The Colts are ushering in a new era with a new head coach manning the sidelines as Shane Steichen takes the reigns. They’ll feature what the team hopes to be their next franchise quarterback in rookie signal caller Anthony Richardson.

The Colts will have a lot to figure out in the preseason while the Bills already know their identity. Sean McDermott has done well in the preseason over his career in Buffalo, winning 12 of his 18 games. Will he push his team in this spot or are the Colts the better play?

The NFL preseason odds have paced the Colts as a -5.0 favourite.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

We have no intel to work with when it comes to Steichen. He’s a new head coach and has never led a team in the past.

As for McDermott, he’s 12-6 in preseason games through his tenure in Buffalo. The team is actually 9-1 in their last 10 preseason games under him. That’s why it’s a little bit surprising to see the Bills as such a big dog here.

Indianapolis Colts

The biggest question mark for the Colts is how ready their rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson is to become a starter. He’s got such a unique and interesting blend of speed and size and should get a good amount of playing time. After all, it is heavily anticipated that he will be named the starter for the regular season opener. If that’s the case, he’ll need as much NFL action as possible.

Not only will Richardson see a good amount of time on the field, but he’ll also have to compete with the veteran signal-caller Gardner Minshew. Minsher is a former regular season starter and a pretty capable one at that. That rotation is a big reason why the Colts are favoured here. Minshew should fare well against second and third-stringers.

Buffalo Bills

It’s hard to imagine any of the Bills’ major skill position players seeing the field for more than one drive. Many likely aren’t going to see the field at all. Superstar quarterback Josh Allen and wideout Stefon Diggs could both be held out entirely. There really isn’t any need to risk their health here.  As such, quarterback duties will go to Kyle Allen or Matt Barkley. While both aren’t great regular season starters, they should be effective against backups.

The Bills also have a strong rotation at running back, which should help them compete here. James Cook is the likely starter with Damien Harris, Latavius Murray and Darrynton Evans on the roster too. These are all players that have had regular season carries. The Colts are thin at running back as Jonathan Taylor is out and the depth chart doesn’t look as strong.

The Colts are a sizable favourite here but it doesn’t exactly feel justified. The Bills might be a good option as an underdog on Saturday.

Who Will Win Colts vs. Bills?

COLTS

Away

24

BILLS

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