The Indianapolis Colts welcome the Seattle Seahawks to Lucas Oil Stadium for their season opener Sunday, but booksinstall the visiting Seahawks as the firm road favorites. Do the bookies have it right? Find out as we analyse the Seahawks and Colts and serve up choice NFL picks.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, August 12, 2021, 1:00 PM EDT at Lucas Oil Stadium
Seahawks Favored On The Road
Russel Wilson did a song and dance about being “Mr. Unlimited” at the start of last season only to be proven well and truly limited in a first round playoff exit. The Seahawks were beaten by divisional rivals LA Rams 30-20. Sean McVay didn’t even start Jared Goff in the game. Goff was the backup to his backup, but was fielded when John Wolford went down with a concussion. Goff, with a dodgy thumb on his throwing hand, lifted the Rams to the victory. Talk about bad optics.
In spite of the bitter disappointment of last season, the Seahawks enter 2021 amidst high expectations. The Seahawks are expected to be contenders in the NFC West again while Russell Wilson is amongst the Top 5 early favorites in the MVP race. How the Seahawks start though will be revealing. The Seahawks went 12-4-0 SU and 8-8-0 ATS with a 5.5 winning margin on average. On the road, the Seahawks went 5-3-0 SU but were merely 2-6-0 ATS with a 1.9 winning margin on average.
Colts QB Issues Behind Disfavour
Carson Wentz is falling fast out of favor everywhere. He was steadily falling out of favor in Philadelphia over the last few seasons, but last season marked a new nadir for the former No.2 pick in the 2016 draft. It was one of the worst campaigns of his five-year career in the NFL as he finished with the most interceptions (15) and sacks (50) of all starting quarterbacks in the league. It got so bad that Doug Pederson was forced to bench Wentz for rookie Jalen Hurts. A seminal moment that brought about the end of Wentz’ sojourn in the City of Brotherly Love. Wentz reportedly asked to be traded and he got what he wanted, a trade to Indianapolis and a chance to resurrect his career under Frank Reich, who’d worked with Wentz in his early years in Philadelphia.
Wentz’ second chance in the NFL has hit a snag The embittered quarterback had to undergo foot surgery in the offseason, which puts his status for week 1 in question. Reports are that Wentz might be ready to start in the Colts season opener, but how fit will he be remains to be seen. Behind Wentz, the Colts are a bit short on the quarterback depth chart. They went all in on Wentz in the offseason, so their success or demise rests on his ability to play.
On the heels of Wentz’ injury, the Colts saw their NFL odds plunge in most markets, but not so dramatically as to write them off entirely….just yet. As it is, the Colts are the second-best bet after the Titans in the AFC South and they’re outside of the Top 10 in Super Bowl 56 odds. The Colts went 11-5-0 SU and 8-8-0 ATS with a 5.6 winning margin. At home, the Colts went 6-2-0 SU and 3-5-0 ATS with a 5.1 winning margin.
NFL Predictions and Picks
On the whole, these are two talented and well-coached teams. It’s possible to even suggest that, with all things being equal, these are well matched teams. However, so much of what happens in an NFL game is impacted by quarterback play. Carson Wentz’ account in Philadelphia is case-and-point.
Wentz was absolutely awful last season and his confidence took a massive beatdown. Has he really had enough time to rebuild that confidence? Can he be trusted not to turn over the ball? Just being in the presence of Reich can’t possibly lead to a total reformation. Moreover, he was side-lined in the offseason and that raises fitness issues. The Seahawks aren’t the greatest team in the NFL but they’re dependable in certain types of games, especially those in which the defense can make an impact.
This is that kind of game. And the opposing quarterback is also exactly the kind of quarterback the Seattle D-line can get after easily. Thus, it’s really no surprise that the Seahawks are the favorites on the NFL odds board. Lay the points with the Seahawks in what could be a more of a one-sided game than most expect.
NFL Pick: Seahawks -2.5 (-110) with Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
