The Indianapolis Colts play host to the Houston Texans, Thursday Dec 22nd, as the Colts try for their first chance at back to back wins. The Texans are playing for home-field advantage in the playoffs after clinching the AFC South last weekend. NFL oddsmakers have the Texans as -5.5 point road favorites over the Colts with the over/under set at 40 points. Be sure to get the latest Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts Spread
before making your 2011 NFL Week 16 Picks.
Houston (10-4, 5-2 V) lost 13-28, at home, to Carolina in Week 15. QB T.J. Yates completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards. Their top-ranked defense looked vulnerable without coordinator Wade Phillips, who’s on medical leave after undergoing kidney and gall bladder surgery this week. Linebackers coach Reggie Herring made the defensive calls on Sunday.
The Texans know how to attack the Colts and it starts up front. RB Arian Foster is a strong runner who makes decisive cuts and can run through or past tacklers. The Colts know this. His coming-out party was a 231-yard rushing effort in the 2010 season-opening win over the Colts. While it would seem obvious that Murphy must bunch up his tacklers to minimize Foster’s gains, it’s not that simple. Third-string rookie QB T.J. Yates will be expecting to see that and the Texans are sure to throw quick passes to minimize the Colts’ pass rushers, especially the guys on the edge, DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. If Yates is successful, that softens the Colts defense, which must be wary of giving up big plays in the pass game. If Yates struggles, then the Colts turn their visitors into a more one-dimensional team, which is always the Colts’ goal.
Indianapolis (1-13, 1-6 H) is winless no longer. QB Dan Orlovsky threw one touchdown pass and the key block on an 80-yard TD run, leading the Colts to their first win of the season, 27-13 over Tennessee on Sunday. Orlovsky gave Indy a 10-6 lead with an 18-yard TD pass to Reggie Wayne in the third quarter, and Jacob Lacey made it 17-6 with a 32-yard interception return for a TD.
RB Donald Brown is an emerging home run hitter for the Colts. Brown is both the spear point and the beneficiary of a stronger running game. The Colts’ 4.4-yard average is their best since a 4.5 in 2001. The line is big and strong and the Colts are using fullbacks extensively. They rushed 34 times Sunday for 205 yards, the most since a Sept. 30, 2007, game in which they went for 226 yards against Denver. You have to go back 73 regular-season games to exceed the 34 rushes; the Colts ran 40 times against Tampa Bay on Oct. 7, 2007. “He’s a guy I feel gets better with every carry,” quarterback Dan Orlovsky said. “He starts to run better as the game goes on. His eyes, I think, get better. I don’t know how to play running back, but I feel when he gets the touches, he can make the plays.” The Colts running game goes up against the Texans second ranked rush defense.
Recent Trends to Consider:
Texans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a road favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Texans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
Texans are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC.
Texans are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC South.
Texans are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC South.
Over is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Indianapolis.
Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts
When: Thursday, Dec 22nd, 2011 8:20 EST
Pick: Houston -5.5
Point-Spreads recommends you check the Texans vs Colts Spreads before the game kicks-off.
The Bottom Line: Texans have the Colts number. NFL Point Spreads Expert Tyler Morgan went 2-1 ATS in Week 15, winning on underdogs Kansas City and Carolina to bring his NFL Predictions record to 73-39-4 for the season. Morgan, whose 2011 NFL Picks are hitting at 65% against the spread. Tyler’s moves have put thousands of dollars into his clients hands week after week. The good news for NFL Football bettors is – TYLER MORGAN’S PICKS ARE FREE – unlike most self proclaimed experts who charge big bucks to subscribers. Put a few Morgan Silver Dollars in your bank account by getting Tyler’s winning plays for FREE. Feel free to sign up to get NFL Picks Free!
