NFL Week 1 Best Bets: Seahawks vs. Colts Picks and Predictions

The Seattle Seahawks will travel to the Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1. Let’s take a look at the NFL odds that top online sportsbooks are offering and unveil our early NFL picks on this game.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Indianapolis Colts

Sunday, September 12, 2021 - 01:00 PM EDT  at Lucas Oil Stadium

There are concerns about the availability of Carson Wentz as the Colts prepare to host the Seahawks at Lucas Oil Stadium. Wentz suffered a foot injury in training camp, and he may not be at peak fitness by Week 1.

The QB was also placed on the Covid-19 list on the day he was expected to return to full practice. It is currently unclear whether he has tested positive, or if he has simply been in close contact with an infected individual, but either way he will not have much time to sharpen up by Week 1.

If he is unavailable, Indy could be forced to turn to Jacob Eason, a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft. That could present the Seahawks with a golden opportunity to make a winning start to the new season.

https://youtu.be/Trdz781X5so

Seahawks Bidding for Another Winning Season

The NFC West looks like the strongest division in the league by a comfortable margin this year, so it will be important for the Seahawks to beat teams like the Colts. 

It will be interesting to see what sort of impact Shane Waldron, a protégé of Sean McVay, has on the Seahawks’ offense. Russell Wilson publicly criticized the franchise for failing to put enough talent around him at the start of the offseason, leading to a tense summer.

Yet it is worth remembering that the Seahawaks ranked sixth in overall offensive efficiency and eighth in points scored last season. Pete Carroll is consistently lambasted for his run-heavy offensive approach, but he has not endured a losing season since 2011, and he did “let Russ cook” at times last year. Not much has changed in the Seattle offense this season, but it still has juice in the skill positions.

There are concerns about the defense, with secondary and pass rush causing alarm among some Seahawks fans. However, this Seattle team still has enough quality to win a competitive NFC West, and it could finish the season 12-5 or 11-6.

Injuries Affect the Colts

BetOnline (visit our Sportsbook Review) has the Seahawks at -140 to make the playoffs. The Colts are priced at -110 to make the playoffs and -120 to fall short, so their bid for postseason action could go right down to the wire.

The health of Wentz is a concern as the season approaches, but there is still a reasonable chance that he could feature in this game. Quenton Nelson may also return in time, but the Colts could suffer if those key players are not operating at the peak of their powers.

The Indianapolis defense is well coached, and the running of Jonathan Taylor gives the team a good chance of victory in any game. Yet it does not have the sort of explosive offense that many AFC contenders boast, so it could develop into a mediocre season for the Colts.

Another issue is the injury to T.Y. Hilton, which deepens the troubling situation for Indianapolis. It all points to a slow start to the season for this team.

Carson Wentz#2 of the Indianapolis Colts. Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP

Statistical Trends

It is always worth checking out a few key stats when making NFL picks. The Seahawks won 11 of the 14 games they were favored on the moneyline last season. They are the moneyline favorites for this game.

The Seahawks are 2-3 in their last 5 games ATS, and 2-6 in their last 8 road games ATS. Yet the Colts are also 2-3 in their last 5 ATS. Both of these teams went 8-8 ATS last season, but Seattle was 5-8 ATS when it was a favorite by 2.5 or more points, while the Colts won the only game in which they were underdogs by at least 2.5 points.

The trends point to the Colts covering, but they could be lumbered with underwhelming quarterback play in this game, and the Seahawks have a great chance of winning.

The Pick

The Seahawks look perfectly capable of covering the spread in this game. The line is currently set at 2.5 points, but it could change depending on how the situation with Wentz unfolds. Either way, the Seahawks should be able to secure an emphatic victory in this game.

NFL Pick:  (visit our Sportsbook Review)

*The pick reflects the line at the moment the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.