Titans vs. Colts NFL Week 8 Best Bets and Odds Analysis (Archive)
The Indianapolis Colts are riding a solid run of form over the last four weeks, surging just in time for the reprisal of hostilities with their division rivals the Tennessee Titans, who are coming off back-to-back statement wins against AFC contenders.
The Colts are coming off a 30-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers, winning three of their last four games. The Titans are coming off a statement 27-3 win over the Chiefs and backing up their equally noteworthy 34-31 win over the Buffalo Bills the week before.
At face value, this is a clash of two in-form AFC South rivals in a game that has far-reaching consequences both in the division and the broader AFC. Sizing up the Colts and Titans individually though, there are several differences that tip the balance wholeheartedly with the Titans. Mainly, Mike Vrabel’s side is undeniably one of the best teams in the NFL right now.
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, October 31, 2021 – 1:00 PM EDT at Lucas Oil Stadium
And yet, bookmakers have rolled out a tight betting NFL line for this game, tighter than an accountant’s purse that suggests this game is totally up for grabs. Do the bookies have it right? Or are they underrating the Titans at the expense of a Colts team that might not be as good as its recent record suggests it is? Let’s see the NFL odds.
The Titans Are Rolling
Ryan Tannehill and the Titans are coming off a couple of upset wins that have redressed the AFC playoff frame. On the heels of their surprising wins over the Bills and the Chiefs, the Titans lead the AFC South with a 5-2 record and they’re in third place in the AFC. Take into consideration next time you are looking in your NFL pick.
Beating the Bills 34-31 and the Chiefs 27-3 were gauntlet-throwing wins that raised Tennessee’s profile across sports betting platforms. It’s quite something to get the better of two of the preseason Super Bowl 56 favorites, make no mistake. Last Sunday’s win over the Chiefs was the most impressive – both offensively and defensively.
Tannehill and Derrick Henry overwhelmed the Chiefs’ suspect defense while the Titans defense held the high-octane Chiefs offense to a measly field goal. Vrabel outcoached Andy Reid as the Titans handed Mahomes his worst defeat in the NFL since he took over the reins in Kansas City in 2018.
The Colts Surge
A lot is being made of the resurgence of Carson Wentz and the Colts, but to look at their run of form closely is to be suitably unimpressed. The Colts have beaten the woeful Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans and the injury-hobbled San Francisco 49ers.
If the motto is “it’s better to be lucky than good”, the Colts fit the bill nicely. This particularly applies for their upset win over the Niners at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday Night Football.
For the better part of three quarters, the game was pretty close and it could have gone either way. The weather wasn’t helpful, and the game descended into sloshy-fest that was largely unwatchable until luck struck late in the game. Jimmy Garoppolo tossed an interception that gave the Colts a short field when the game was hanging in the balance with Indianapolis up by a handful of points. It was the catalyst that tipped the balance towards the visitors and they ran away with the game after scoring an easy touchdown.
NFL Picks and Predictions
Every single season – or so has been the case in recent years – the AFC South comes down to the wire between the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts. If the Colts win this game, that may very well prove to be the case again because the schedule opens up for Frank Reich’s side in the next few weeks and Indianapolis could be right back in the division race.
So, the premium on the win couldn’t be any greater or the stakes any higher. As things stand, the Titans are in the lead with a 5-2 record while the Colts trail behind with a 3-4 record. A win would see the Colts improve to a 4-4 record, thereby narrowing the gap on the Titans.
After which, the Colts have a couple of relatively straightforward – and winnable games – against the New York Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Titans face much tougher contests against the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints in the ensuing weeks.
The incentive for the Colts to make a fist of it, if not win this game is obvious. Plus, they have home advantage. However, the Colts lost the first game to the Titans this season 25-16. Moreover, they’ve lost to every other team that could be considered a contender, including the Los Angeles Rams and the Baltimore Ravens. The lack of a signature win is one of the biggest knockbacks for the Colts here.
The Colts as the 1-point home underdogs look like a tempting bet, but it may well be nothing more than catnip trotted out by top sportsbooks to deceive bettors who might have been impressed by Indianapolis’ Sunday Night Football win. The Titans have won five of their last six games and beaten much better opponents in the process.
Having beaten the Colts already too, they should come into this game brimming with confidence. A win here for the Titans would see them pull ahead in the AFC South, making it that much tougher for the rest of the field in the division to challenge them for the crown. As such, the Titans as the 1-point road favorites are the choice bet here.
NFL Pick: Titans -1 (-110) with Intertops (visit our Intertops 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.