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The Indianapolis Colts will face the Jacksonville Jaguars to finish off the 2021 regular season. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Colts-Jaguars prediction and pick.
This is a great spot to be in for head coach Frank Reich and the Colts. A win against the lowly Jaguars means a playoff appearance, and it's possible that Indianapolis could still make the postseason with a loss here.
For more insight on the Colts-Jaguars matchup in Week 18, listen below:
Meanwhile, things don't look nearly as positive for the Jags. It's been a long, unsuccessful season for Jacksonville, but they have the chance to end things on a positive note here. A win against the Colts would likely keep Indianapolis out of the playoffs, so the Jaguars have a great opportunity to end a divisional rival's season in this one.
Here are the NFL odds for the Colts-Jaguars game, courtesy of FanDuel.
NFL Odds: Colts-Jaguars Odds
Indianapolis Colts: -15.5 (-110)
Jacksonville Jaguars: +15.5 (-110)
Over: 44 (-110)
Under: 44 (-110)
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Why The Colts Could Cover The Spread
The Colts have been winning games passed off of the strength of their defense, and that trend should continue here. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus's squad has been solid in every aspect of the game, but they're especially adept at taking the ball tonight. Indianapolis has forced 33 turnovers over the course of the year, one of the best numbers in the NFL. The Jaguars have given the ball away 29 times, the most in the league. The team that wins the turnover differential battle usually wins the game, and the Colts should dominate that part of the game.
Jacksonville has been terrible at pretty much everything this season, but their run defense has been especially bad. The Jags allow a whopping 125 rushing yards per game, and now they face one of the best running games in the NFL. Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his last four games, and the last time the Colts faced the Jags Taylor averaged 5.5 yards per carry. This is a terrible matchup for the Jaguars in just about every way.
Why The Jaguars Could Cover The Spread
While the Colts have clearly been the better team between these two for the last couple of seasons, they can't seem to buy a win in Jacksonville, or in London, where the Jags are considered the home team. The last time Indianapolis beat the Jaguars as a road team was in 2014. Jacksonville has only made the playoffs once since 2008, so it's not like they were a good team over the last eight seasons. Last year, the Jaguars beat the Colts to open the season and proceeded to lose all fifteen of their other games. The curse is real, and it's possible it continues here.
The vaunted Colts defense could be missing some important players in this game. Starting cornerback Xavier Rhodes didn't practice all week, and neither did star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Buckner is the best overall player on the Indianapolis defense, and Rhodes is an important piece too. Their absences could have a huge impact on the outcome of this game.
Final Colts-Jaguars Prediction & Pick
This spread is a little too big to pick the Colts comfortably. Betting the Jaguars is always a questionable proposition, so the under becomes the best pick. Indianapolis should dominate on the defensive side of the ball and bleed the clock out with constant run plays. That's the perfect recipe for an under to hit.
Final Colts-Jaguars Prediction & Pick: Under: 44 (-110)
