Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts Betting Preview
Opening Line: Chiefs +9.5 / Colts -9.5 O/U 44.5
Time: 1 PM EST Sunday October 10, 2010 on CBS
This Sunday on CBS the Indianapolis Colts (2-2) host the last undefeated team in the league in the Kansas City Chiefs (3-0). The Colts are pretty much the same old Colts, but they are only 2-2 and are coming off a pretty shocking loss to the Jaguars. Peyton Manning is playing great, but he is getting no help from the rushing offense and the Colts’ defense only ranks 24th in the league and they are getting killed against the run.
The Chiefs are 3-0 and while they have been great running the ball and defending the run their passing offense has been decent at best and their secondary has been torched. If the Chiefs can win this game they may prove they are for real and they can really get a leg up in the AFC West and after this game in their next 4 they only face one team that currently has a winning record.
In their last games the Colts lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-28 and while the Chiefs had a bye last week in the previous week they crushed the San Francisco 49ers 31-10.
Heading into this AFC battle the Chiefs are 3-0 ATS and the Colts are 2-2 ATS.
Peyton Manning is playing, perhaps, the best he has ever played after 4 games, as he has the highest QB rating, the 2nd most passing yards, and the most TD, while only throwing one pick. Last week in the loss to the Jaguars he passed for 352 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT. He may have to do it all in this game, as Indianapolis ranks 29th in the league in rushing yards per game and they will be facing a Chiefs’ rushing defense that is only giving up an average of 75 rushing yards per game.
The Chiefs’ pass D is their weakness, which is not good facing Manning, as this season they are giving up an average of 238 passing yards per game.
The Chiefs are led by QB Matt Cassel and even though the team only ranks 27th in the league in passing yards per game he passed for 250 yards with 3 TD and 1 INT in the win over the 49ers in their last game. Where the Chiefs have been stellar is their rushing offense ranking 3rd in the league.
Chiefs’ RB’s Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones have been solid and they may put up some big numbers against a Colts’ rushing defense that ranks 28th in the league. The Indy pass defense giving up an average of 217.5 yards per game through the air.
If the Chiefs can run the ball they have a good shot to win, as it will help them control the clock and keep Manning off the field.
Kansas City is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games, 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games, and has an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 games after an ATS win.
Indianapolis is 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 home games and has an Over record of 8-3 in their last 11 games.
Our Selection : The Colts have allowed 149.5 yards rushing per game this season and that included a game against the Denver Broncos that are dead last in the NFL in rushing. Excluding the Broncos game shows that Indianapolis is allowing 183.6 rushing yards per game. Now they face the Chiefs who rank number 3 in rushing yards per game at 160.7. We'll take the points in what may be an outright upset for the Chiefs.
Take Kansas City +8 at SportsInteraction.com.