NFL Week 5 Predictions: Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts

Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, 10/5/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Indianapolis -3
Current Betting Line: Indianapolis -3
Opening Total: 46.5
Current Total: 49
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Indianapolis Colts have turned around their season after an 0-2 start

Baltimore has won three games in a row since a season-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, as it comes off a 38-10 blowout victory over the Carolina Panthers as 3.5-point home favorites Sunday, while winning the statistical battle for a fourth time. The Ravens went 2-6 away from M&T Bank Stadium last year, which is important to consider when making your Week 5 NFL predictions, but they did escape with a 23-21 win over Cleveland as two-point road favorites on Sept. 21. Baltimore is 6-11 SU and 8-8-1 ATS as underdogs since 2012, with the OVER going 10-6 in that situation.

The Ravens have dropped six consecutive meetings with the Colts, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting lines, but they may turn the tables with the offseason addition of former Panthers star Steve Smith. The veteran wide receiver leads the AFC with 429 receiving yards and hit pay dirt twice against his former team last time out. His play on the field and the addition of coordinator Gary Kubiak has opened up the offense for quarterback Joe Flacco, who has a 93.5 passer rating—the second highest of his career.

Indianapolis has split its first four games of the year, while going OVER the betting total in each of those contests. The Colts pace the league in averaging 34.0 points per game and are tied for first in total offense at 444.0 yards a contest. All eyes will be focused on third-year signal-caller Andrew Luck, who is on pace to throw for an amazing 5,220 yards and 52 touchdowns. Indianapolis is 10-5 SU and 9-5-1 ATS in games with a point spread of +3 to -3 the last two-plus seasons.

The Colts have become more explosive offensively with veteran Reggie Wayne on the field, as he leads the franchise with 23 receptions and 307 yards, which is quite amazing after suffering a season-ending injury just a year ago. Defensively, the team is getting after its opponents in causing mistakes—forcing three turnovers in each of its past two games and getting to opposing quarterbacks seven times over that span.