Empower Field at Mile High will be the center of the NFL World on Thursday Night Football. The Indianapolis Colts travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in a showdown between two-game losing AFC teams that just lost their starting running backs. The Colts are 1-2-1 after a loss to division rival Tennessee Titans in Week 4 and will be without Jonathan Taylor (ankle). The Broncos are 2-2 overall and 2-0 at home this season and will be without Javonte Williams (knee).
Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. ET in Denver. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Broncos as 3-point home favorites in the latest Colts vs. Broncos odds, while the over/under, or total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, is 42. Before picking Broncos vs. Colts and NFL Predictions, you have to see what SportsLine’s resident Colts expert RJ White has to say.
White, a fantasy and games editor for CBS Sports, consistently smashes as SportsLine’s #1 NFL expert in picks against the spread, and scored 445-378-24 on his 2017 ATS picks. at 21, which brought in $2,542 to $100 players. He’s also posted an impressive 36-24-2 on his NFL picks involving the Colts, meaning he’s well qualified for this selection.
White is well known for cashing in big in the Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest twice since 2015. White has also cashed in big on his NFL future in 2021, including nailing Jonathan Taylor as the NFL race leader at 10- 1. Everyone who followed him is upstairs.
Now White has set his sights on the Colts against the Broncos and has just locked down his picks and Week 5 NFL predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see its picks. Now, here are several NFL odds and betting lines for the Colts vs. Broncos:
- Colts vs. Broncos spread: Broncos -3
- Colts vs. Broncos over/under: 42 points
- Colts vs. Broncos silver line: Broncos -178, Colts +150
- IND: Colts are 11-10 ATS in last 21 games
- DEN: Broncos are 9-12 ATS in last 21 games
- Colts vs. Broncos picks: See picks here
Featured Game | Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts
Why the Colts can cover
The Colts are in the top 10 with 252 passing yards per game and are landing above the league average in first down and third down conversion rate. Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback and former NFL MVP Matt Ryan is No. 4 in the league with 1,125 passing yards this season and No. 7 with 102 completions. Ryan has over 60,000 career passing yards and 372 passing touchdowns and topped 3,900 passing yards in 11 straight seasons.
Even with running back injury uncertainty, the Colts can rely on wide receiver Michael Pittman, who caught 82 passes for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns in 2021. Pittman has 224 yards in just three games this season and puts pressure on the opposition. Denver has a solid defense, but the Broncos had 32 points and 212 rushing yards in a Week 4 loss, and Indianapolis is pretty strong on defense as well. The Colts are in the top 10 in total defense, pass defense, rush defense and yards per carry allowed, with above-average ratings in run defense and third down defense . See who to support here.
Why the Broncos can cover
Indianapolis has scored the fewest points (57) in the NFL this season, and the Colts haven’t topped 20 points in any game in 2022. The 57-point mark is the franchise’s lowest in the first four games since 1998, and the Colts only score on 25% of practices. Indianapolis is averaging just 1.30 points per practice and the Colts rank second in the EPA per game.
Part of the problem for the Colts is ball safety, with Indianapolis having committed nine turnovers and thrown five interceptions in four games. The Colts are minus-29 in turnovers, the worst differential in the NFL, and are struggling along the offensive line. The Colts are No. 27 with 351 rushing yards, with just one rushing touchdown and 3.5 yards per carry. Indianapolis has been brutal in the red zone, scoring just six touchdowns on 13 trips, while Denver leads the league in defensive efficiency in the red zone. See who to support here.
How to Make Colts vs. Broncos Picks
White has analyzed this game and while we can tell you he’s leaning under the point total, he’s also discovered a critical X-factor that’s causing him to jump to one side of the gap. He’s just sharing what it is, and which side to support, at SportsLine.
Who wins the Broncos against the Colts on Thursday Night Football? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread unavoidable? Visit SportsLine now to see which way the Broncos vs. Colts spread at fullback, all from the pundit who’s 36-24 on the Colts’ picks, and find out.
