The Indianapolis Colts travel to take on the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. The game is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the odds for the game have the Colts favored on the road by a field goal.
Indianapolis has one of the best offenses in the league and they hit the road tonight to showcase their efforts on national television. Andrew Luck and the Colts have a hold on first place in the AFC South standings. They've easily scored the most points in the division, averaging better than 31 points per game. The defense isn't the best in the league but has been doing enough to help the Colts gets to give wins already this season.
A loss last week to Pittsburgh ended a five-game winning streak for the Colts. It was also the most points given up by Indianapolis all season (51) by nearly three touchdowns. Surely Ben Roethlisberger had one of those games where he couldn't be stopped, but still. The Colts couldn't get off the field defensively, giving up nearly 640 yards of offense to the Steelers on just 11 drives. They are going to have to play a lot better tonight against the Giants.
New York has stumbled to a 3-4 mark on the season, having lost two games in a row to Philadelphia and Dallas. The Giants played well offensively against the Cowboys in that game, but eventually fell behind by two scores late in the contest.
Eli Manning has found a new favorite target in Odell Beckham Jr., who already had three touchdown catches in just a couple of games. The team is also banking on fellow rookie Andre Williams at running back. Both Beckham and Williams will give the Giants significant talents at the skilled positions moving forward. Both are having solid impacts as youngsters, too. Williams is the second-leading rusher on the team but is becoming the focal back for the Giants.
New York has struggled to consistently score points, though. They're averaging just 22 points per game this season, but they have been shutout once and scored just 14 points in their opening two games of the season. When the Giants have scored at least 30 points in a game this season they're 3-0. But if they score 30 points in this game, will they still be behind?
Luck has some of the best weapons in the league in T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne, but Luck has found tight end Dwayne Allen and Ahmad Bradshaw for six touchdowns each this season. Coby Fleener also has three TDs while three other players also have caught a touchdown pass from Luck, who has thrown for 22 scores this year.
But as good as both offenses are, the defenses will determine who wins this game tonight. Indy is decent against the run while the Giants just aren't that good at all. But if the defense can come ready to play tonight and get pressure on Luck, they could cause Indianapolis into turnovers. That will keep this game close.
Free Pick: Indianapolis 31, New York 28
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