This is arguably the best game on the Sunday slate. Both the Green Bay Packers and their hosts on Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts, are first in their respective divisions and look to continue their successful seasons with a win (4.25pm ET; TV: Live on Fox).
The Packers top the NFC North and with the best record in the NFC at 7-2. The Colts enter in first place in the AFC South after beating the Titans convincingly last week. This is an important game in the playoff picture as the Packers currently have the top seed in the NFC and the Colts have the fourth seed and are tied with the Titans at 6-3 in the division, but own the tiebreaker after beating them.
Both teams look to assert themselves with a win but who will get it? Read on for USAbetting’s Green Bay Packers vs Indianapolis Colts predictions for this preview, along with betting picks’ conclusion.
Strength on Strength
This is another strength on strength battle, which we have discussed in previous football previews. The Packers have one of the better offenses in the NFL and will be going up against one of the more dominant defenses in the league. Aaron Rodgers has two of the better offensive weapons with wide receiver Davante Adams and running back Aaron Jones.
Adams leads the team in receptions (61), receiving yards (741), and receiving touchdowns (9) despite missing two games. He is also 10th in the NFL in receiving yards (741) despite playing two and three games fewer than the players in front of him.
DeAndre Hopkins leads the league with 912 yards, but has played 10 games. Adams is tied for first in the NFL with nine receiving touchdowns. He is in elite company with DK Metcalf, Tyreek Hill, and Adam Thielen all with nine touchdowns as well.
Aaron Jones is a force in the running game. He leads the Packers in rushing yards (493) and rushing touchdowns (5) while missing two games. He also has 231 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. He averages 4.8 yards per carry in the run game.
The Packers rank ninth in the NFL in rushing success and average 4.4 yards per carry as a team. They are ranked 3rd in the NFL (behind the Seahawks and Chiefs) and average 30.8 points per game. They rank 6th in the league and average 274.3 passing yards per game. Rodgers and the offense will have to figure out a strong Colts’ defense to succeed on Sunday.
The Colts’ defense is one of the best in the NFL, which is huge part of their success. They are the main reason for a 6-3 record as their offense has struggled at times. The Colts are in the middle of the pack as a scoring offense (14th) and average 26.2 points per game. Their running game has been a weakness and we are left wondering if 38-year-old Philip Rivers can continue to have relative success in the passing game. Their run game is ranked 20th with an average of 105.8 yards on the ground per game.
The Colts’ defense ranks 1st in the NFL in total yards allowed per game (290.4) and 4th in the NFL in average points allowed per game (19.7). They are 4th against the run giving up only 91.8 yards on average per game and are 2nd against the pass giving up 198.7 yards through the air per game. They are only one of three teams that give up on average less than 200 yards passing per game. This is an incredible feat in an NFL that is so focused on success through the air. The defense is anchored by starting linebacker Darius Leonard who leads the team in total tackles (60) and is second in solo tackles (40).
One significant loss for the Colts to factor in is starting defensive end Denico Autry. He was placed on COVID-19 list after missing practice Thursday and will not be able to play on Sunday. He has a team-high six sacks and seven quarterback pressures. If there is one quarterback you do not want to give extra time to its Aaron Rodgers. He can pick you apart when he is comfortable in the pocket.
Our Preview’s Packers vs Colts Predictions & Betting Picks’ Recommendations
USAbetting is going to be siding with the slight road dog Packers to win the game outright. They are currently +1pt (-105) on Betonline and +1.5 (-110) on Intertops. We think the Packers are going to win the game outright so we are looking to the moneyline, which is currently +100 with most sportsbooks.
Put your trust in Aaron Rodgers and the significantly stronger offense. If anyone can beat this stingy Colts defense it is Rodgers and his stable of top weapons. We also don’t think the Colts’ offense will be able to keep up. The Colts do not have a strong running game to protect Rivers and the Packers have a few talented edge rushers that could prove problematic for the veteran quarterback.
The Colts’ rushing attack only averages 3.8 yards per carry and rank 28 out of 32 in rushing success. We think the Packers can win fairly convincingly and show why they are the class of the NFC. We see this being a 27-13 victory for the Pack. So, when it comes to taking on the best of the top U.S. oddsmakers, these are our Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts predictions, and sole betting pick, for this preview:
- Back the Green Bay Packers on the moneyline @ best odds of +100 (evens) with Bovada, Intertops, Bookmaker or BetOnline.
Alex Uplinger is a sports betting analyst, writer, podcast producer and an expert on NFL and college basketball. As well as his football previews for USA Betting, Alex produces and co-hosts an NFL show for Full Slate and a sports betting podcast on the Blue Wire Network.