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jpehl was asking for my thoughts on this game.
It looks like the sharps and public both jumped on the Chargers early as the line was Colts -2.5 at opening and it is now a pick-em.
Colts - Have won 9 games in a row which makes them the hottest team in the NFL right now. They did have a fairly easy schedule down the stretch with Houston, San Diego, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Jacksonville and a Tennessee team resting it's starters. But before that they did beat New England and Pittsburgh, and they are one of only two teams that dominated the Ravens. Indianapolis was 6-2 on the road and they were tied with Pittsburgh for the best record vs AFC teams at 10-2.
San Diego - Won their last 4 games, but really.....they beat a terrible Oakland team, it took a miracle for them to beat Kansas City, and they beat Tampa Bay and Denver who were both in free-fall mode. Remember, before that 4 game winning streak they had lost 3 in a row vs playoff teams (Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Atlanta) and they had lost 5 of their last 6, with the only win in that span being a 1 pt home victory over Kansas City.
In the first meeting between these teams, the Colts were leading 20-10 with 11:48 left in the game but Rivers led the offense on a 70 yd TD drive to get within 3 with 5:36 left, and then on another 58 yd drive to set up the tying FG with 1:45 left. The Colts then went 37 yds in 8 plays to set up a 51 yd FG from Adam Vinatieri as time expired for the 23-20 win.
Colt SS Bob Sanders did not play in that game, but he is expected to play in this one. He should make a difference.
Charger RB LaDanian Tomlinson tweaked his groin in the Denver game and did not return. An MRI has shown that he does have a strained groin and he has been held out of practices this week. TE Antonio Gates has a sprained anke and has also been held out of practice. In a quote from CBS Sportsline, It sounds as if Tomlinson, who has a strained groin, is in better shape than Gates, who has a sprained ankle. "If we were playing today he probably wouldn't play," coach Norv Turner said about Gates, the Pro Bowl tight end. And L.T.? "Yeah, I think he would," the coach said. "Both of them are a lot better than they have been," Turner said. "It really will be a Saturday decision, how they feel. We'll get them out there and run around and see how they feel. I'm optimistic about both of them."
San Diego went all-out last week in a huge revenge game that was for the AFC crown. Indianapolis rested starters in their game vs Tennessee. Manning only played one series, going 7 for 7 for 95 yds and a TD. Dominic Rhodes and Bob Sanders were held out completely. Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, and several other starters were removed in the 1st half.
I think Indianapolis has a serious advantage with rested and healthy starters. San Diego has had a nice run but they could have peaked emotionally last week. Sproles is not a bad replacement for LT...in fact maybe even better, but not sure he can carry a full load. I'm not sure Gates would even be that much of a factor. The Chargers have TE Brandon Manumaleuna, who is no slouch, but he is a couple inches shorter than Gates and without the jumping ability.
I think the Colts at a pick-em is an incredible deal in this game. Even if Tomlinson and Gates were healthy, and Sanders was still out for the Colts, I still think it would be a pretty decent deal. However, although I have won going against the Chargers several times this year, I do tend to get burned betting against them on occasion. And my wife is a HUGE Charger fan so it does make it "uncomfortable" watching the games sometimes. But I will be going with the Colts in this one as I just can't see the Chargers advancing and the Colts staying home. The Chargers knocked the Colts out of the playoffs last year, so that is just extra added incentive.
It looks like the sharps and public both jumped on the Chargers early as the line was Colts -2.5 at opening and it is now a pick-em.
Colts - Have won 9 games in a row which makes them the hottest team in the NFL right now. They did have a fairly easy schedule down the stretch with Houston, San Diego, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Jacksonville and a Tennessee team resting it's starters. But before that they did beat New England and Pittsburgh, and they are one of only two teams that dominated the Ravens. Indianapolis was 6-2 on the road and they were tied with Pittsburgh for the best record vs AFC teams at 10-2.
San Diego - Won their last 4 games, but really.....they beat a terrible Oakland team, it took a miracle for them to beat Kansas City, and they beat Tampa Bay and Denver who were both in free-fall mode. Remember, before that 4 game winning streak they had lost 3 in a row vs playoff teams (Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Atlanta) and they had lost 5 of their last 6, with the only win in that span being a 1 pt home victory over Kansas City.
In the first meeting between these teams, the Colts were leading 20-10 with 11:48 left in the game but Rivers led the offense on a 70 yd TD drive to get within 3 with 5:36 left, and then on another 58 yd drive to set up the tying FG with 1:45 left. The Colts then went 37 yds in 8 plays to set up a 51 yd FG from Adam Vinatieri as time expired for the 23-20 win.
Colt SS Bob Sanders did not play in that game, but he is expected to play in this one. He should make a difference.
Charger RB LaDanian Tomlinson tweaked his groin in the Denver game and did not return. An MRI has shown that he does have a strained groin and he has been held out of practices this week. TE Antonio Gates has a sprained anke and has also been held out of practice. In a quote from CBS Sportsline, It sounds as if Tomlinson, who has a strained groin, is in better shape than Gates, who has a sprained ankle. "If we were playing today he probably wouldn't play," coach Norv Turner said about Gates, the Pro Bowl tight end. And L.T.? "Yeah, I think he would," the coach said. "Both of them are a lot better than they have been," Turner said. "It really will be a Saturday decision, how they feel. We'll get them out there and run around and see how they feel. I'm optimistic about both of them."
San Diego went all-out last week in a huge revenge game that was for the AFC crown. Indianapolis rested starters in their game vs Tennessee. Manning only played one series, going 7 for 7 for 95 yds and a TD. Dominic Rhodes and Bob Sanders were held out completely. Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, and several other starters were removed in the 1st half.
I think Indianapolis has a serious advantage with rested and healthy starters. San Diego has had a nice run but they could have peaked emotionally last week. Sproles is not a bad replacement for LT...in fact maybe even better, but not sure he can carry a full load. I'm not sure Gates would even be that much of a factor. The Chargers have TE Brandon Manumaleuna, who is no slouch, but he is a couple inches shorter than Gates and without the jumping ability.
I think the Colts at a pick-em is an incredible deal in this game. Even if Tomlinson and Gates were healthy, and Sanders was still out for the Colts, I still think it would be a pretty decent deal. However, although I have won going against the Chargers several times this year, I do tend to get burned betting against them on occasion. And my wife is a HUGE Charger fan so it does make it "uncomfortable" watching the games sometimes. But I will be going with the Colts in this one as I just can't see the Chargers advancing and the Colts staying home. The Chargers knocked the Colts out of the playoffs last year, so that is just extra added incentive.
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