Steelers, Ravens meet with injury questions
The Steelers, Ravens game opened as a pick 'em, and that makes the late decisions on injured players even more important to bettors. Ben Roethlisberger practiced all week after suffering a concussion in an overtime loss at the Chiefs last Sunday, but whether or not he plays remains to be seen. Baltimore's Terrell Suggs and Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu are also nursing knee injuries and might sit.
It’s not too often you look at a 10-0 team with suspicion, but the Colts are definitely overdue for a loss heading into their game with the Texans on Sunday.
One week after escaping against New England, Indianapolis edged Baltimore 17-15 as 1-point road favorites last Sunday, largely because of Gary Brackett’s interception with the Ravens charging hard in the dying minutes.
It wasn’t just the wins over the Patriots and Ravens that came by the skin of the Colts’ collective teeth, either. Indy needed a trick play to edge San Francisco in Week 8, one week before it slipped out the side door in its first meeting with Houston on November 8. Overall, the Colts have won their last four games by a combined 10 points.
It’s not your fault if you haven’t noticed just how close Indy’s been to losing in the last month. And that doesn’t even get us started on the Colts’ tight victories over Jacksonville and Miami in the season’s early going. Indianapolis is well in the black at the window, with a 6-3-1 ATS record this season.
Indianapolis at Houston (+3½, 47½)
Sunday – 1 p.m. (ET) CBS
Look for the Colts and Texans (5-5, 5-4-1 ATS) to play over the 47 ½-point total when they hook up on Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
Both teams have been decent under wagers this season, but that’s not the sharp play when these AFC South rivals hit the field. The teams are 8-1 O/U in the last nine meetings, during which Indy is 8-1 SU (4-5 ATS). Expect the trend to continue with both teams treating the running game as an afterthought. Houston is 30th in rushing (87.4 yards per game), while Indianapolis is 31st in the league (85.0 YPG).
If you’re buying into my thesis that the Colts are due for a loss, the Texans are the smart play by default. Houston certainly came close to dropping Indianapolis when the teams met at Lucas Oil Stadium three weeks ago. The Colts trimmed the Texans 20-17, but only after Houston kicker Kris Brown missed a field goal from 42 yards out as time expired. The Texans covered as 7 ½-point underdogs, and are now 3-1-1 ATS (3-2 SU) over their last five games.
Indianapolis is also dealing with injuries to many of its key players. Peyton Manning (glutes), Reggie Wayne (foot), and Antoine Bethea (foot) are all expected to play despite their ailments, while Kelvin Hayden (leg) is unlikely to suit up on Sunday. Dwight Freeney (abdomen) is also expected to be on the field for the Colts, even though the pass rusher missed practice most of this week.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore (-2, 42)
Sunday – 8:20 p.m. (ET) NBC
Sportsbooks are taking a wait-and-see approach with Sunday night’s showdown between the Steelers (6-4, 3-7 ATS) and Ravens (5-5, 6-4 ATS) at M&T Bank Stadium.
Oddsmakers opened the game as a pick ‘em, but Baltimore was giving up to 2 ½ points at the outlets that had a line as of press time. The guys setting the lines are waiting to see if either Troy Polamalu or Terrell Suggs will suit up for their respective teams after both defensive studs sat out last week with knee injuries.
Polamalu is clearly Pittsburgh’s most important player. The strong safety missed the Steelers’ 27-24 overtime loss at Kansas City (+10½) last week because of his second knee injury of the season. Losers of its last two both SU and against the number, Pittsburgh is only 1-4 ATS (2-3 SU) when Polamalu doesn’t play this season.
Suggs sat out for the first time in his seven-year career last week, and the Ravens fell for the fifth time in their last seven games (3-4 ATS). Baltimore sure needs their defense hitting on all cylinders on Sunday, because its offense has been mediocre lately. The Ravens have no offensive touchdowns in their last two games, and only one in their last three contests.
Bettors should also take into account Ben Roethlisberger’s fourth concussion suffered last week against the Chiefs. Roethlisberger will reportedly make a decision and announce himself fit or not on Saturday morning, but even if he does play it doesn’t mean the Steelers are in the clear. Big Ben has a history of performing poorly when coming off a concussion. After his first one in 2006, Roethlisberger threw four interceptions at Oakland in Pittsburgh’s 20-13 loss as three point chalk.
