Broncos vs. Colts Point Spread: NFL Week 15 Odds, Prediction
The NFL doesn’t want teams playing on these super short turnarounds late in the season so that’s why there are no Thursday games after Week 15. Plus, there’s Saturday action this week and next with college football’s regular season having concluded.
Point Spread and Betting Analysis
About the only good thing there is to say about the Broncos-Colts game is that you can bet on it. It’s easily the worst overall matchup of the week and probably all season on a Thursday. Both teams’ seasons went in the toilet because of quarterback play. For Indianapolis, it was superstar Andrew Luck not making it back healthy from January shoulder surgery and missing the entire season. The Colts should be very competitive again in 2018 if Luck is healthy.
The Broncos simply have three bad quarterbacks: Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch. They will definitely be in the market for one in the 2018 draft and/or free agency. Denver has a good defense and skill position players and could be a playoff team next year with the right QB.
These teams have met five times since the 2013 season, once in the playoffs. All but one of those involved Luck vs. Peyton Manning. Of course, Luck replaced Manning in Indianapolis. Last year, the Broncos beat the visiting Colts 34-20. A late Von Miller strip sack of Luck led to the clinching 15-yard fumble return TD.
Denver is just 1-9 against the spread in the past 10 meetings, however.
Denver Broncos
Denver (4-9 SU, 3-9-1 ATS) ended an eight-game losing streak (team’s longest since joining the NFL) with a 23-0 win over the visiting Jets on Sunday – the Broncos’ first shutout since 2005. That good Denver defense held the Jets to just 41 passing yards and 100 total. Siemian threw for 200 yards and a touchdown to Demaryius Thomas. It was Thomas’ 56th career TD pass, moving him to second all-time on the franchise list. He also moved to second in receiving. Linebacker Von Miller had his 10th sack of the season to become the first Broncos player with six 10-sack seasons.
Indianapolis Colts
Indy (3-10 SU, 6-7 ATS) dropped a fourth straight Sunday, 13-7 in overtime at Buffalo in a blizzard. It was truly a sight to see. LeSean McCoy scored the winning touchdown with 1:33 left in OT. The Colts sent it to the extra session on a 3-yard TD pass from Jacoby Brissett to Jack Doyle with 1:16 left in regulation. Indianapolis originally went for 2 points and converted but it was negated by a penalty. Then they kicked the PAT. Adam Vinatieri, arguably the best kicker in NFL history, barely made that from 43 yards out. He would miss a field goal from the same spot with one second to go in regulation. He likely makes that if the weather’s not a factor. Brissett only threw for 69 yards.
The Colts were the first team in the NFL not to attempt a pass in the first quarter this season. Frank Gore rushed for 130 yards on career-high 36 carries. He’s now fifth on the league’s all-time rushing chart.
