The Colts and Patriots will resume their rivalry when the teams meet in Foxboro for arguably the best Monday Night Football game of the season. Indianapolis has a favorite price of 4 points on the road and the total is around 48.5.
The White Ponies gallop into this game as the NFL’s only perfect team with a record of 7-0 (SU) and 5-2 (ATS) for the season. This includes a flawless 4-0 mark (SU and ATS) when on the road.
Peyton Manning, who leads the NFL’s ninth-ranked offense overall, is having a relatively quiet year relative to his record-breaking 2004 campaign. But Manning probably won’t be complaining, since this team is as complete as it gets in the NFL.
Indy not only boasts the NFL’s fourth-ranked rushing game, but for the first time in Manning’s career he has a solid defense to rely on. The Colts’ stopping unit is currently 4th in the NFL in total defense, as well as 6th against the pass and 13th against the run.
If there’s a knock on this Indianapolis team, it would have to be the strength of the schedule thus far. Indy’s seven opponents include Houston (1-7), St. Louis (4-4), San Francisco (2-6), Tennessee (2-7), Cleveland (3-5), Jacksonville (5-3 ) and Baltimore. (2-6). The collective record for these teams is 19-38 (SU) this season.
The Colts’ narrow 10-3 home win over the Jags was the only game they played against a foe with a winning record this year. And while the Patriots have struggled, the defending Super Bowl champions present Indy with its toughest test of the season.
The Patriots are 4-3 (SU) and 3-4 (ATS) overall, including 2-1 (SU) and 1-2 (ATS) at home. Unlike their AFC counterpart tonight, the Patriots have faced a tough early schedule.
New England’s six opponents include Buffalo (3-5), Denver (6-2), Atlanta (6-2), San Diego (5-4), Pittsburgh (6-2), Carolina (6-2) and Oakland (3-5). The collective record for these teams is 35-23 (SU) this season, while four of the seven are playoff teams from last year. However, New England has some notable shortcomings.
The Patriots have already lost more games than they had all of last season, mostly as a result of poor defense. Belichick’s acclaimed stopping unit has allowed 180 points this season and resides 29th in the NFL overall. The retirement of linebacker Ted Johnson, along with the firing of Ty Law and a secondary decimated by injuries have left the Patriots dangerously thin.
The result is that New England has turned its attention to offense. Tom Brady is averaging 279 passing yards per game, which is second best in the NFL overall. The Pats are fourth in the NFL in total yards per game and have been “very sharp” against the number at Gillette Stadium.
New England, in fact, is now 17-4 (ATS) in its last twenty-one at home, including 7-2 (ATS) in the rare role of home underdog. Even more important is the story of the series. Manning, the consumer movie theater student, has been mystified and confused by Belichick’s defensive wizardry.
The Colts are 1-6 (SU) and 0-6-1 (ATS) against New England under Belichick and Manning have never won a game at Gillette Stadium. Also note that Belichick has been the head coach and/or defensive coordinator (Patriots and Jets) vs. Manning eleven times and is 9-1-1 (ATS) vs. to the. The simple reason is that Bill Belichick is a master at neutralizing good quarterbacks, Manning notwithstanding.
Good luck tonight!
