Colts vs. Ravens Prediction, Odds & Expert Picks: NFL Preseason Week 1

The Indianapolis Colts' quarterback battle rages on as we head into the preseason, offering our predictions when Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones face the Baltimore Ravens.

Gary Pearson

Last Updated: August 6, 2025 6:20 AM EDT • 4 minute read

Colts vs. Ravens Prediction, Odds & Expert Picks: NFL Preseason Week 1 — Pictured: Anthony Richardson at an Indianapolis Colts practice as we offer our Colts vs. Ravens Prediction. Photo by Mykal McEldowney via Imagn Images

While the Indianapolis Colts haven't decided on who their starting quarterback will be for Week 1, head coach Shane Steichen will turn to Anthony Richardson when they face the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, NFL Network).

With a heightened focus on who will be taking most of the snaps, our Colts vs. Ravens prediction offers a best bet and an against-the-spread play.

The Colts are the 5.5-point betting favorites across our best NFL betting sites for the Week 1 preseason tilt.

🏈 Colts vs. Ravens expert picks & predictions

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✅ Against the spread pick: Ravens +5.5 (+100 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ My best bet: Over 36.5 (-105 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

🔮 Colts vs. Ravens ATS prediction

🐦‍⬛ Ravens +5.5 ⭐⭐⭐

📊 Best odds: +100 via FanDuel ($10 to win $10)
🔢 Implied probability: 50%

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Understandably, the needle shifted dramatically after news broke that confirmed what everyone suspected: Richardson and Daniel Jones will take the majority of snaps in their continued quest to be named the team's starting quarterback.

Third-string Riley Leonard will enter the game once Steichen has seen enough from his top two quarterbacks.

Meanwhile, Ravens backup Cooper Rush should get extended time under center, ensuring he's as familiar with his new offense as possible in case the unthinkable happens to MVP odds front-runner Lamar Jackson.

While there's a solid argument to back the Colts, I don't trust either prospective No. 1 to cover the 5.5-point spread, particularly as Rush is a steady, proven backup. Rush went 4-4 in his starts after replacing the injured Dak Prescott last season, a solid return given the Dallas Cowboys' 24th-ranked defensive DVOA.

FanDuel easily has the best odds of our best sports betting apps, with bet365 and BetMGM offering -110. At those odds, you'd be better off playing the Ravens' +6 at DraftKings (-112).

📖 Check out our 2025 NFL preseason betting guide for the best betting strategies and full NFL preseason schedule.

💰 Colts vs. Ravens best bet

⬆️ Over 36.5 ⭐⭐⭐

📊 Best odds: -105 via FanDuel ($10 to win $9.52)
🔢 Implied probability: 51.22%

Backing the Over in preseason is like jumping on a train without buying a ticket. It can feel like a risky maneuver at the best of times. However, three NFL-proven quarterbacks are at the ready, and they'll be under center for a lion's share of the preseason tilt.

Richardson and Jones are playing for their job as neither former starter will want to ride the pine when the season gets underway. So, the motivation to attack what should be a comparatively inexperienced Ravens defense will be high.

Rush, who has shown throughout his career an ability to make poised decisions, offers a seasoned alternative for the Ravens in Jackson's absence. He's thrown 10 interceptions in 14 regular-season starts and 38 appearances.

Our best sportsbooks reached a consensus at 36.5 points, with FanDuel's -105 marginally better than the chasing pack.

📊 Colts vs. Ravens odds

Live updated odds from our best live betting sites. Follow the latest NFL scores for line history and matchup info.

🪧 Colts vs. Ravens opening odds:

Colts: +1.5 (-125)
Ravens: -1.5 (+100)

🚑 Colts vs. Ravens injuries

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Written by:
Gary Pearson

Gary Pearson has written professionally since 2010, focusing on sports betting since 2014. Before entering the sports betting space, he contributed to the Canadian Press, FanSided, the Hockey Writers, the Calgary Herald, and other publications. His work has also been featured in Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. Gary, who consumes sports like a blue whale devours plankton, has a penchant for writing predictions and analyses across several sports, including hockey, soccer, football, tennis, and more. He bets regularly, preferring single-game picks, props, and live betting. While there isn't a sport he has yet to dabble in, Gary prefers betting on soccer, hockey, and football. He studied at various post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. Gary has a marketing degree and completed his bachelor's degree in journalism at Griffith University. He feels strongly that life experience is as essential as post-secondary education, helping formulate more accurate predictions and analyses. Gary believes that competing at a high level of amateur sports during his formative years helped him better understand an athlete's psyche and the nuances and complexities of a team's dynamic, both on and off the playing surface. He feels that knowledge is immeasurably important when offering his analytical expertise. He has lived on five continents and currently resides in Canada.