The Green Bay Packers (7-2, 4-1 away) and the Indianapolis Colts (6-3, 3-1 home) meet up in a battle of cross-conference heavyweights on Sunday. Both teams sit atop their respective divisions as we transition into the second half of the football season. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. EST inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. The Colts are a slight 1.5-point favorite in the contest, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Green Bay Packers
It wasn’t pretty, but the Packers took care of business at home last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, capturing their second win in a row. Green Bay benefitted from a fourth-quarter touchdown connection between Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to seal the victory.
Rodgers finished the game passing for 325 yards on 24-of-34 passing. The veteran quarterback threw two touchdowns and one interception in the contest. It was Rodgers’ fourth game of the season throwing for 300 yards or more.
The Packers never got the ground game going with Jacksonville playing surprisingly aggressive for one of the worst defenses in the league statistically. Aaron Jones rushed 13 times for 46 yards, accounting for over half of the Packers rushing total.
With the Jags keying on Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling hauled in four passes for a season-high 149 yards and one score. Adams added eight catches for 66 yards and found the endzone for the fourth-straight game.
Some betting trends to watch in the game is the Packers are 4-1 over their last four games as a road but 2-7 in trips to Indianapolis. The Packers have also averaged 38 points this season when playing indoors.
What to Know – Indianapolis Colts
After a home loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Colts bounced back on a short week to blowout the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football. Indianapolis outscored the Titans 21-0 in the second half to pull away for the win.
Like the Packers, the Colts are benefitting from having a veteran quarterback under center. Philip Rivers completed 29-of-39 passes for 308 yards and one touchdown against the Titans. The clean sheet for Rivers was just his fourth game this season not throwing an interception.
Backup running back Nyheim Hines scored a pair of touchdowns on his 24th birthday. Hines totaled 115 yards of offense behind 70 yards rushing and 45 yards receiving. Starting running back Jonathan Taylor was held to just 12 yards rushing on seven carries.
Michael Pittman Jr. erupted for seven catches for 101 yards. The rookie set career highs in total receptions and yards in the victory.
Some of the recent game trends with the Colts is the total has gone over in four of their last five games, and the total has gone over in the last six contests against the Packers.
The Pick is In
Adams’ status for Sunday’s game is currently up in the air, and if he can’t go, that is an obvious blow to Green Bay’s offense. The Packers’ potent offense against the Colts’ stifling defense will be the key to the game. This should be a great matchup with two veteran quarterbacks going at it.
The Pick: Packers -1.5
