Indianapolis Colts
vs.
Oakland Raiders
Week 16
NFL Pick
12/24/16
By Jason Green
The Colts have won two of their last three Games, they are coming off a blowout win over the Vikings, and Andrew LUck is healthy under center. However, speaking of luck they will need a lot to make the playoffs. They are 1 Game back of the Titans and Texans in the AFC South and do not face them again. They have had issues on the defensive side of the ball, where they only rank 22nd in opponents’ points allowed, but in their last Game they only surrendered six points. Still, this week they face Derek Carr and an explosive Oakland offense.
With their win over the Chargers in their last Game the Raiders qualified for the playoffs for the first time in over a decade Carr and WR Aamari Cooper are among 7 players for the squad that was invited to the Pro Bowl. Like the Colts their weakness has been their defense, ranking 21st in the league, but they played well in the San Diego win giving up 16 points. Oakland is in the playoffs, but they only lead the Chiefs by a single Game in the AFC West and they lost to them twice this season.
The Raiders have covered the spread in five of their last seven Games facing the Colts.
In their last Game the Colts laid a 34-6 beat-down on the Minnesota Vikings easily covering as a 5-point road underdog.
The Raiders beat the Chargers in San Diego in their last Game where they covered the spread as a 2.5-point favorite.
LUck passed for 250 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT in the win over the Colts and Frank Gore helped him out, big time, rushing for 101 yards. Indy is much harder to beat when they have balaNCe and Gore must have a good Game in this AFC match up. While the Raiders’ D has been the weakness of the team this season at least you can say they have balaNCe ranking 25th in both pass and run defense.
Carr did not put up huge numbers in the win over the Chargers (231 yards 1 TD 1 INT), but he did not have to since the defense played well and LAtavius Murray (81 rushing yards) helped Oakland GAin 145 yards on the ground. Can the Colts play D like they did in their last Game facing the Vikings? Big question. On the season they rank 27th defending the pass and 20th defending the run.
Indianapolis is 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 Games on the road, 15-6 ATS in their last 21 Games following a straight up win of more than 14 points, and in their last 7 Games on the road the posted total has gone Over 6 times.
Oakland is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Games, but only 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home Games. In their last 8 Games the posted total has gone Over 6 times.
Bettorsworld Pick – The Raiders have cliNChed a playoff spot but still have plenty to play for, iNCluding winning the division. They keep rolling here. Raiders -3.5