Indianapolis at Las Vegas
Time: 3 PM EST, CBS
Spread: IND -3
Total: 51
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Indianapolis Colts are 8-4 and atop the AFC South as it travels to Las Vegas to face the Raiders this week as 3-point favorites at Noon (EST) on CBS. The over-under is set at 51 points, per oddsmakers at bookmaker 5dimes.
IND
The Indianapolis Colts find themselves tied with the Tennessee Titans at 8-4, for the lead in the AFC South. The Colts defeated the Houston Texans 26-20 last week, and it has won four of its last six overall. The Colts rank No. 10 in the NFL in passing yards per game with 265.3, while it ranks just No. 21 overall in rushing yardage at 104.8. Overall, it clings to a top-10 offense that generates 27.3 per game, while its defense ranks in the top-12 with a 22.8 point per game average. The differential is +4.5 points.
The Colts have benefitted from veteran QB Phillip Rivers, traditionally one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL. He has thrown for over 3,200 yards at a 68.1 percent completion ratio. Rivers has 18 touchdown passes with nine interceptions, and he has been sacked just over once per game, for a total loss of 81 yards. His passer rating is 96.0. Rivers is not a rushing threat, with just -5 yards on his 15 attempts.
Fortunately, the Colts have been getting good production from its top-2 backs. Jonathan Taylor has 609 yards and four touchdowns while No. 2 back Jordan Wilkins has 305 yards and a touchdown. No. 3 option Nyheim Hines has 218 yards and three touchdowns. No others have seen significant attempts rushing, and the team averages a humble 3.7 yards-per-carry.
In terms of receivers, the Colts really have five solid options, and lead-option TY Hilton has caught 41 of 66 targeted looks for 517 yards and two touchdowns. Hines functions well as a receiver out of the backfield, with his 8.2 yards-per-reception. He ranks No. 2 in total catches with 58 and he leads the team in receiving touchdowns with four. The Colts average 11.2 yards-per-catch and four of its top-five receivers average over 12 per.
LV
Las Vegas has lost two of its last three overall and is currently 7-5. It is situated No. 2 in the AFC West, but it has no chance of catching the 11-1 Kansas City Chiefs.
The Raiders have a well-rounded offense, featuring a No. 10 ranked rush offense that generates 121 yards per game. The Raiders rank No. 11 in scoring, putting up 26.9 points per game. Unfortunately, the defense is not as strong, giving up 28.9 to finish with a point differential of -2.0. Considering this, the Raiders are fortunate to be above .500.
The Raiders “O” relies on the talents of QB Derek Carr. He has thrown 68.1 percent for completion with over 3,000 yards through eight games, and his passer rating is an outstanding 104.1.
Carr has 22 touchdowns with just five interceptions, and he has been sacked only 1.6 times per game. He has rushed 32 times for 129 yards and has 18 first down rushes this season.
That aspect has proven vital, even with Josh Jacobs rushing 206 times this season already and having racked up nine Touchdowns. Devontae Booker has attempted 75 rushes, but he leads the team with 5.0 yards-per-attempt and has managed three touchdowns. Henry Ruggs has rushed seven times for 42 yards, and though he has few attempts that tally of 6.0 to leads the team if the min is five rushes. Ruggs functions as a No. 3 option with 396 yards this season.
In terms of receiving targets, Carr has four big ones, with Josh Jacobs coming out of the backfield to sometimes provide a fifth. Darren Waller leads the team in yardage at 742, but he has caught 77 passes to a tune of about 9.6 yards per catch. The tight end leads the team in first downs with 47 and ranks No. 1 in scoring with seven receiving touchdowns.
Hunter Renfrow is the No. 2 top-ranking wideout with 556 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to ranking No. 3 in first downs with 25. Jacobs has caught 27 of 34 targeted passes but averages just 6.5 yards-per-catch and has just five first downs via receiving, to go with his 46 rushing first downs.
