Colts vs Broncos Betting Preview: Struggling Colts Head to Mile High
Denver Looking to Rebound After Disappointing Raiders Loss
Colts vs Broncos Betting Preview: Thursday Night NFL week 5 odds show the Broncos as a 3 ½ point favorite after opening -3. Home field advantage could make the difference against the struggling Colts.
Underdogs have had their way so far in 2022 with a 38-25-1 (60.03%, +960 units) start. That hasn’t deterred the betting public from jumping on the Broncos who are also on 63% of parlay cards. Interesting because the books have been cleaning up with parlay card cash this season, winning 37 of 63 (58.73%) games where one team has been wagered on 51% of the time or greater. Let’s continue our Colts vs Broncos betting preview by breaking down both teams.
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Game Information:
- Game: Indianapolis Colts (1-2-1) at Denver Broncos (2-2)
- Location: Empower Field at Mile High
- Day/Time:
- Streaming: Live Stream Sports
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Colts Under Streak On The Line
It was a close call but after a 34-point first half against Tennessee, the offense dried up in the second with a mere seven points scored, pushing this game under the total (43.5). It was the ninth straight game that under bettors cashed a ticket involving Indianapolis dating back to last season.
The Colts went from a team that cashed 26 of 45 (57.78%) from 2019 through the first 13 games of last season before starting this current streak. The goal of every team is to make the other one-dimensional.
Indy’s run defense, ranked 6th in the league (89.5 rushing yards allowed/game), has a chance to make the Broncos beat them through the air with both Javonte Davis and Melvin Gordon III banged up. That means that the Colts can focus on a Denver offense that’s ranked 21st in the league in total yards and 30th in points scored (16.5).
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Broncos Hope to Feed off Home Field Advantage
Denver hasn’t been kind to their supporters from a betting perspective over the last two years, dropping to 9-12 ATS in their last 21 games. A deeper dive into those numbers show a major split between home and away.
At Empower, Denver has covered a respectful 15 of their last 27, good enough to turn a small +183 unit profit. The road is where they have trouble cashing tickets (21-29 ATS since 2016).
At Empower, Denver has covered a respectful 15 of their last 27, good enough to turn a small +183 unit profit. The road is where they have trouble cashing tickets (21-29 ATS since 2016).
For the Colts to get the cover, they’ll have to find a way to get deep inside Denver territory, and when they do it’s a must-convert situation because you can’t rely on consistent success against a Broncos defense that has allowed just 29 plays to be run inside their 20.
Only five other teams have allowed less. They are tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the least amount of red zone points allowed (18).
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Home Field Advantage is Everything in Primetime
You can throw all the numbers out there, but once again the betting public is going with the home team on Thursday Night Football.
This has been a losing formula since 2019 when the home team playing on a Monday or Thursday is just 49-61 ATS (-1544 units). Even worse when you factor in just Thursday Night Football. (21-32, -1227 units). Since 2012, home teams on TNF, giving up three to five points are 21-23 ATS, -307 points.
To conclude our Indianapolis Colts vs Broncos betting preview our official recommendation is to take the Colts plus the points. Check out the latest injuries report here at Point Spreads!
Looking for more information about the NFL season? Here’s more!
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- Chiefs vs Buccaneers Betting Odds: Injuries Could Impact Super Bowl Rematch
- Vikings vs Saints Betting Odds: Saints Looking to Snap a Two-Game Losing Streak
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