Week 8 NFL Colts at Lions Betting Preview

The line for NFL week 8 Colts at Lions betting matchup seems like it should be higher than Indianapolis -3. The Colts are 4-2 on the season, and coming off the bye week which would seem to give them value. Detroit is 0-2 at home on the year, but also come in riding a two game win streak.

Are the Colts Overrated?

Indianapolis comes into Sunday’s meeting with an impressive 4-2 record, making it a two team race in the AFC with the 5-1 Titans. The Colts “signature” win however is probably a 19-11 victory at Chicago in week 4 as -3.5 favorites. Otherwise Indy has beaten the Vikings, Jets, and Bengals – and have lost to the Jaguars and Browns.

Frank Reich’s team is coming off a bye which should only help them in Colts at Lions betting. The last time we saw Indianapolis in action though they were down 24-7 at one point to the Bengals before scraping out a 31-27 win at home as -7.5 favorites. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say this team is not as good as their record indicates.

Joe Burrow compiled 313 passing yards against the Colts, which would seem to bode well for Detroit on Sunday. Matthew Stafford threw for 340 yards last week in his first 300+ yard game of the season, but that was against Atlanta’s 2nd worst passing defense. The Colts did allow 124 yards rushing to Cleveland in the 32-23 road loss in week 5 as +1 underdogs.

Can Detroit Get Their Running Game

The Lions, like most teams in the NFL, are much better when they get their ground game going to complement a solid passing offense. On paper it looks like getting balance is going to be tough against the Colts though, as Indianapolis ranks 2nd in total defense and pass yards/game, 3rd in rush yards/game allowed, and 4th in points given up. Once again, you have to look at the competition for the Colts though.

The Lions have faced better competition lately – slightly. The Lions thumped Jacksonville 34-16 in week 6 (a team the Colts lost to in the season opener) and are coming off a 23-22 win in Atlanta against a Falcons team that looked good in the win over Carolina on Thursday. Aside from a blowout loss in Green Bay, the Lions dropped one score contests to the Saints and Bears.

One thing that doesn’t bode well for Detroit on Sunday is the fact they only managed 64 yards rushing against the Falcons on 21 carries. The Lions only 100+ yard rush game in the last five games for Detroit came against the Jaguars, making them very one-dimensional vs. the Colts.

Colts at Lions Betting Free Pick

This side could go either way and quite frankly a Lions win wouldn’t be surprising at all. The angle to approach is that even against a horrible Atlanta defense and a good Falcons offense last week, Detroit managed just a 23-22 win which was 45 total points.

Oddsmakers have Sunday’s total at 49, even with a very good Colts defense. Indianapolis will be even better on that side of the ball after a bye week, but at the same time the Colts offense doesn’t do a lot to scare you either (28th in rushing).
Lions 21 – Colts 17

Free Pick: Under 49