has certainly been dealt some big blows in the first few weeks of the season with the aforementioned injuries to Allen and Woodhead so it was time to make a move.
The team announced Tuesday that it had signed veteran running back and former Pro Bowler Dexter McCluster and released receiver Isaiah Burse. The versatile 28-year-old is entering his seventh season in the NFL and can also be used in passing situations and to strengthen the Chargers return game.
Much of the onus will still be on Rivers and second-year running back Melvin Gordon. The Colts do not have a very good defense, so the Chargers should still be able to put up points.
Luck was great in the opener and then struggled last week against the elite Denver Broncos defense. With all the problems on the other side of the ball, he will have to play well in this one for his team to have a chance at pulling out the win.
Luck should be able to do enough to get the Colts an entertaining win in what should be a back-and-forth affair.
NFL Odds: Colts 34, Chargers 31
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