NFL Betting Colts @ Jaguars

Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 12/18 at 8:15 ET

The National Football League kicks off its 16th week of sports betting action on NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football, and BetOnline Sportsbook will have all of the action covered when the Indianapolis Colts (10-4, 6-7-1 ATS) invade the Sunshine State to do battle with the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9, 4-10 ATS).

At the beginning of the season, many tabbed this game as the potential showdown for the AFC South crown. While Indianapolis hasn’t disappointed, the Jaguars certainly have this season. Jacksonville took the first meeting between these squads at Lucas Oil Field by securing a 23-21 road victory as short underdogs. In its L/8 meetings with the Colts, Jacksonville is 3-5 SU but 5-2-1 ATS. The road team has gone 5-4 SU and 6-2-1 ATS in the L/9 meetings in this series and has covered the L/3 games. The underdog is 6-3-1 ATS in the L/10. Last season, the Colts spanked the Jags 29-7 in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium as field goal chalks.

It was a close encounter at times, but the Colts found a way to notch their eighth straight victory on Sunday by beating the Lions 31-21. With just under 13:00 to play, Detroit knotted the score at 21, but two scoring drives in the final nine minutes of action put the game away for Indy. There was never much hope of covering the 16.5-point NFL betting line, the biggest spread in the NFL this season. With RB Joseph Addai on the shelf nursing an injury, RB Dominic Rhodes filled in admirably, toting the rock 20 times for 86 yards and two scores. Addai’s status for Thursday’s game is still unknown. TE Dallas Clark terrorized the Lions defense, hauling in 12 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown; WR Reggie Wayne also ran up 104 receiving yards. QB Peyton Manning completed 28 of 37 passes for 318 yards and a score, and was named to the Pro Bowl this week for his efforts.

It was a rare game with no sacks for the Indianapolis ‘D’, but bookend DEs Dwight Freeney (9.5 sacks) and Robert Mathis (11.0 sacks) will look to change that this week.

The Jags got back in the win column for the first time in seemingly months in Week 15 betting action, rallying from behind in the 4th for a 20-16 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

QB David Garrard completed 21 of 33 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns against no interceptions; the type of game Jaguars bettors have become accustomed to the last couple seasons. It was the first victory either SU or ATS since November 9th against the Lions, and just the team’s second victory either SU or ATS since October 12th. Jacksonville hadn’t scored more than 19 points in a game or conceded fewer than 21 since that October 12th game, save the battle with Detroit. The Jags are just 3-6 SU and 2-7 ATS against teams with .500 or better records this season.

Oddsmakers have no confidence in the Jags this week, as the Colts have been installed as 6-point road favorites, and the total currently sits at 44.

Will Jacksonville play the roll of spoiler, or will the Colts march one step closer to a playoff birth? Once you decide on your investment for this match-up, login to your BetOnline account and place your NFL bets immediately!