Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts odds, picks and best bets
The Carolina Panthers (5-9) and Indianapolis Colts (6-8) tangle at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (on CBS). We analyze the Panthers-Colts sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 16 matchup.
Panthers at Colts: Week 16 preview, betting trends and notes
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- The Panthers turn to rookie QB Will Grier for his first NFL start.
- The Colts enter on a four-game losing skid, while going 0-2-1 ATS across the past three games, and 2-5-1 ATS over the previous eight.
- Indianapolis is 2-2 straight up and 1-3 ATS across the past four games at Lucas Oil Stadium.
- Colts QB Jacoby Brissett and the offense was limited to a season-low seven points - scored late in the fourth quarter - in Monday's ugly 34-7 loss at the New Orleans Saints.
- The Colts defense is allowing 34.3 points per game across the past three outings as the Over has hit in two of those contests.
- Indianapolis ranks ninth in the NFL against the run, allowing just 100.9 yards per game. That will be a key matchup, as they try and slow down Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey.
Panthers at Colts: Key injuries
Panthers: WR Curtis Samuel (knee) is questionable, while LB Sha'Quille Thompson (ankle) and DT Vernon Butler (illness) are out.
Colts: DT Denico Autry (concussion), CB Kenny Moore II (ankle), CB Quincy Wilson (shoulder) S Malik Hooker (hand) are out.
Panthers at Colts: Odds, betting lines and prediction
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Colts 23, Panthers 20
Moneyline ( ?)
The Colts (-286) are heavily favored at home, but if you can trust their offense after what you saw last week, you have a lot more betting chutzpah than I do. The Panthers are +225.
New to sports betting? Every $2.86 wagered on the Colts ML will profit $1 if they win.
Against the Spread ( ?)
The PANTHERS ( +7.5, -143) haven't been playing well, but they'll have the best player on the field in McCaffrey. He will be a difference maker and will help take a huge amount of pressure off of Grier in the QB's first NFL start.
Every $1.43 wagered on the Panthers here will profit $1 if they don't lose by 8 or more points or win outright.
Over/Under ( ?)
PASS. The total of 45.5 (-125 Over, +105 Under) is too close to call in this one. There are a lot of unknowns with Grier running the show, along with the Colts offense looking pretty shabby last week. If there is a lean, it's to the Under - but ever so slightly.
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