NFL Week 4 Match Ups & Betting Odds: After many years of dominance over the American Football Conference’s South Division, the Indianapolis Colts’ reign came to an end when Peyton Manning was unable to start the season due to multiple neck surgeries. Now being disregarded for the remainder of the season, Colts fans are still hopeful that they will see No.18 in uniform this season. Get $50 in Free NFL Picks here.
After three weeks in the books, the Kerry Collins-led Colts are the only team in the Division that has yet to win a ballgame this season. This week, the (0-3) Indianapolis Colts [+10] will have another crack at it, as they’ll be listed as the NFL Point Spreads underdogs at the (2-1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers [-10] on Monday Night.
This interconference matchup is set to kickoff at 8:30 PM ET from Raymond James Stadium and the OVER/UNDER is currently at 41 points. One can only wonder what’s going through the mind of a guy like Manning, who is as much of a proven winner as anyone in this league. Does he believe he can still play this year?
But Colts fans aren’t the only ones trying to be optimistic about Peyton’s comeback in 2011. Team owner Jim Irsay has also been hesitant to discard Manning for the entire season, keeping him on the active roster. This week, Colts vice chairman Bill Polian clarified what the organization intends to do in regards to the 3-time MVP’s.
“The protocol hasn’t changed one iota,” he said. “He’s still on the active roster and we have said time and time again that we will leave him on the active roster until the doctors tell us it’s impossible for him to come back this year.
“He’s exercising. He’s doing a lot more than he did a week ago. The bottom line is nothing has changed and he will have some examinations and tests down the line, quite a little while from now. It’s not imminent.”
The rest of the AFC South will all be in action this week. Here are the NFL Week 4 Match Ups & Betting Odds for the AFC South:
(2-1, Road: 1-1) Pittsburgh Steelers [+4] vs (2-1, Home: 1-0) Houston Texans [-4]
(2-1, Road: 0-1) New Orleans Saints [-7] vs (1-2, Home: 1-0) Jacksonville Jaguars [+7]
(2-1, Road: 0-1) Tennessee Titans [+1] vs (2-1, Home: 1-1) Cleveland Browns [-1]
