Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts Pick – Dec 16 Predictions
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6 SU, 7-6 ATS) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6, 8-5)
When: 4:30 pm ET Saturday, Dec. 16
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: NFLN
Betting Odds:
Point Spread: Pit +1.5/Ind -1.5 (Bet it FREE with a 100% bonus!)
Moneyline: Pitt +100/Indy -120
Total: 42.5
The middle game of Week 15’s Saturday trifecta of NFL betting action takes place in Indianapolis, where the 7-6 Colts will battle the 7-6 Steelers.
Both teams are coming off bad losses last week, but both remain right in the hunt for an AFC playoff berth.
Betting Markets
The Week 15 NFL betting market opened Indianapolis at -2.5 for Saturday, with an over/under of right around 41. Early betting action then shaved that spread to 1.5 and goosed that total to 42.5.
Steelers-Colts Betting Preview
Pittsburgh is just 1-3 both SU and ATS in its last four outings after losing at home to lowly New England last Thursday 21-18. The Steelers favored at -5.5, fell behind 7-0 four minutes into the game, and never led. Pittsburgh trailed 21-3 in the second quarter, got back to within one score early in the fourth, but fizzled from there and fell to a team with two wins coming in.
The Steelers got out-gained by the Patriots 303-264. So Pittsburg has now been out-gained by 11 of its 13 opponents this season.
Three weeks ago, the Steelers fired their offensive coordinator, then promptly produced 421 yards of offense in a victory over Cincinnati. That number then fell to 317 in a loss to Arizona, then fell again last week.
And yet, through it all, at 7-6, the Steelers would be the No. 6 seed in the AFC if the playoffs started today.
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Meanwhile, Indianapolis just had a four-game winning streak snapped by a 34-14 loss at Cincinnati last week. The Colts fell behind 14-0 early, battled back to take a 14-14 tie into halftime but lost the second half 20-0 and failed to cover ATS at +2.5.
Indianapolis got out-gained by the Bengals 385-272 and scored just one offensive touchdown; its other TD came on a pick-6.
Despite their recent winning ways, the Colts have been out-gained by five of their last six opponents and out-rushed by four of their last five foes.
Back in October, Indianapolis lost three straight but then beat Carolina 27-13, New England 10-6, Tampa Bay 27-20, and Tennessee 31-28.
At 7-6 overall, the Colts would be the No. 7 seed in the AFC if the playoffs started today.
Steelers-Colts Recent History
Stretching back to 2011, Pittsburgh owns an eight-game winning streak against Indianapolis, going 6-2 ATS along the way. Most recently, just last season, the Steelers won also at Lucas Oil Stadium 24-17.
Kenny Pickett quarterbacked Pittsburgh that day against Matt Ryan for the Colts. Neither of those guys will take any snaps Saturday.
Common Opponents
These two teams have played eight common opponents this season, mostly members of the AFC North and South. Pittsburgh played those foes to 5-4 both SU and ATS but -51 yards per game, Indianapolis to 5-5 SU, 6-4 ATS, and -14 YPG.
NFL Betting Trends
Steelers QB Trubisky is 31-25 as an NFL starter.
The Colts are 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS, with Minshew as the starter at QB this season.
Totals Report
The Unders are 10-3 in Steelers games this season, which are averaging 35 total points.
The Overs are 9-4 in Colts games, which are averaging 50 points.
After leaning toward the Unders all season in the NFL, the Overs are 26-18 over the last three weeks.
Free NFL Betting Pick
We give Indianapolis the edge in the QB comparison, and they own the slightly better performance against common opponents. Also, the Colts are the healthier team; Pittsburgh lists four defensive starters, including playmaker Watt, as questionable. And at least Indianapolis can put some points on the board occasionally. We like the Colts for Saturday’s middle game.
