Arizona Cardinals
vs.
Indianapolis Colts
Week 2
NFL Pick
9/17/17
By Jason Green
The Cardinals had a less than impressive effort in their Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions where they GAve up 35 points. However, they have a little LUck on their side in that it is likely they will not have to face Colts QB Andrew LUck, who is out with a shoulder injury. Still, Arizona lost star RB David Johnson in their season opener to a wrist injury and he is on IR, which is a HUGE blow to the offense. The Cards are a -7.5 point fav at 5 dimes sportsbook.
To say the Colts stank it up in losing their season opener would be an understatement. They GAve up 46 point to the L.A. Rams, who were terrible last season and they turned the ball over three times. Even with LUck out they have a QB controversy, as backup SCott Tolzien was bad in the blowout loss to the Rams and Jacoby Brissett has only been on the squad a few weeks after coming over in a trade with the New England Patriots.
The last time these teams met was the 2013 season in Arizona where the Cardinals crushed the Colts 40-11.
The Cardinals lost to the Detroit Lions on the road 35-23 in their season opener where QB Carson Palmer was picked off three times. He passed for 269 yards in the Game with a TD with the ageless LArry Fitzgerald being the leading receiver. Johnson was the 2nd leading target and he is out for several weeks and will be missed. The duo of Kerwynn Williams and John Brown, who combine to rush for 20 yards in the loss to the Lions, will be counted on the man the rushing attack.
Palmer was less than stellar in the Detroit Game, but will be facing a Rams pass defense that GAve up 310 yards and only had one sack.
The Colts only had 225 yards of total offense in their loss to the Rams and Tolzien was only 9 for 18 for no TD and 2 INT before being beNChed for Brissett (2 for 3 51 yards). I would think Brissett would go in this Game, but a starter has not been named. Frank Gore rushed for 42 yards in the Game averaging a respectable 4.2 yards per carry and for the Colts to get the they have to not get down early and lean on their veteran RB. It was not all bad news for the Colts in their opening loss, as they did hold the Rams to only 63 yards rushing and do not have to face Johnson in this Game.
Key Betting Trends
The Cardinals are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road Games, 3-8 ATS in their last 11 Games overall, and in their last 8 Games the Over record is 8-0.
The Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home Games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Games overall, and in their last 5 home Games the Under record is 5-0.
Jason’s Pick: The Colts are simply not a good team and without LUck they are even worse. It does not matter who is under center for them in this Game, as Palmer will rebound and have a good Game and the Indy D will give up a ton of points again. Add those things up and Arizona will win this Game and cover the spread even on the road.