The Indianapolis Colts are coming into the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs as underdogs against the Houston Texans. ESPN has the TV rights and this Saturday game is scheduled to get underway at 4:35 p.m. ET.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Betting Preview
In this Saturday AFC game, Houston has been tabbed as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 2 points. The Colts are also receiving +110 moneyline odds while the Texans are -130. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 47 points. If Houston gives up points early, it will likely result in a worthy live betting opportunity.
This game’s opening line was -3, while the O/U has yet to change after being initially posted at 47.
Each team has rewarded gamblers this season as the Colts have recorded 4.5 units and the Texans are up 3.6 units.
The Colts have gone 10-6 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against AFC South opponents. The Texans are 11-5 SU overall and also 4-2 SU versus divisional foes.
The Colts want to keep things rolling after a 33-17 win over Tennessee last week. The Colts allowed the Titans to pass for 165 yards and run for 93 yards. On the offensive side, Andrew Luck completed 24 passes for 285 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Marlon Mack (119 rushing yards on 25 attempts, one TD) led the running attack. Dontrelle Inman (five receptions, 77 yards, one TD) and Eric Ebron (four catches, 60 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Houston is coming off of a 20-3 win over Jacksonville in Week 17. Deshaun Watson completed 25-of-35 passes for 234 yards. Lamar Miller (56 rushing yards on 17 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Watson (66 yards on 13 carries, one TD) led the running game as DeAndre Hopkins (12 receptions, 147 yards) and DeAndre Carter (four catches, 33 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Indianapolis has run the ball on 38.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Houston has an overall rush percentage of 48.3 percent. The Colts have produced 107 rush yards per game (including 79 per game against South opponents) and have 13 scores on the ground this year. The Texans are averaging 126 rushing yards per game (152 in conference) and have 12 total rush TDs.
It appears that the Colts ought to own the edge in the trenches, since their offensive line has yielded only 56 sacks while the D-line registered 25 sacks. The Texans, on the other hand, have allowed 54 sacks and their defense has recorded only 32 sacks.
The Colts offensive scheme has averaged 287 yards in the air overall (329 per game versus conference opposition) and has 39 passing TDs so far. The Texans have recorded 260 pass yards per contest (255.8 in the AFC) and have 26 total pass scores.
Defensively, Indianapolis should have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed 102 rush yards and 252 pass yards per game. The Houston D has given up 279.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 82.7 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Colts have given up an ANY/A of 6.12 to opposing QBs, while the Texans are allowing an ANY/A of 6.36.
Passing-wise, Luck is up to 4,236 yards on the year, and has connected on 399-of-592 attempts with 37 scores through the air and 14 interceptions. He has a 6.92 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.63 over the last two games.
Deshaun Watson has connected on 316-of-465 passes for 3,826 yards, 24 TDs and nine INTs for Houston. His ANY/A stands at 6.78 for the season and 6.55 over his last two outings.
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Colts offense has created seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Texans have put up eight such plays.
The Indianapolis defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Houston has given up 12 such plays.
The Indianapolis offense has created nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Houston has created eight such runs.
The Colts defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Texans have given up three such runs.
The Houston defensive unit has notched 43 sacks on the year while Indianapolis has 38.
Indianapolis has rushed for 4.2 yards per attempt across its past three contests and 4.0 over its last two.
Houston has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.8 over its past two.
Over its last three games, Houston is 1-0-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Indianapolis’ previous game was set at 42.5. The over cashed in the team’s 33-17 triumph over Tennessee.
Over its last three games, Indianapolis is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Houston’s previous match was 39.5. The under cashed in the 20-3 win over Jacksonville.
Indianapolis has won 10 of its last 11 games SU, with a six-point defeat to Jacksonville on December 2nd accounting for the only loss over that span.
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