The Steelers, Ravens game opened as a pick 'em, and that makes the late decisions on injured players even more important to bettors. Ben Roethlisberger practiced all week after suffering a concussion in an overtime loss at the Chiefs last Sunday, but whether or not he plays remains to be seen. Baltimore's Terrell Suggs and Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu are also nursing knee injuries and might sit.
It’s not too often you look at a 10-0 team with suspicion, but the Colts are definitely overdue for a loss heading into their game with the Texans on Sunday.
One week after escaping against New England, Indianapolis edged Baltimore 17-15 as 1-point road favorites last Sunday, largely because of Gary Brackett’s interception with the Ravens charging hard in the dying minutes.
It wasn’t just the wins over the Patriots and Ravens that came by the skin of the Colts’ collective teeth, either. Indy needed a trick play to edge San Francisco in Week 8, one week before it slipped out the side door in its first meeting with Houston on November 8. Overall, the Colts have won their last four games by a combined 10 points.
It’s not your fault if you haven’t noticed just how close Indy’s been to losing in the last month. And that doesn’t even get us started on the Colts’ tight victories over Jacksonville and Miami in the season’s early going. Indianapolis is well in the black at the window, with a 6-3-1 ATS record this season.
Indianapolis at Houston (+3½, 47½)
Sunday – 1 p.m. (ET) CBS
Look for the Colts and Texans (5-5, 5-4-1 ATS) to play over the 47 ½-point total when they hook up on Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
Both teams have been decent under wagers this season, but that’s not the sharp play when these AFC South rivals hit the field. The teams are 8-1 O/U in the last nine meetings, during which Indy is 8-1 SU (4-5 ATS). Expect the trend to continue with both teams treating the running game as an afterthought. Houston is 30th in rushing (87.4 yards per game), while Indianapolis is 31st in the league (85.0 YPG).
If you’re buying into my thesis that the Colts are due for a loss, the Texans are the smart play by default. Houston certainly came close to dropping Indianapolis when the teams met at Lucas Oil Stadium three weeks ago. The Colts trimmed the Texans 20-17, but only after Houston kicker Kris Brown missed a field goal from 42 yards out as time expired. The Texans covered as 7 ½-point underdogs, and are now 3-1-1 ATS (3-2 SU) over their last five games.
Indianapolis is also dealing with injuries to many of its key players. Peyton Manning (glutes), Reggie Wayne (foot), and Antoine Bethea (foot) are all expected to play despite their ailments, while Kelvin Hayden (leg) is unlikely to suit up on Sunday. Dwight Freeney (abdomen) is also expected to be on the field for the Colts, even though the pass rusher missed practice most of this week.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore (-2, 42)
Sunday – 8:20 p.m. (ET) NBC
Sportsbooks are taking a wait-and-see approach with Sunday night’s showdown between the Steelers (6-4, 3-7 ATS) and Ravens (5-5, 6-4 ATS) at M&T Bank Stadium.
Oddsmakers opened the game as a pick ‘em, but Baltimore was giving up to 2 ½ points at the outlets that had a line as of press time. The guys setting the lines are waiting to see if either Troy Polamalu or Terrell Suggs will suit up for their respective teams after both defensive studs sat out last week with knee injuries.
Polamalu is clearly Pittsburgh’s most important player. The strong safety missed the Steelers’ 27-24 overtime loss at Kansas City (+10½) last week because of his second knee injury of the season. Losers of its last two both SU and against the number, Pittsburgh is only 1-4 ATS (2-3 SU) when Polamalu doesn’t play this season.
Suggs sat out for the first time in his seven-year career last week, and the Ravens fell for the fifth time in their last seven games (3-4 ATS). Baltimore sure needs their defense hitting on all cylinders on Sunday, because its offense has been mediocre lately. The Ravens have no offensive touchdowns in their last two games, and only one in their last three contests.
Bettors should also take into account Ben Roethlisberger’s fourth concussion suffered last week against the Chiefs. Roethlisberger will reportedly make a decision and announce himself fit or not on Saturday morning, but even if he does play it doesn’t mean the Steelers are in the clear. Big Ben has a history of performing poorly when coming off a concussion. After his first one in 2006, Roethlisberger threw four interceptions at Oakland in Pittsburgh’s 20-13 loss as three point chalk.