Sunday Night Football Odds – Colts vs Broncos
NFL Week 1 Regular Season action sees the Indianapolis Colts taking on the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 7 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Cappers Picks provides free NFL handicapping tips all season long.
The Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos enter the 2014 season as two of the elite teams in the NFL – each looking towards a possible date in the Super Bowl in February.
Indianapolis at Denver
When: 8:30 PM ET, Sunday Night Football, September 7, 2014
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Broadcast: NBC
Colts vs. Broncos Betting Lines
NFL Week 1 Line: Broncos -7.5
NFL Week 1 Over/Under: 55
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An instant rivalry, Peyton Manning will look to best his former club for the first time while his predecessor looks for a repeat performance from this matchup last year when the Colts handed the Broncos one of their three losses on the season.
Colts
The Colts looked every bit a contender in this matchup last year when they won, at home 39-33. Andrew Luck was the difference – he went 21 for 38 for 228 yards and three TDs – without Reggie Wayne, without a semblance of a running game and without Hakeem Nicks who was added this past offseason to give the Colts a boost.
Luck has shown steady improvement in his career and off a 23 TD, nine Interception season, he is expected to take the next step this year.
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His weapons are in place – now it’s time to execute in a marquee matchup in Week 1 of the NFL season. The issue for Luck and company? The Broncos secondary that added Aqib Talib and TJ Ward in the offseason.
The impressive looking passing game will be leaned on heavily – there is little reason to think that Trent Richardson and the running game will be a whole lot better in 2014.
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Indy’s O-line looks like a weakness and Richardson looks like a bust as we head into the season.
Broncos
The Denver Broncos offense likely won’t duplicate their record setting performance from last season and out of the gate, there are a few question marks – namely the suspension of Wes Welker who was popped for PED usage this week, and Montee Ball who takes over from Knowshon Moreno in the Denver backfield.
That said the Broncos looked absolutely sensational in the preseason offensively – with Peyton Manning at the helm, there is little reason to think a huge dropoff is imminent.
The biggest difference for the Denver Broncos this upcoming season will be the defense – DeMarcus Ware was added to play on the other side of Vonn Miller, Aqib Talib takes over from Champ Bailey and TJ Ward was added to play safety.
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These moves are all tremendous upgrades for a team that finished 14th in the league in sacks (41), 19th in yards allowed (356.0) and 22nd in points allowed (24.9), 23rd in allowing run plays of 10 or more yards and 27th in allowing pass plays of 20 or more yards with a staggering 61.
Simply put Denver’s defense looks like a strength rather than a weakness as we head into 2014. GM John Elway saw a need and addressed it in spades. Now the investments just have to pay off on the field.
NFL Betting Week 1 Trends
• IND are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. AFC.
• Under is 7-2 in IND last 9 games in Week 1.
• IND are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
• DEN are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games on grass.
• Over is 27-11-1 in DEN last 39 home games.
• Over is 50-24-1 in DEN last 75 games overall.
• Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
• Favorite is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings.
Week 1 NFL Prediction
Andrew Luck and the Colts have carved out a reputation of getting up for big games – they beat the Broncos, the 49ers and the Seahawks last year. Consider Sunday night’s game a huge one. This game has a back and forth slugfest written all over it with the team that has the ball last likely winning.
4* Sunday Night NFL Pick:
Indianapolis Colts to cover the 7 1/2 points.
Take the Colts to keep this game respectable throughout and to put a scare into a Broncos team that some see winning all 16 Regular Season games this upcoming season.
Check out our Updated NFL Week 1 Odds.
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