Monday Night Football Betting: Jets at Colts
Ask the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and New Orleans Saints how it feels to be 0-2. The answer will undoubtedly be “not very good.” With Super Bowl aspirations dancing in their heads, the Indianapolis Colts enter Monday night having no desire to experience the despair of 0-2. Standing in their way are the 1-0 New York Jets, who had little trouble disposing of the Browns in Week 1. Injuries are a concern for both teams as Indy might not have wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, and the Jets are unsure if running back Chris Ivory will suit up. Here’s a preview and prediction for the Week 2 Monday night matchup.
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts -7
The Jets defense held the Browns to 321 total yards last Sunday. They recorded three sacks and forced five total turnovers, including four lost fumbles. New head coach Todd Bowles inherited a quality front seven and added legit shutdown corner Darrelle Revis in free agency to bolster the secondary. However, fellow corner Antonio Cromartie is questionable to play with a bum knee, which is less than ideal when facing Andrew Luck. The Jets utilize a run-first offense, so not having Ivory leaves the ball carrying job to Bilal Powell, who rushed for 62 yards in mop-up duty versus the Browns. Journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is always good for one or two laughable blunders per game, but the odds of those gaffes occurring are reduced significantly the fewer times he drops backs to pass. The Jets have won six of the last ten meetings with the Colts.
Luck and the entire offense had a rough outing in Buffalo. The ground game stalled and the passing attack lacked explosiveness. And with Hilton banged up, the downfield options might be few and far between. Andre Johnson and Donte Moncrief are not speed receivers, so expect the tight end duo of Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener to work the middle and perimeter from the start. It will also help if Frank Gore doesn’t look like a 32-year-old back being asked to carry the load like he did against the Bills. A banged-up Indy secondary without starter Greg Toler and reserve Darius Butler must prevent Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker from getting behind them, and a pass rush missing Robert Mathis has to manufacture pressure on the mistake prone Fitzpatrick. Colts are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 home games, including playoffs.
The Jets are 7-3 ATS in the last ten tilts in the series. The Colts are always a threat to deliver a beatdown inside Lucas Oil Stadium, but not with a depleted set of healthy playmakers against a stout defense. Indy gets the victory, Jets cover.
Bet NY Jets +7
