Colts vs. Texans Point Spread: NFL Week 18 Odds, Prediction
The last regular-season Sunday of the NFL is here, as the Indianapolis Colts face the Houston Texans. It is the second and final meeting of the season, as Houston looks to sweep the season series after a 20-16 win in November.
The Texans are heading to the playoffs, while the Colts have fallen short. However, as AFC South rivals, Indy will look to take their final chunk of flesh to hinder their opponents going forward.
The Week 18 NFL odds board has the Texans listed as 10.5-point favourites with a 39-point total.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Against the spread (ATS) this season, Indianapolis has gone 8-8 while Houston has gone 9-7. Within the game totals, the Texans have gone 5-10-1 to the over, while the Colts have gone 8-8.
These teams meet twice per season as division rivals, and Houston has won four straight matchups and five of the last six.
In touchdown odds, Woody Marks (-165) and Nico Collins (+160) lead the way with the best odds for Houston.
Indianapolis Colts
What a rollercoaster of a season it has been for the Indianapolis Colts. After a red-hot start to the campaign, going 7-1, they enter Week 18 with a measly 8-8 record. To say this season has turned into a disaster is an understatement.
The Philip Rivers experiment is over, as the Colts turn to 23-year-old quarterback Riley Leonard for his first career NFL start. 44-year-old Rivers was commendable as he tried to save their season, but with no benefit of a win in this one, it is time to give the young buck a shot.
There is a long list of injuries in Indianapolis, which has been a contributing factor to the disappointing season. Among them is major trade acquisition Sauce Gardner, as well as key defensive players in DeForest Buckner and Charvarius Ward, and their top two quarterbacks in Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson.
Houston Texans
After an 0-3 start to the season, the Houston Texans have stormed back and have clinched their ticket to the playoffs. They currently sport an 11-5 record and will use this game as a final test before they try to continue a shocking but impressive run.
We are expected to see all starters play for Houston, as there is still plenty to play for. While they are likely to end up as the fifth seed in the AFC, they do have a slim chance of securing the third seed and the AFC South crown, so motivation should remain high for this one.
The Texans have been able to perform with many injuries throughout the season, including two key offensive players in Joe Mixon and Tank Dell, who will not play any time soon. Momentum is key for this gritty team, so winning a ninth-straight game would be massive.
Who Will Win Colts vs. Texans?
Houston comes into this game as major favourites, which comes as no surprise. They are at home, have been incredibly hot with eight straight wins, and are facing a depleted and defeated Colts team that is giving a rookie quarterback his first start.
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