Chargers vs Colts Monday Night Football Picks and Predictions: Los Angeles Steamrolls Lifeless Colts

The Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis will face each other on Monday Night Football in Week 16.

The Chargers are right in the thick of things in the AFC playoff picture, sitting at 8-6, and jockeying for one of the three wild-card spots. 

The Colts were eliminated from playoff contention with the victory by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night over the New York Jets. It will be interesting to see how the Colts rebound from their historic collapse in Minnesota last week, coupled with the fact there is nothing left to play for.

Can the Chargers keep their playoff hopes alive heading into the final two weeks, or will the Colts deal them a crushing blow? We’ll discuss in our free NFL picks and predictions for Chargers vs. Colts on December 26. For more, check out our Chargers vs. Colts props. 

Chargers vs Colts best odds

Chargers vs Colts picks and predictions

The Chargers prevailed 17-14 against Tennessee in their latest game and posted a 23-17 win a week prior against Miami. These were two monumental victories to inch them closer to securing one of the three wild-card spots in the AFC.

It will be interesting to see how the Bolts react to going on the road, playing a team with nothing but pride on the line. The last time the Chargers faced an "easy" opponent, Los Angeles fell 27-20 in Las Vegas against the hapless Raiders.

In fact, the Chargers seem to perform much better when the stakes are higher.

Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday announced this week that Matt Ryan will be benched, with Indy turning to Nick Foles. It’s hard to believe that the line on this game is so low, as I would have expected the Chargers to be favored by at least a touchdown since they’re a playoff contender, and the Colts are making another QB change and have little motivation in this spot.

I’d search the couch cushions, car seats, and jeans for all the money I could dump into my account to slam the Chargers covering on Monday night. 

My best bet: Chargers -4.5 (-107 at PointsBet)

Chargers vs Colts spread analysis

The Chargers head to Indianapolis with a 5-2 mark against the spread in the past seven games on the road. Los Angeles has bounced back nicely after a non-cover, too, going 5-2 ATS in the past seven following an ATS loss.

The Colts are 19-7-1 ATS in the past 27 games at home against teams with a winning road record. Still, none of that is terribly important, considering the fact that the Colts are eliminated from the playoffs and are on a massive downward trajectory.

The Colts have dropped four in a row, and they’re just 3-5 ATS in the past eight games overall. Indy dropped a season-high 36 points in Minnesota last week and still found a way to lose.

At home, the Colts have lost three in a row while going 2-3 ATS across the past five games at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Chargers vs Colts Over/Under analysis

The Chargers have cashed the Under in each of the past three outings, scoring an average of just 20.0 points per game on offense. Meanwhile, the defense has yielded just 15.5 ppg in the past two games against playoff contenders.

In fact, the performance of the defense is especially surprising, given the fact that Bryce Callahan and Derwin James have missed time in the secondary lately. The front seven has also been decimated by injuries.

The Under is 5-2 in the past seven games overall for the Chargers while cashing in seven of the past nine appearances on a Monday night.

For the Colts, the Under has cashed in six of the past eight games at home while hitting at a 6-2 clip in the past eight games against teams with a winning overall record.

Chargers vs Colts same-game parlay

Chargers -4.5 (-110) + Under 46 (-110) + Leg (odds)

Star running back Jonathan Taylor is done for the season, leaving the backfield chores to Zack Moss and Deon Jackson. It’s hard to believe the Indy offense will sustain drives this week. 

Look for a much lower-scoring game from the Colts against the Chargers, and pair the Under 46 (-110 at Wynn Bet) with the Chargers' -4.5 for a nice parlay opportunity.

MNF SGP odds: +264 at WynnBet

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Chargers vs Colts betting trend to know

Los Angeles has cashed in five of the past seven games on the road while going 4-1 ATS in the previous five trips to Indianapolis. Find more NFL betting trends for Chargers vs. Colts.

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