Sunday, December 13, 2020, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada, 4:05 p.m. ET
Colts at Raiders Betting Preview: Colts (-3/-108), Raiders (+3/-112)
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts (8-4) enter the contest tied for first in the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans but because of tiebreakers are second in the division and seventh overall when it comes to the AFC playoff race. That makes their first ever trip to Las Vegas to play the Raiders even more meaningful. The Raiders lead the all-time series 10-8, including 9-7 in the regular season, but the Colts have won five of the last seven meetings.
Indianapolis lost the last contest between the two teams, 31-24, in Week 4 last season at Lucas Oil Stadium but that was with Jacoby Brissett at the helm. Future Hall of Famer Philip Rivers is scheduled to get the nod this time which would be his 29th career start against the Silver and Black. That would break a record for most regular season starts against the Raiders that he shares with John Elway. Rivers already holds the marks for most wins (18), touchdown passes (47) and passing yards (7,103) against the Raiders.
The Colts have won three of their last four games, including a 26-20 victory at Houston last Sunday. Rivers completed 27 of 35 passes (77.1 percent) for 285 yards and two touchdowns in that one while rookie running back Jonathan Taylor had a career-high 135 scrimmage yards, including 91 rushing, and T.Y. Hilton had season highs in catches (eight) and yards (110) as well as a touchdown reception.
Las Vegas Raiders
Thanks to the Miracle in the Meadowlands, the Raiders (7-5) find themselves still in serious playoff contention but currently on the outside looking in as the No. 8 seed. It would have been a whole lot worse if not for Derek Carr hitting Henry Ruggs III with a game-winning 46-yard touchdown pass with five seconds remaining to beat the winless Jets, 31-28, on Sunday. The winning TD against a surprising all-out blitz cost New York defensive coordinator Gregg Williams his job and saved Jon Gruden’s squad an embarrassing loss.
It was the 20th fourth quarter comeback of Carr’s career, an NFL record for most in the first seven seasons. Carr finished the day throwing for 381 yards and three touchdowns and got plenty of help from tight end Darren Waller. Waller had 13 receptions for a career-high 200 yards and two touchdowns to become just the fourth tight end in NFL history to have 200-plus receiving yards and two or more touchdowns in a game.
Defensive end Clelin Ferrell returned after missing a pair of games with COVID-19 and had two sacks and two forced fumbles to go along with six tackles. However, the Raiders’ defense was gashed for 206 yards rushing even though the Jets lost starting running back Frank Gore after two plays with a concussion. Cornerback Trayvon Mullen added a highlight-reel one-handed interception, his second pick in the past three games.
Colts at Raiders Betting Pick for Week 14
Indianapolis has won three road games in a row and will be facing a Las Vegas team that has struggled at home in its first season in sparkling new Allegiant Stadium, winning just twice in five games. They’ll be going against a Raiders defense that is allowing 28.9 points per game which ranks 28th in the league and has struggled defending the pass, allowing an average of 257.1 yards per game.
This is the start of a make-it-or-break-it three-game home stretch for Las Vegas which still must play Miami at home in two weeks and ends the season at Denver. Trying to stop old nemesis Rivers won’t be easy, especially with a secondary that has three key performers in safeties Johnathan Abram (knee) and Jeff Heath (concussion) and cornerback Damon Arnette (concussion) battling injuries.
Colts at Raiders Betting Pick
Colts 35, Raiders 30
Colts at Raiders Best Bet for Week 14
The over is 5-1-1 for the Raiders in their last seven games against a team with a winning record and 6-0-1 in the last seven games when Las Vegas is a home underdog. The over is also 6-2 in the Colts last eight games overall and 8-3 in the last 11 games that Indy has entered as a road favorite.
Colts at Raiders Best Bet: OVER 51.5 total points (-118)
