Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/1/2023

by Chuck Sommers

Friday, Dec 30, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Where to watch: CBS

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Giants -5.5
FanDuel: Giants -5.5
BetMGM: Giants -6
Caesars: Giants -5.5

Season record
Colts: 4-10-1
Giants: 8-6-1 (Can clinch playoff berth with win)

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!

Colts - Giants preview, analysis and prediction


Last week
Colts: lost 20-3 vs. Chargers
Giants: lost 27-24 at Vikings

Colts analysis
 
If there is anything that I can probably guarantee from this week, and there's not really a lot, it's that you should stay away from the Indianapolis Colts for the remainder of this season as swiftly as possible. I don't think you need to be taking them under any consideration to win, or to cover. And the fact that they are actually getting 5.5 going into this game against the New York Giants really surprises me from the standpoint of the Colts are getting some generous offers at most sports books over the last few weeks. They got 3 1/2 against Minnesota, and 3 1/2 against the chargers. Of course, two completely different games and how they ended up. And of course the Colts did cover despite blowing that 33-0 lead against Minnesota on December 17th.
 
But this five game losing streak that the Colts are on right now is a microcosm to just how bad this run has been since Jeff Saturday took over as coach. And at least we can all rejoice in the fact, and Jeff Saturday can absolutely rejoice in this, that he likely will not be coming back as coach next season. The man really didn't want to anyway and he even admitted that in his opening press conference. But the Colts have at least gone 3-3 against the spread since Saturday took over, though there aren't any moral victories as it pertains to the books as is on the field.
 
Nick Foles will likely still remain quarterback after throwing up a dud against the chargers on Monday night in the 20-3 loss. Foles through for 143 yards and three interceptions on 17 of 29 passing. There is no great option at quarterback right now for Indianapolis, whether it be Matt Ryan or the former Super Bowl MVP. The Colts are just trying to get through this as quickly as they can and move on and not have to worry about this season ever again. It has been a nightmare, let them go get a rookie, and start over from scratch. It's been a long time since the Colts have started over and this is the time where they need to start doing it.
 
Giants analysis
 
The New York Giants are still very much alive in the playoff chase and and they can clinch a playoff spot with a victory on Sunday against the Colts. So if you're planning on having any sort of party in east Rutherford anytime soon, get ready to party. There are a myriad of scenarios in which the giants can clinch a playoff spot this week so it would have to take a lot for New York to not be one of the seven teams in the NFC fighting for a Super Bowl opportunity. The giants are coming off a 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in which the game was decided by a 61 yard field goal from Greg Joseph. Of course the giants would find a way to lose that kind of way.
 
Funny enough, Daniel Jones actually had one of his better games as the quarterback of the giants. He threw for 334 yards and a touchdown, despite having to throw the ball 42 times. I don't care how efficient that is. Jones should not be throwing the ball 42 times under any circumstance, especially if Saquon Barkley is only running the ball 14 times for 84 yards in the touchdown. He is your best offensive player and is your most dynamic weapon. He should absolutely be touching the ball more times than 14 yards and eight receptions. If it weren't for the fact that he actually got involved in the passing game this would be a lot more annoying than it is right now.
 
The giants are 4-1 in their last five against the spread and that includes a run of 1-3-1 outright. Add two more losses in the previous two games, and the giants are actually losers of four of their last six but are five and two in their last seven against the spread. So in short, if you're contemplating on the Giants laying 5 ½, odds are looking good that you might want to take advantage of that. But why do I get the feeling that this would be the time for the giants to just completely fold? I'm not quite sure. But I'm not going to fall into that trap.
 
Prediction
 
I don't think this one should be overthought as much as it should be. I do think the under is in play here at 38 and I think that the Colts and their inability to score is going to make that a little bit more heightened. But the giants should easily cover the 5.5 that it's laying and you should get ready for a third team in the NFC East making the playoffs. Giants 20, Colts 6

Betting trends

Colts are 8-1 ATS on the road after failing to cover in 2 of their last 3 in the last 3 seasons.

Colts are 6-0 ATS after a loss by 10 or more the last 3 seasons.

Giants are 11-4 ATS in all games this season.

Statistical leaders

Colts:
Passing: Matt Ryan – 3,057 yards, 14 TD, 13 INT
Rushing: Jonathan Taylor – 861 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Michael Pittman Jr. – 854 yards, 2 TD
Defense: Yannick Ngakoue – 9.5 sacks

Giants:
Passing: Daniel Jones – 3,026 yards, 13 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: Saquon Barkley – 1,254 yards, 10 TD
Receiving: Darius Slayton – 710 yards, 2 TD
Defense: Dexter Lawrence – 6.5 sacks

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Indianapolis Colts - New York Giants 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.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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