Indianapolis vs Cincinnati Week 6 NFL Betting Preview & Predictions
If anyone previously doubted how much Peyton Manning meant to the Colts, they shouldn’t after the team’s start to this season.
Without Manning the Colts look like a fish out of the water. Most expected the Bengals to be the team coming into this one with a 0-5 record, but the young Bengals have been very competitive so far this year.
Indianapolis Colts (0-5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
Time/Date: 1:00 PM EST, October 16, 2011
Venue: Paul Brown Stadium
Broadcast: CBS
Colts vs. Bengals Gambling Odds from BetOnline
Spread: Bengals -7
Moneyline: Bengals (-335) Colts (+280)
Over/Under: 41
Can Cincinnati push the Colts to 0-6 or will Indianapolis get into the win column?
Indianapolis started the season with Kerry Collins at quarterback, but the team turned to Curtis Painter in the last couple games. Collins is listed as questionable for this game due to a concussion, and Painter is expected to be the starter once again.
Though the Colts have still lost the past two games, Painter has definitely helped the offense. Painter has four touchdowns and no interceptions and a quarterback rating of 100. Pierre Garcon and Reggie Wayne are both have solid seasons, but they definitely miss Manning.
The Colts running game simply isn’t very good, but they’ll need Delone Carter to have a good game here if they want to upend the Bengals.
The Colts defensive front is great at getting after the passer, but this is a unit that struggles against the run. Indianapolis is allowing 145 yards per game on the ground in 2011.
Dwight Freeney is just 1.5 sacks away from picking up 100 career sacks, and you have to expect him to get there very soon. Expect the Colts to dial up plenty of pressure to try and rattle the Bengals young quarterback. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Andy Dalton looked shaky in the preseason, but he has been very good so far in the regular season. The rookie signal caller from TCU is a very smart player who seems to be getting a grasp of Jay Gruden’s offense quickly.
It doesn’t hurt that the Bengals found a star wide receiver in the form of A.J. Green. Green already has 23 catches and three touchdowns in his rookie season. Tight End Jermaine Gresham gives Dalton a nice security blanket underneath as well. Cedric Benson has had a good season thus far, but he is listed as questionable due to a possible suspension.
The great play of the Bengals defense is the primary reason this team is 3-2 right now. Cincinnati ranks first in the NFL in total yards allowed per contest.
This unit is ranked third best in the NFL against the pass and seventh best in the NFL against the run. Rey Maualuga is listed as questionable for this one, and if he doesn’t play that will be a big hit to the Bengals defense.
It’s hard to imagine the Colts putting up a ton of points without Addai or Manning in the backfield. The Bengals offense is far from a juggernaut, and Freeney and Mathis are liable to give Dalton some trouble.
Free NFL Pick: Under 41
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