The Indianapolis Colts take their fading playoff hopes to the Mercedes Benz Superdome to take on the New Orleans Saints on December 16, 2019.
The Colts have lost six out of their last seven games to fall to 6-7 SU on the season. In their last outing, Indianapolis blew a 14-point third-quarter lead to the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, the Saints are coming off a 46-48 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. New Orleans is 10-3 on the season and they have won eight out of their last 10 games played. They have already clinched the NFC South Division and are currently fighting for the top spot in the NFC Conference.
The Indianapolis Colts’ playoff hopes are slowly fading away. The 6-7 Colts are two games behind a group of teams with 8-5 record and a loss to the Saints on Monday will eliminate them from playoff contention. Indianapolis is coming off a 35-38 road loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.
Jacoby Brissett has completed 228 out of 361 passes for a total of 2,496 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. Marlon Mack has a total of 205 carries for 900 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Zach Pascal leads the receiving team with 547 yards with 5 touchdown catches on 35 catches.
The Colts ranks 25th in the NFL in passing yards at 207.7 yards per game. They are the 6th best rushing team in the league at 133.4 rushing yards per game. Indianapolis has the 17th best scoring offense this season at 22.8 points per game and they are allowing their opponents to score 22.7 points per game this season.
The New Orleans Saints head home after losing a trackfest to the San Francisco 49ers. New Orleans lost 46-48 and they dropped to 10-3 on the season. The Saints produced a total of 465 offensive yards but they gave up 516 yards of offense to San Francisco and allowed the 49ers to convert four out of six red-zone trips.
Drew Brees has thrown for a total of 2,140 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. Alvin Kamara has rushed for 612 yards on 138 carries. Michael Thomas is the team’s top receiver with a total of 1,424 receiving yards with 7 touchdown grabs on 121 catches.
New Orleans is the 8th best passing team in the league at 261.4 passing yards per game. They are ranked 16th in rushing at 108.0 yards per game and the Saints offense is 5th best in the NFL at 26.3 points per game. New Orleans is allowing an average of 22.8 points per game this season.
Indianapolis is 1-5 SU in their last six games played. The Colts are 2-5 SU in their last seven games played on the road. New Orleans is 9-2 SU in their last 11 games played. The Saints are 15-5 SU in their last 20 games played at home. Head to head, the Saints are 6-2 SU in their last six games played against the Colts.
The Colts blew a 14-point lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and were defeated 35-38. Indianapolis has now lost five out of their last six games played and they are 6-7 SU after opening the season with a 5-2 record. T.Y. Hilton is listed as week to week with a calf injury and Parris Campbell was placed in the injured reserve earlier this week, leaving Jacoby Brissett without his top receiving options.
The Saints are coming off a 46-48 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in a game where their defense was exposed. That defense will be without defensive end Marcus Davenport and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Their absence could lead to a big night from Marlon Mack.
Indianapolis is suffering from injuries and their secondary has put them in 20th spot in yards per play. That’s gotta hurt against Drew Brees who just passed for 349 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. The Colts’ offense has struggled against the good teams of 2019 and Brissett has generated only 17 or fewer points in three out of their last six games. I like the Saints to win at home.
PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The Colts are 6-5-2 ATS in their 13 games played this season. The Colts 3-1-2 ATS in six road games played this season, 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games played against the NFC Conference, and 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games played against the NFC South Division. The Saints are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games played. New Orleans is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games played against the AFC South Division, and 1-5 ATS in their last six December games. Head to head, the Saints are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games played against the Colts.
The Colts have a slight advantage when it comes to rushing the football but that’s nothing compared to the big edge that New Orleans has in the passing department. Indianapolis is ranked 30th in pass completion percentage while New Orleans is the top NFL team in pass completion percentage. I don’t think the Colts’ defense can stop the Saints offense.
PREDICTION: SAINTS -8
The total has gone over four out of the last six games played by the Colts. Indianapolis has seen the total go over in four out of their last five road games in New Orleans. The total has gone over in seven out of the 13 games played by the Saints this season. The over is also 5-1 in New Orleans’ last six games played on a Monday. Head to head, the under is 5-3 in the last 8 meetings between these two teams.
New Orleans is coming off a game where the total was 94 and there was no overtime period. The Saints’ offense should have a field day with Indianapolis’ defense allowing 277.3 yards per game through the air this season. Not only that, but New Orleans is also allowing an average of 25.1 points per game at home this season. With the injuries to New Orleans’ defense, I think that the Colts can score enough points to help the Saints push the total to over
PREDICTION: OVER 46.5
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
