Brandon Lang
Indianapolis Colts -3.5 1st Half
Tim Trushel
Bulls
Bob Balfe
Houston Texans +5
Texans/Colts Over 51
LA Clippers +7
Northcoast
2* Indianapolis Colts
Marquee Under
ATS Lock Club
4 Units Texas Rangers Under 6.5
2 Units Houston Texans +5.5
KELSO
10 Units Texas Rangers -170
10 Units Houston Texans +5.5
5 Units Sacramento Kings -4.5
Rich Green
3* Houston/Indianapolis Over 50
3* SF Giants + 1.5
3* SA Spurs - 7
Jeff Benton
20 Dime Houston
I know it’s damn-near blasphemy to go against Peyton Manning at home in a nationally televised prime-time game (after all, last time they were in such a spot, Manning murdered little brother Eli and the Giants 38-14). But I look at all the injuries the Colts are dealing with and I just can’t see how Indianapolis wins this game tonight, especially by margin.
Missing from Manning’s arsenal are RB Joseph Addai (shoulder injury); WR Austin Collie (Manning’s top possession target who is sidelined with a hand injury); and All-Pro TE Dallas Clark (Manning’s most irreplaceable weapon who is out for the season with season-ending hand injury). On top of that, Addai’s backup – Donald Brown (hamstring) – is questionable, and Manning’s other three top WRs (Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez) are expected to play even though all three are dealing with leg injuries.
All that means the following guys likely will see significant playing time – and be counted on to produce extensively – tonight: RB Mike Hart (zero NFL starts); rookie WR Blair White (a practice-squad player earlier this year) and TE Jacob Tamme (six career receptions). I know Manning’s a miracle worker, I know he’s had an extra week to prepare given that Indy is coming off a bye, and I know Houston’s defense ranks last in the league in yards allowed, but I’m sorry, you can’t lose multiple Pro Bowl-caliber players and expect the engine to run as smoothly.
Besides, it’s not just the offense that’s dinged up. All-Pro safety Bob Sanders and three key defensive backs (including starter Melvin Bullitt) are on injured reserve, while two of the five “healthy” cornerbacks on the depth chart are battling injury and may sit out (or at least see their roles limited). And remember: In the season opener at Houston, the Texans shredded the Colts’ then-healthy defense for 355 yards in a 34-24 rout that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated.
In that game, Houston RB Arian Foster gashed Indianapolis for 231 rushing yards and three TDs. Also, Texans left tackle Duane Brown stymied Colts All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney, and Brown returns tonight after serving a four-game suspension. One more point about that first meeting: Collie (11 catches, 163 yards, 1 TD) and Clark (13 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD) put up monster numbers. Again, both will be on the sidelines in street clothes.
Yes, I know Houston has never won in Indianapolis in eight previous trips, and yes I know that the Texans’ Week 1 victory was just their second in 17 all-time meetings. But as I mention when I gave out a 10 Dime winner on Houston in that 34-24 win over the Colts back on Sept. 12, this has been an extremely competitive rivalry recently. Since December 2006, Houston has two wins and five spread-covers in eight meetings. And in the Colts’ six victories during this stretch, they’ve won by the following margins: 30-24, 38-15, 31-27, 33-27, 20-17 and 35-27. Only one blowout there, and it must be noted that in that game the Texans’ starting QB and RB were Sage Rosenfels and Darius Walker (not exactly Matt Schaub and Arian Foster, right?). Also, Manning had all of his soldiers at his disposal in that game (and every game that Indy has defeated Houston).
Two final points to make here: 1) Since giving up 257 rushing yards to the Texans in Week 1, the Colts’ run defense hasn’t improved much at all, as they rank 26th out of 32 NFL teams in that department; 2) Houston’s offense has been incredible in two road games this season – both victories – averaging 30.5 points, 330 passing yards and 153.5 rushing yards per game (5.1 rushing yards per carry).
The bottom line here is I believe today what I believed back in Week 1: That the Texans are the better football team than the Colts. And that was before Indy suffered its rash of injuries. To be getting this many points with Houston – which has cashed in six of its last eight road games, nine of its last 11 as an underdog and seven of its last eight as a road underdog – is a freaking steal. Grab the generous offering and don’t be shocked if Houston wins another shootout.
Billy Coleman
3'* Hurricanes / Flyers Over
Seabass
500* Colts
Lenny Del Genio
15* Texas Rangers -170
Bobby Maxwell
300-Unit NFL Monday Mismatch - Indianapolis
The Texans opened the season with a victory over the Colts in Houston. You know Peyton Manning and the Colts are still ticked off about that one and out to offer some payback tonight when Houston comes into Indianapolis for a big Monday night game.
