Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Betting Odds: Sucker Bet?

Written by:
C Costigan
Published on:
Sep/30/2008
Indianapolis Colts

Among the early NFL games, the Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans is one of the most bet on. The line opened at Colts -3 as the road favorite and has moved up slightly a half point. Houston nearly beat Jacksonville on the road this past weekend, losing in overtime.

One of the main reasons why this game was getting so much action is that everyone began jumping all over the Colts at this low -3 line. And despite 95 percent of the action being on Indianapolis, this one has not moved.

Gambling911.com believes the line on this game should be Colts -1 or even a PK.

Indianapolis will come off its bye week and begin preparations for Sunday's road game with Houston. The Colts will take an uncharacteristic 1-2 record into the matchup against their AFC South rival.

Indianapolis, which has won five consecutive division crowns, is not used to looking up in the standings at other teams. But that's the situation that the Colts find themselves in right now.

"I'm not worried (about getting off to a 1-2 start and falling behind in the AFC South race) so much as I am about us," Dungy said. "We certainly don't want to go to 1-3. We don't want to have two division losses back-to-back and get behind the eight-ball that way. We've just got to start playing better.

"If we get ourselves playing, you can't control how anybody else is. As I said, Tennessee's playing great right now. But our concern is more of getting ourselves playing great. Then we'll be in good shape. We've got to start playing better and then (moving up the standings) will take care of itself, I think."

So what's wrong with Indianapolis? From Yahoo Sports:

It's no secret that the Colts' passing offense hasn't been running at its usual high efficiency through the first three games of the season. Indianapolis is averaging 249 yards through the air and just 11 yards per reception. QB Peyton Manning has been sacked five times. He has a passer efficiency rating of 73.1. The reasons for the Colts' struggles are varied. Manning did not have a training camp or preseason due to a July 14 surgical procedure to remove an infected bursa sac in his left knee. Indianapolis' offensive line has been in flux due to C Jeff Saturday's preseason knee injury, which sidelined him for the first two games of the season, and the loss of OT Tony Ugoh for at least one game with a groin injury. Throw in the absence of OG Ryan Lilja, who is on the team's physically unable to perform list due to offseason knee surgery, and the needed quick maturation of a couple rookies, C Jamey Richard and OG Steve Justice, and it's easy to see why the Colts have gotten off to a sluggish start.

The rushing offense and defense have been horrid as well for the Colts. Opposing teams have gained 598 yards on 123 rushing attempts against the Colts over the first three games of the season. Indianapolis has allowed 100-yard rushers in all three games, including a pair of 100-yard runners against Jacksonville two weeks ago.

The injuries along the offensive line are having an obvious impact on this team.

The Texans generated 386 yards. Matt Schaub received exceptional pass protection, and he completed 29 of 40 attempts for 307 yards and three touchdowns in their near win against the Jaguars Sunday.

The home team in this series has won 6 of the last 10. But the Colts have won 9 of the last 10 and they have destroyed the Texans in all but one of those nine games.

It may be unfair that Houston has had to play its first three games of the season on the road thanks to Hurricane Ike forcing the team out of its home. This will mark the first home game of the season.

Get a win over Indianapolis and there might still be hope for salvaging this season, writes Kristie Rieken of the Dallas Morning News. Go to 0-4 and the Texans will almost certainly be headed for their sixth losing season in seven years.

It should be an uplifting moment for this storm-ravaged city, with owner Bob McNair expected to announce the final contribution in his goal of raising $2 million for hurricane relief. Workers who helped in the days after Ike will be honored during the game.

A win could be a springboard for Houston to get things back on track. They play each of their October games in the friendly confines of Reliant Stadium, a place where they've won four straight and went 6-2 last season.

Some stats to consider that do not favor Indianapolis: The Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss. They are also 2-9 ATS in their last 11 vs. AFC South.

Past history tells us that a healthy Colts team can beat and cover the spread against Houston. This is NOT a healthy Colts squad. Houston is likely to be especially hungry for a win (make that "desperate") against a team they can conceivably win due to the Colts injuries. We are calling this one a "sucker bet" and asking why the odds makers haven't moved this line up in favor of Indianapolis. Expect Houston to cover by +3 ½.

BetOnline.com had odds on this game and all the other NFL matchups with up to 105 percent in signup bonuses OR -105 Juice Online Gamelines, -108 Juice Online Half-time lines, and a 10 percent cash signup bonus.

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