INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ TENNESSEE TITANS 
Vegas Line: Colts + 9.5
Rob’s Line: Colts + 7.5
It may seem ludicrous to ask Tennessee to give up ‘only’ 7.5 points at home to Indianapolis after the Colts were burned for 62 points by New Orleans last week, but I do have reasons for this, if only a couple. Being on the end of a 62-7 drubbing and giving up the most points by any team since 1985 will hurt and do you think they’ll want to look as bad as that again this season?
In addition, would you feel comfortable placing your hard earned on Tennessee to cover by two scores, a team that has lost its last two games by a combined 55 points?
Yes, the Titans have been taken apart by both Pittsburgh (38-17) and Houston (41-7), who, right now, look like playoff candidates, but before the Pittsburgh loss they were 3-1 and had done their own number on Baltimore in Week 2. That victory over the Ravens was a coming out party for the Matt Hasselbeck/Kenny Britt partnership and despite Britt suffering a season ending injury a week later against Denver, the Titans managed to win that one and did the same again in Cleveland in Week 4 before the reality check that was Pittsburgh and Houston.
Tennessee is in a very bad place right now and not just because of losing Britt, although, to this observer, his loss has already killed their season. Despite not playing in the last two games, he’s still second on the team in receiving yards and his absence has allowed opposing defenses to focus on stopping the run, which has had a devastating effect on Chris Johnson. He’s been truly dreadful this season (and this includes when Britt was still healthy) and last week, after gaining just 18 yards on 10 carries, he defelcted blame on to other members of the offense. His points may hold some validity, but Tennessee doesn’t need this right now…unless, of course, his words light a fire under some of those around him and this feeds back to Johnson.
So, back to the Colts. About the only bright spot from last week’s mauling was rookie running back Delone Carter, who gained 89 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Rather encouragingly for Indy, Tennessee ranks 24th against the run, allowing 124 rushing yards per game so it figures that Carter and Donald Brown (should Joseph Addai not be able to play) should have no little success running the ball and, as I wrote last week, QB Curtis Painter isn’t short of options when throwing the ball so I do see them scoring points.
It does feel a little strange talking up a team with an 0-7 record, but Tennessee’s heavy home defeat to Houston has practically gifted the Texans the AFC South and a guaranteed home playoff game…yes, already. I shouldn’t question a team’s motivation levels with over half a season still to play, but I think the Titans will be at a low ebb.
The rematch with Houston isn’t until the final week of the season and before then the schedule presents the Titans with a five game stretch of Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Buffalo and New Orleans. They need all the wins they can get before then and, while they may get past the Colts this Sunday, I really love Indy and the points on offer.
No comments:
Post a Comment