Colts vs. Jaguars Point Spread: NFL Week 6 Odds, Prediction
-
Edgar Chaput
The Indianapolis Colts received some bad news on Wednesday when it was announced that rookie QB Anthony Richardson will miss four to eight weeks of action because of a shoulder injury. The Jaguars return from two weeks in England to their real home fans, having most recently shocked the Buffalo Bills 25-20.
The NFL odds currently have Jacksonville as a -4 favourite, with the total tabulated at 45.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
It’s only Week 6 yet this Sunday’s matchup already concludes the season series between these AFC South foes. The Jags got their 2023 started in earnest with a hard-fought 31-21 win over the Colts in Indy. This time they won’t need to contend with suddenly surging rookie Anthony Richardson.
The Floridian side has captured three of the last four meetings with the Colts, yet some of those were as clear underdogs at the time. Given the recent fortunes of both sides, it’s Jacksonville who is deemed as the superior outfit.
Don’t discount the Colts though. They’re not only 3-2 in the standings but against the spread as well. As far as how they get their results, it’s been a straightforward matter of outright victories translating to covers and vice versa. Something to keep in mind is that they’re 3-2 despite having played the part of the underdog every week so far.
Jacksonville can also gloat about a 3-2 record ATS. Their big surprise came with the five-point win last Sunday against the favoured Bills despite being a 5.5 underdog. While it’s cool that the team swept its London series, the reality is that the Jaguars have not played well at their real home in Florida, sporting an unenviable 0-2 record so far.
Indianapolis Colts
News of Anthony Richardson being put on IR was a tough pill to swallow, even with a trustworthy backup in Gardner Minshew. Richardson had shown promise and skill in his limited playtime this season. Should his absence extend to the full eight weeks, by the time we see him again it will almost be Christmas.
The good news is that RB Jonathan Taylor and the franchise are friends again. He was active for Week 5’s 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titan but limited, touching the ball only six times for 18 yards. Say hello to Indianapolis’ backup plan at running back, however. His name is Zack Moss and he barrelled his way to 165 yards and two scores. Minshew was more than serviceable under centre, averaging 11.1 yards per pass and his connections with WR Josh Downs helped the receiver go for 95 yards on the day. Props to the defensive line as they limited Derrick Henry to only 43 yards. They aren’t strong against the pass, ranking 28th in the NFL, so they’ll have to be weary when facing Trevor Lawrence.
LB Shaquille Leonard and DE Kwity Aye are questionable.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Speaking of Lawrence, had the sort of game fans expect from him every week. Is it the London air that helps improve his game? Who knows. But he looked great in the 25-20 win over the Buffalo Bills from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The third-year signal-caller went 25-for-37 for 315 yards and tossed an awesome dart into the back of the end zone that was corralled by Zay Jones and set the tone for the sort of offence the team ran. RB Travis Etienne exploded for 136 yards, including a 35-yard TD in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach for Buffalo despite a valiant effort late. It’s tricky to discern what is supposed to be made of the contest. The Bills were justifiably favoured but opted to fly across the Atlantic on Friday for a competitive football game scheduled for Sunday afternoon in a radically different time zone. The Jags, on the other hand, had already spent an entire week in London, having “hosted” the Falcons the week before.
LB Devin Lloyd and CB Christian Braswell are questionable.