NFL Betting Lines, Game Preview & Pick for Colts vs. Ravens in Week 16

Written by on December 22, 2017

With Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens in control of their own playoff hopes and a home win against the lowly Indianapolis Colts looking like a near certainty, the big question that NFL bettors need an answer for concerning the Week 16 matchup between these two teams is whether or not the Ravens will cover the huge NFL betting spread as a nearly two-touchdown favorite. Let’s find out now what’s going to go down when these two square off at M&T Bank Stadium.

Indianapolis (3-11) at Baltimore (8-6) NFL Betting Lines, Game Preview & Pick

  • Where: MT+T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, MD
  • When: Saturday December 23, 2017; 3:30pm CT
  • TV: NFL Network
  • Radio: 97.1 FM (Indianapolis) / 97.9 FM (Baltimore)
  • Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
  • NFL Betting Lines: Baltimore Ravens -13.5 (Over/Under at 41)

Weather Forecast

  • Chance of Rain: 14°C/58°F
  • Humidity: 72%
  • Precipitation: 38%
  • Cloud Cover: 96%
  • Wind: 9 mph SSW
  • Stadium Type: Open

NFL Week 16 Lines & Prediction for Falcons vs. Saints

Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)

  • Record: Indianapolis Colts lead 8-2
  • Score: Indianapolis Colts 21.00 / Baltimore Ravens 12.50
  • Rush Yards: Indianapolis Colts 82.50 / Baltimore Ravens 106.00
  • Pass Attempts: Indianapolis Colts 36.40 / Baltimore Ravens 35.30
  • Completion Percentage: Indianapolis Colts 60.44 / Baltimore Ravens 62.61
  • Passing Yards: Indianapolis Colts 241.80 / Baltimore Ravens 215.00
  • Total Yards: Indianapolis Colts 324.3 / Baltimore Ravens 321.00
  • Turnovers: Indianapolis Colts 1.30 / Baltimore Ravens 3.30

Why Bet on the Indianapolis Colts Odds at +13.5?

Why bet on the Colts in this contest? Well, because they’re getting almost two touchdowns, that’s why! The Colts have lost five straight games and come into this contest off a 25-13 loss against Detroit last weekend while failing to cover the spread as a 3-point home underdog. Indianapolis has played the entire season without franchise quarterback Andrew Luck, but they’ve also gotten some really good play from second-year signal-caller Jacoby Brissett after acquiring him from New England following Scott Tolzien’s Week 1 debacle. Unfortunately, Brissett has been under constant pressure all season long and has suffered a league-high 49 sacks. Still, Brissett has managed to throw for 2,769 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Now he gets to face a Baltimore defense that leads the league with a plus-17 turnover ratio and has racked up 38 sacks, led by linebacker Terrell Suggs who has recorded a team-high 11. Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who served as the Ravens defensive coordinator under Harbaugh has admired how Brissett has performed under constant pressure this season, Brissett is progressing. The challenge will be handling Baltimore’s constant pressure. “Jacoby has done a great job since he has been here. You can see him getting better every single week.” “He is a smart guy, talent, he is big, he is strong, and he is tough. He is learning every week and being able to grasp more and more every week and is more comfortable, obviously, today than a month ago with his surroundings and his personnel, making great decisions, he is taking care of the football, and he is managing things for us well.” The Colts are ranked 31st-ranked in offense and 30th in total defense and didn’t have a player named to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 1997.

Why Bet on the Baltimore Ravens Odds at -13.5?

Why bet on the Ravens in this contest? Well, because they’ve got everything to play for! Baltimore holds the playoff tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills because of a better record among common opponents and all they need to do is beat the Colts and division rival Bengals the next two weeks to nail down a wild-card berth. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said his team will not take any of its remaining opponents lightly. The Ravens have gone an encouraging 15-7 in their last 22 games in the month of December and have allowed just 16.4 points per game at home over that span under Harbaugh. The Ravens are huge NFL Betting Lines favorite for their Week 16 game against the Colts. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco said he understands being in a must-win situation, “I have been in (situations) where we have to win, and that is it,” Flacco said. “I have been in situations where we have had people lose, and we did not react well to it. Games where we have won, where all we have to do is win, and I have had games where we lost, where all we had to do is win. Been through it all, and it is definitely easiest knowing that we control it from here on out. The good news for the Ravens is that they are playing their best football of the season at just the right time. Baltimore has won four of their last five and come into this contest off a 27-10 smackdown over lowly Cleveland last weekend. “You’ve got to win two games to get into the playoffs, and they’re two home games,” Suggs said. “So, that’s pretty huge. It definitely feels good not to have to get on a plane this week.”

Latest NFL Betting Trends for Week 16

  • Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
  • Ravens are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of Baltimore’s last 10 games
  • Colts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games
  • Colts are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indianapolis’s last 5 games

Expert Analysis and Prediction

I know the nearly two-touchdown NFL Betting spread looks a bit daunting, but I wouldn’t worry too much about it, seeing as how Baltimore has everything to play for while Indianapolis would like nothing more than to lose this game and improve their chances of landing a top-three pick. Baltimore needs to win out in order to have a shot at reach the playoffs and I’ve got Joe Flacco and company doing just that, starting with a big blowout in this contest! Baltimore is 4-1 ATS in their last five games while Indianapolis is a polar opposite 1-4 ATS in their last five. Pick: Baltimore Ravens -13.5