NFL Thursday Night Preview: Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans
Thursday, 11/14/13, 8:25 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Indianapolis -2.5
Current Betting Line: Indianapolis -2.5
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 42.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Indianapolis Colts have won eight of their last nine games against the Tennessee Titans

Indianapolis had its two-game winning streak snapped last time out, as it suffered a 38-8 setback to the St. Louis Rams as 7.5-point home favorites in Week 10, while going OVER the betting total for the third consecutive contest. The Colts are 7-0 SU under head coach Chuck Pagano in games following a loss, with a 176-126 scoring margin in those wins, which is important to consider when making your NFL betting picks Thursday night. Indianapolis is 2-0 SUATS as a road favorite of three or fewer points the last two-plus seasons.

The Colts have turned the ball over just 11 times in 2013, which is tied for the fourth-fewest in the NFL, while they’ve been penalized just 33 times. Indianapolis has allowed only 29 points in the fourth quarter this season—the second fewest in the league at this point. Since 2012, the franchise is 10-0 SU in games with 30-plus rushes, while it has captured 24 of its last 25 games since 1984 in games with three or more rushing touchdowns.

Tennessee has lost four of its last five games, including a 29-27 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars as 11.5-point home favorites last week, while going OVER the betting total for a third consecutive affair. The Titans are two games behind the Colts in the AFC South division standings, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro football odds page. Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 22 of 33 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s loss—finishing with a passer rating or 111.2. Tennessee is 1-3 SUATS as a home underdog of three points or less since 2011, with no clear edge in terms of the betting total (2-2 Over/Under).

The Titans are looking to avoid their first four-game home losing streak since 2005, but the locker room is focused on the next seven weeks. “Right now we just got to go forward and try to win a game,” commented Titans head coach Mike Munchak. Tennessee has dropped eight of its last nine games in this series, as it prepares to play both games in this season series over the next three weeks.