NFL Picks – High-Flying Offenses Clash In Preseason Finale At Lucas Oil

With only one game left for each team in the NFL preseason, make one of these teams among your NFL betting picks as two of the top high-flying offenses in the league clash in Indianapolis this Thursday.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts

Thursday September 2, 2010 – 7:00 PM ET

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

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Broadcast: WTTV

NFL Betting Odds: Bengals -6, Colts +6

Total: 36.5

The Cincinnati Bengals travel to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this Thursday to take on the Colts in the fourth and final week of the NFL preseason. Expectations are high for both teams heading in to the 2010-11 season, which hasn’t necessarily been reflected in that the Colts and Bengals have combined for a 2-5 record so far in exhibition play.

However, that is after all what preseason is for, and with both teams opening their regular season schedule against fellow AFC contenders the following week it will be important for these two 2010 playoff teams to iron out any remaining wrinkles that have carried over from the offseason.

NFL Picks: What The Bengals Will Have To Do To Win

The arrival of wide receiver Terrell Owens in Cincinnati has been such a resounding success so far this preseason that team management felt that the nearly $8 million in guaranteed money that they gave Antonio Bryant on a new four-year contract this offseason was expendable, releasing the veteran wide out earlier this week.

The Bengals also released fifth-year linebacker Rashad Jeanty, the most notable of the team’s cuts that were made in anticipation of this week’s final exhibition game. Cincinnati’s two preseason wins are bookmarked by losses to the Dallas Cowboys in this year’s Hall of Fame game, and last weekend’s 35-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Despite their .500 record, the Bengals have put up big points on offense in their three contests since being limited to seven points in their loss to Dallas, averaging 27.0 points per game over their last three.

NFL Picks: What The Colts Will Have To Do To Win

Just when fans in Indianapolis become even a little concerned about their team’s winless record through three exhibition games, someone in the area reminds them that their starting quarterback is a four-time MVP, their roster is loaded with Pro Bowl talent on both sides of the ball, and that the Colts have won at least 12 games in seven straight regular seasons.

Indianapolis has been beaten up on defense this preseason, allowing an average of 47.5 points per game. The reason for their struggles should be more attributed to several starters sitting out, but that won’t change the fact that head coach Jim Caldwell would like to see his team have at least one quality defensive performance.

NFL Handicapping Outlook & Picks

This will be the Bengals’ fifth preseason game, and considering the Colts are winless and playing in front of their home crowd, you have to give the defending AFC champions the edge in this contest.

Indianapolis will open the regular season with a road game against the division rival Houston Texans the following week, making it that much more important that the Colts are playing mistake-free football this week.

NFL Picks: Colts