Nearly losing to the winless New York Jets is about the loudest alarm you can sound when it comes to something rotten with your football team. And right now, the Las Vegas Raiders’ ears are ringing.
The Silver and Black escaped with a miracle win over the Jets in Week 13, avoiding a third straight loss, and are now 2.5-point NFL betting underdogs hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14. The Colts bounced back from a loss to Tennessee in Week 12 with an important road victory in Houston last Sunday.
These are our NFL free picks and predictions for Colts vs. Raiders on December 13.
Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders Betting Preview
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Colts: Le'Raven Clark G (Out).
Raiders: Damon Arnette CB (Out), Jeff Heath S (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Colts are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as favorites. Find more NFL betting trends for Colts vs. Raiders.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
A Week 11 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs is excusable, especially since Las Vegas covered as a 7.5-point home underdog. However, the 43-6 blowout loss at Atlanta in Week 12 and last weekend’s 31-28 squeaker over New York (thanks to a terrible defensive call from Greg Williams) have books and bettors looking sideways at the Raiders.
Injuries and outbreaks have plagued the franchise’s first year in Las Vegas and this Week 14 homestand could have the Raiders down one of their top offensive weapons as well as plenty of bodies in the secondary.
Running back Josh Jacobs missed Week 13 with an ankle injury and head coach Jon Gruden doesn’t expect him back in time for Indianapolis. Jacobs has been the anchor of a rushing attack ranked 10th in yards per game (121.2) and would be vital to this playbook against one of the stingiest stop units in the NFL.
On defense, Las Vegas is missing safety Johnathan Abram (knee) and corner Damon Arnette is likely out for a while due to a concussion. Fellow CB Isaiah Johnson is also questionable, leaving the Raiders with plenty of holes in the passing defense.
That compounds things for this stop unit, which has been rolled by opposing rushing attacks over the last three games. The Raiders have allowed 439 totals yards rushing in that span and the defense has been on the field for an average of 32 minutes per game.
The Colts can put up points, averaging more than 27 per game, and don’t see much of a downtick when playing away from home either. Indianapolis has won each of its last three away games, boasting 26, 34, and 41 points in those victories.
Indy is 4-2 ATS on the road this season and looks like a great grab under the key number of a field goal Sunday.
PREDICTION: Indianapolis -2.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
Colts quarterback Philip Rivers has put in some work in the second half of the season after getting blasted by critics in his first month and a half with the team.
The veteran babymaker had just four passing touchdowns to five interceptions in his first five games but has erupted for 14 TDs and only four INTs since Week 6, including a 27-for-35, 285-yard, two-TD performance against the Texans last Sunday.
His counterpart in Week 14, Raiders QB Derek Carr, has had a great 2020 so far. He had to step it up in Week 13, falling behind to the Jets and getting little help from the shorthanded run game. Carr threw the ball 47 times, completing 28 of those passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns.
Indianapolis’ defensive numbers are a bit padded due to a softer schedule in the first half of the year. The Colts, who rank No. 6 in defensive DVOA at Football Outsiders, have given up big points in recent showings with many of those gains coming early into games.
They’re averaging 27.7 points allowed in first halves over the last three games and while they rank 10th in points allowed (22.8) overall, nearly 68 percent of opponents’ tallies are coming in the opening 30 minutes. Another slow start from the stop unit could turn this one into a shootout.
PREDICTION: Over 51.5 (-110)
Player Prop Pick
It took some time for Colts star WR T.Y. Hilton to find his groove with Rivers—given it was his third QB in the past three years. But it seems like these two are on the same page heading down the home stretch of the season.
Hilton, who recorded only 29 catches for 327 yards in his first nine games, has 12 grabs for 191 yards and two touchdowns over the past two weeks. He faces a diminished Raiders secondary, and a defense that sits 20th versus No. 1 WRs, allowing almost 74 yards and 7.5 passes per game to top targets.
Rivers will want to get Hilton going quickly again in Week 14, picking apart those gaps in the Silver State secondary.
PREDICTION: T.Y. Hilton Over 55.5 receiving yards (-117)
Colts vs Raiders Betting Card
- Indianapolis -2.5 (-110)
- Over 51.5 (-110)
- T.Y. Hilton Over 55.5 receiving yards (-117)
Did you know that if you parlayed this week’s NFL Colts vs. Raiders picks, you could win $57.60 on a $10 bet?
Use our NFL parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where Can I Bet on the NFL?
You can bet on NFL odds at every online and casino sportsbooks, including NFL moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals and a ton of NFL prop odds. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on NFL odds in your area.
