by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Jan 07, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Colts -2.5; Colts -140, Texans +120; O/U 37.5
FanDuel: Colts -2.5; Colts -146, Texans +124; O/U 38
BetMGM: Colts -2.5; Colts -145, Texans +120; O/U 38
Caesars: Colts -2.5; Colts -141, Texans +118; O/U 38
Season record
Texans: 2-13-1
Colts: 4-11-1
We’re coming down the home stretch of the NFL season and there’s still a lot left to get excited for on your TV screen (or your streaming device if you’re like me and watch Sunday Ticket on a Fire Stick. That works, too). Nevertheless, the final few weeks of the regular season are going to be hectic for everyone on the field, but just as much as everyone off it. You’re probably going to need to figure out which plays are the best ones in terms of teams sitting the star players for the playoff advantage, or which teams are going all in for the final playoff push. If you need that extra push, trust that our champion handicappers can get the job done for you. Matt Fargo has a 17-9-0 run over the last 30 days in the NFL. Brian Bitler has continued to stay consistent, despite a wild, unpredictable season, by going 16-9-0. Do you want a piece of this action? Make sure to stay locked to bigal.com and follow our champion handicappers so you can be a champion, too!
Texans - Colts preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Texans: lost 31-3 vs. Jaguars
Colts: lost 38-10 at Giants
Again, another week of not much to play for in the NFL because not all matchups are created equal this week no matter how many playoff implications there are in the National Football League. But there are NFL draft implications ranging from picks one through 10 and that certainly ranges to the Houston Texans as they prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
It has been a rather interesting ride for Houston over the last month. They have gone from being the complete losers that would not come close to winning within 10 points to then covering three straight times and getting an outright win over the Tennessee Titans on Christmas Eve. Houston is coming off A31-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but you can really can't be mad at losing by 4 touchdowns to the team that is likely going to win your division on Sunday. Especially the fact that Houston was 3.5 point underdogs which surprisingly was the lowest spread after being underdogs by 17 and 14.5 just a month ago.
It has been a rough climb for Houston over the last couple of years and now with the ability to secure the first overall pick in the draft should they lose this game, they will absolutely be able to reset and start a new with a new quarterback, possibly Bryce young or even CJ Stroud. Whomever they want, they are more than likely going to get with the pick that they get. And that is more impressive than anything that Houston could get over a month ago.
Keep in mind how Houston basically brokered its future by shipping Deshaun Watson to Cleveland knowing that it was the right decision to make given the allegations surrounding him at the time and the ability to understand that they were going to absolutely suck this year. Of course that is proven to be true with a 2-13-1 record this year, but Houston has taken advantage of being those heavy underdogs with A7-8-1 record against the spread this year. And when you look at the grand scheme of things somehow that is way better than what the cults have done this year especially given the fall from grace that has been the Jeff Saturday era over the last six games.
Again, kudos to the Colts coach for realizing that this probably isn't going to be for him and that this is the last game he will need to coach before he goes back to ESPN. Because this six game losing streak has been anything but entertaining for the most part. Actually I'll take that back. There has been some entertaining games like almost beating Philadelphia, almost beating Pittsburgh, and blowing A33-0 lead against Minnesota. I could say those are entertaining. What is not entertaining is losing 38-10 to the New York Giants on New Year's Day in which they were only 5.5 point underdogs. If you are a Colts fan, I am so sorry and this is only going to be an abysmal stretch down the rest of the way.
Prediction
If you are the Texans, you probably want to lose this game just so you have the first overall pick and you have the ability to select who you want. It would not shock me if Houston rested everyone and just decided to go old tank officially for the top pick. But I am not coach Lovie Smith and this seems like the perfect time for Houston to just wax Indianapolis. Texans 31, Colts 10
Betting trends
Colts are 6-18 ATS after 2 straight losses by 10 or more points since 1992.
Colts are 3-12 ATS at home after scoring 14 points or less in 2 straight games since 1992.
Texans are 3-11 ATS after losing 4 of 5 the last 3 seasons.
Statistical leaders
Colts:
Passing: Matt Ryan – 3,057 yards, 14 TD, 13 INT
Rushing: Jonathan Taylor – 861 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Michael Pittman Jr. – 895 yards, 2 TD
Defense: Yannick Ngakoue – 9.5 sacks
Texans:
Passing: Davis Mills – 2,820 yards, 14 TD, 13 INT
Rushing: Dameon Pierce – 939 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Brandin Cooks – 593 yards, 2 TD
Defense: Jerry Hughes – 9 sacks
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Indianapolis Colts - Houston Texans prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NFL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
