NFL Week 8: Commanders vs. Colts Betting Preview

The 3-4 Commanders go to Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon to play the 3-3-1 Colts. Both teams have new-look quarterbacks, with Taylor Heinicke stepping in for Carson Wentz and leading Washington to a home victory over the Packers 23-21. Meanwhile, the Colts are moving on from Matt Ryan after he was benched in favor of Sam Ellinger. The Colts have disappointed this season, losing their second AFC South matchup to the Titans last week, 19-10. Can Sam Ellinger lead the Colts to victory? Will Taylor Heinicke stay undefeated as a starter in 2022? Let’s find out as we take a closer look at this matchup.

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NFL Week 8: Commanders vs. Colts Betting Preview

Washington Commanders Betting Preview: Commanders Look to get Back into NFC East Race

Ron Rivera was receiving a lot of heat after the Commanders dropped four straight games. Despite this and a quarterback change, the Commanders have now rattled off straight victories and are back in the hunt for an NFC playoff spot.

Carson Wentz has not performed well up to this point, and a finger injury has given last year’s starter Taylor Heinicke a chance to compete again at quarterback. Heinicke led the Commanders to a beautiful win over the Green Bay Packers. Although he turned the ball over once, Heinicke threw two touchdowns to take down Aaron Rodgers. The offense needed the life injection as they were averaging just 17.9 points per game.

The Commanders’ defense is starting to heat up, and they should get a nice boost with Chase Young potentially returning. Even if Washington’s defense has become better over the course of the season, there is still much room for improvement after conceding 21 points to Green Bay.

Indianapolis Colts Betting Preview: Colts Make Quarterback Switch

After being humiliated by the Titans for the second time, this season, Coach Frank Reich has benched Matt Ryan for Sam Ellinger, who will be making his first career NFL start under center. The Colts have made the difficult decision to sideline Matt Ryan, following another his poor play and injury to his throwing shoulder. Ryan was sacked 24 times and had nine interceptions in just seven games.

On the offensive side of the ball, Ellinger will lead a Colts offensive unit that ranks 341 yards and just over 16 points a game. Ellinger has yet to throw a professional pass, but the 2021 sixth-rounder hopes to make an impact with his arm and his feet. The Colts have not been able to get going on the ground due to injuries, and the unit is averaging a third-worst 81 yards per game.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Colts were able to grab two sacks and force a turnover in their loss to Tennessee. Ultimately, they have been competitive enough to keep the offense in the game.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Lines & Odds

The spread for this matchup is set at 2.5 points, with Mybookie oddsmakers listing the Colts as the home favorites. As for the moneyline, the Colts have -145 odds to pick up the win, while the Commanders are listed at +125 to claim victory. Finally, the over/under for the game is set at 39.5 points.

Free Betting Pick

The oddsmakers got it wrong, favoring the Colts at home. I do not trust Indianapolis in this spot with a quarterback who has yet to throw one professional pass under center. The Colts have been incredibly inconsistent, and even if they get Jonathan Taylor back, the offensive line has struggled to open up holes for him.

The Commanders’ play has gotten better recently, despite the fact that they are still not the most talented team. In the previous three weeks, they have limited opponents to 21 or fewer points, which could be problematic for the Colts club, which have the third-lowest point average overall.

The Commanders will cover this number and potentially win this game outright on the road.