The NFL betting board in Week 17 features plenty of interesting playoff scenarios including the Indianapolis Colts, who need a win and a loss from either the Browns, Ravens, Dolphins, or Titans to make the postseason.
While they need help, the Colts should be able to hold up their side of the bargain as they face the league's worst team in the Jacksonville Jaguars. NFL betting lines have Indianapolis installed as 14-point home favorites with the Over/Under set at 49.5.
We break down the NFL odds with our best free Jaguars vs. Colts picks and predictions for January 3, with kickoff at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts Betting Preview
Weather
This game will be played indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions for other Week 17 games with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Jaguars: D.J. Chark WR (Out), James Robinson RB (Out), C.J. Henderson CB (Out), Josh Allen LB (Out), Sidney Jones CB (Out), Brandon Linder OL (Out), Davon Hamilton DT (Out), D.J. Hayden CB (Out), Josh Lambo K (Out), Dede Westbrook WR (Out), Dakota Allen LB (Questionable), Nathan Cottrell RB (Questionable), Collin Johnson WR (Out).
Colts: Philip Rivers QB (Probable), DeForest Buckner DT (Questionable), Denico Autry DT (Questionable), Rock Ya-Sin CB (Out), Khari Willis S (Out), Michael Pittman WR (Questionable), Anthony Castonzo T (Out), Malik Hooker S (Out), Marlon Mack RB (Out), Parris Campbell WR (Out), Jack Doyle TE (Questionable), Will Holden T (Out), Marcus Johnson WR (Questionable).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Jaguars are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall. Find more NFL betting trends for Jaguars vs. Colts.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
When I originally saw the line for this game, I automatically leaned towards Jacksonville. After all, the Jaguars have owned this head-to-head rivalry in recent years, going 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings and 7-3 SU in the previous 10. Combine that with a Colts offense that has been inconsistent this year, and I figured grabbing 14 points with the dogs made sense.
That knee-jerk analysis has flipped in a hurry. You would think that with the Jags securing the first pick overall in the upcoming draft, they would have no reason to tank. But with head coach Doug Marrone confirming that Mike Glennon would start over Gardner Minshew at QB in Week 17, I can't help but wonder if he wants to end the season by getting stomped.
Sure, Minshew isn't a great option at quarterback but he's a competent passer that's completed 66.1 percent of his passes this season with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He gives Jacksonville a chance at being competitive, while Glennon is absolutely terrible, as he's shown with his passer rating of 75.4 through four games this year.
Jacksonville will also be without one of their few bright spots this season, rookie running back James Robinson, who has rushed for 1070 yards while adding 49 receptions out of the backfield. Without Robinson, the Jags will struggle to move the chains against a stout Colts D that ranks eighth in the league in total defense.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars defense has looked awful recently and injuries have decimated their depth at cornerback with C.J. Henderson, D.J. Hayden and Sidney Jones all sidelined. They surrendered 41 points to Chicago in Week 16 after giving up 40 the previous week against Baltimore.
Keep in mind that the Colts had won three games in a row before their fourth-quarter collapse in Pittsburgh last week, while the Jags are 4-9 ATS in their previous 13 games. Take Indy to win and cover.
PREDICTION: Indianapolis -14 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
The Colts are a respectable ninth in the league in scoring with 28.2 points per game. However, they rank just 23rd in third-down conversion rate and are 18th in red-zone touchdown percentage.
The Colts have cashed the Under in four of their last five games against teams with losing records, and boy do these Jaguars ever have a losing record, sitting at the bottom of the league standings with a 1-14 mark.
The Jags have gone 9-4 to the Under in their previous 13 contests against teams with a winning record. They're also just 26th in the league in total offense with 329 yards per game, while ranking 29th in scoring offense with 19.5 ppg.
Don't expect the Jags offense to do enough for this game to go Over the total.
PREDICTION: Under 49.5 (-110)
Team Total Prop Bet
The Jaguars are just 27th in the league in offensive DVOA according to Football Outsiders, while the Colts are eighth.
Keep in mind that the Jags have struggled big time on offense, even with Minshew under center and Robinson piling up yards out of the backfield.
They are bound to be even worse with Glennon, who has averaged just 4.9 yards per pass attempt over his last two starts while throwing five picks over his previous three games.
Glennon simply isn't an NFL-caliber starting QB, and with the Colts ranking third in the league in takeaways with 24, we're fading the Jags on their team total.
PREDICTION: Jacksonville Team Total Under 17.5 (-110)
Jaguars vs Colts Betting Card
- Indianapolis -14 (-110)
- Under 49.5 (-110)
- Jacksonville Team Total Under 17.5 (-110)
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