Indianapolis is 15-2 all-time against the Texans and they have won eight straight at home over their division rivals. Houston won the opener 34-24 thanks to RB Arian Foster’s 231 yards rushing and three TDs. The Colts are still shaky against the run, allowing 137.3 yards per contest, but you know they’ll be ready for him tonight. He won’t be surprising them now.
Manning has some new targets on the field with TE Dallas Cark out for the season and WR Austin Collie out for a few weeks with an injured thumb. The Colts are also likely without RBs Joseph Addai and backup Donald Brown, leaving them with Mike Hart making his first NFL start. Luckily, Manning has had two weeks to work with these guys and they’ll be clicking tonight.
Houston is on ATS skids of 1-3-1 against teams with winning records while Indianapolis comes in riding several positive ATS streaks, including 6-1 on Monday, 4-1 at home, 12-5-2 after a straight-up win and 7-1-2 against winning teams.
Houston has been on the road twice this season and won shootouts in both games. Indy has been home for just two games this season and won and covered in both, including a dominating performance against the Giants in primetime, winning 38-14 as four-point favorites.
I will go ahead and lay the chalk with the Colts at home. It’s tough to beat Peyton at home in a primetime contest. He’ll find a way to get open receivers and Indianapolis will step up on defense and limit the Houston running game. Play the Colts.
100-Unit World Series Do-or-Die Winner - Texas
Texas ace Cliff Lee has been put in a must-win situation tonight with the Rangers down 3-1 to the Giants and looking to push this series back to San Francisco. Lee (12-9, 3.18 ERA) is looking to make up for a terrible Game 1 performance and keep his team in this series.
Lee allowed seven runs (six earned) in 4.2 innings of the Game 1 11-7 loss in San Francisco. He had been cruising in the playoffs, allowing just two runs in 24 innings until Game 1. In his career against the Giants, Lee was 3-0 in three outings with a complete game, allowing three runs in 24 innings.
Up for the Giants is Tim Lincecum (16-10, 3.43 ERA), who wasn’t exactly sharp in Game 1, giving up four runs in 5.2 innings. He only struck out three Rangers in the series opener so they were making contact all night and will need to do the same tonight to fight off elimination.
Texas has won 14 of 18 interleague games and the Rangers will get the bats cranked up again tonight. Lee will keep the San Francisco bats silent tonight and when the Rangers push over a few runs, this one will essentially be over. Lee dominates tonight and Texas forces this series back to San Francisco.
Play Texas.
Chip Chirimbes
Texans at Colts
Pick: Texans +5.5
Week One when these two clubs met in Houston we were all over the Texans as they won easily as a 2-point underdog 34-24 breaking the Colts hold over them. This week it might appear to many that it is payback time for Indianapolis as it has been eight years since a Division for has been able to sweep a season series from the Colts. Trends will help point us in the right direction here as Houston has covered four of the last five in the series, they are 11-3 as dogs in their last 14 and they are 7-1 against the points as a division underdog.
The Duke's Sports
Houston (+5') for 1.5 Units
Houston/Indianapolis 8:30: Houston has played this series tough covering in 3 of the last 4 games, including week #1 in a 34-24 triumph at home. Indy has not played the home favorite same season revenge role well at a money burning 1-11 ATS. Tonight, we don't like a team that depends so much on the passing game yet has a depleted receiving corps. Even the great Peyton Manning needs more than a few weeks to get in rhythm with his seldom used receiving corps and 3rd team RB Hart. Houston's defense is poor at the bottom of the league; however, Mario Williams is healthy and versatile LB Cushing can make big plays. Moreover, the Texans can score! There are few weaknesses to their offensive game, which is well balanced. They're averaging nearly 31 ppg on the road and that makes them a dangerous team. Houston is 7-1 ATS as a road dog and covered 6 of their last 8 in week #8. Houston the call.
Cincinnati Kid
LA Clippers +7
Spurs visit the Clipps this evening in LA with the Host seeking their 1st win of the 2010 campaign entering off 3 straight losses and BB Double-Digit setbacks...NBA teams playing their 3rd home game of the young season owning a sub .334 w-l mark are 35-14 ATS w/Revenge coming off a DD non-division ATS loss including 17-4 ATS vs. a Foe off a SU ATS loss...H3 clubs off a SU loss of 15 or more are 12-1 ATS vs. non-division foes off a SU Fav loss...and H3 clubs hosting exactly .500 clubs are 8-0 ATS off a SU ATS loss and BB losses vs. non-division foes off a SU ATS loss