1:02 pm
December 8

Colts @ Buccaneers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Indianapolis Colts (6-6)

@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)

 

Current odds:

Indianapolis Colts: (+150)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (-170)

 

• The line for this game is Tampa Bay 3 points.

• A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts made a late surge to earn a playoff spot, winning their final four regular-season games. The Colts hope to kick off another strong finishing stretch Sunday when they travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another team fighting for its playoff life. Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread as the Buccaneers are three games out of the second wild card with four weeks left in the regular season.

• The Colts’ odds aren’t quite as long – they’re one game out of wild-card position and two back of Houston in the AFC South – but with losses in two straight and four of their last five, Indianapolis needs to turn things around quickly. Both teams are operating under the assumption they need to win out to extend their season. “They’re a team that’s in the same situation as us,” Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians told reporters. “It’s a one-game season.”

• Indianapolis’ first five losses were by seven points or fewer, but last week’s 31-17 home loss to Tennessee was its most-lopsided of the season. The Colts outgained the Titans by 99 yards but were derailed by three turnovers, which has been a recurring theme during their rough patch. The Colts hope to have leading rusher Marlon Mack back Sunday after he missed the past two games with a broken hand.

• Tampa Bay had seemingly found itself in a shootout every week before the defense turned in its best performance of the season in a 28-11 win at Jacksonville last week. The Buccaneers gave up a season-low 242 total yards and matched a season high with four takeaways. Tampa Bay will be tough to beat if the defense can keep that up, because Jameis Winston and the league’s No. 4 scoring offense have been able to do damage through the air.

• Colts WR Zach Pascal set career highs for catches (seven) and receiving yards (109) last week.

• Winston’s eight 300-yard passing games this season are tied with Atlanta’s Matt Ryan for the most in the league.

• Tampa Bay WRs Chris Godwin (1,121) and Mike Evans (1,096) rank second and third in the NFL in receiving yards and are the only pair of teammates with at least 900 receiving yards each this season.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Indianapolis Colts
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