Chargers Colts Betting – Manning Gets Best Of Rivers In Quarterback Showdown
Online betting players will see another great quarterback battle this Sunday in Indianapolis, as Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts host Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers in a big AFC clash. These two are no strangers to each other, but we’re giving the edge to the one who threw away a game last week; he won’t do it again.
- What: NFL betting
- When: Sunday, November 28th, 8:20 PM ET
- Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
- Pick: Indianapolis Colts -3
What’s On The Line
The Chargers (5-5) have won three in a row after a 35-14 rout of Denver at home on Monday night, and just like that, San Diego is back in the AFC West mix. The Colts (6-4) fought back from a 31-14 deficit, were in field-goal position at 31-28, and then Manning threw an ill-advised pick late in a 31-28 loss at the New England Patriots. These AFC powers have developed a rivalry from a couple of playoff meetings in the last few years, and both are led by two of the top five quarterbacks in the game.
Offensive Matchups: Chargers Colts Betting
Rivers threw for 233 yards, four touchdowns and a pick against the Broncos, but more importantly, the Chargers had their first 100-yard rusher since Week 4, when Mike Tolbert hit 100 yards on the button. On Monday, Tolbert rumbled for 111 yards, and if the Chargers could have any semblance of a running game, Rivers would be even more effective. He’s already having an MVP-caliber season throwing to wide receivers no one knows, and he didn’t even have the injured Antonio Gates on Monday. While Gates may not be able to play again, Vincent Jackson returns from a holdout/suspension to stretch the field for Rivers, who gets his favorite target back.
Manning threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns, but he was picked off three times, and no one knows what he was thinking on that last pick. Like Rivers, Manning has had his receiving corps buckled by injury, to the point where three of his touchdowns last Sunday went to Blair White and Gijon Robinson, two players you wouldn’t know if you passed them on the street. Reggie Wayne had his first 100-yard game since Week 4, and the Colts were efficient, going 11-of-14 on third down. But Manning made too many mistakes, and we’re willing to bet that won’t happen again.
Betting Edge: Draw
Defensive Matchups: Chargers Colts Betting
Hands up if you would have had the Chargers as the No.1 defense in the NFL? They held a good Denver offense to 235 yards, and most of those yards came when the game was well in hand and the Chargers started to rest some people. The Chargers sacked Kyle Orton five times, and stopped the Broncos on 11 of 12 third-down opportunities. They don’t have any big-name superstars; in fact, they released Shawne Merriman (who has yet to play for the Buffalo Bills). But Shaun Phillips has filled in for Merriman quite nicely, and the Chargers are more solid from front to back.
The Colts kept Tom Brady under wraps, but the Patriots ran for 168 yards on them, and you can tell that they’re missing linebackers Gary Brackett and Clint Session. Pat Angerer had 12 tackles to lead the team on Sunday, but he’s still a rookie, a talented one, but a rookie nonetheless. The Colts are 30th against the run, and they need these veteran linebackers back in the lineup if they want to make a serious push for the Super Bowl, because Manning can’t do it on his own.
Betting Edge: Chargers
Notable Injuries: Chargers Colts Betting
Gates (toe) is probably going to be touch and go as the week progresses, because a toe injury is one that lingers. Receiver Patrick Crayton (wrist) will likely be out, and running back Ryan Mathews (ankle) looks no closer to returning to the lineup for the Chargers. Two more question marks are receivers Malcolm Floyd (hamstring) and Legedu Naanee (hamstring).
Receiver Austin Collie (concussion) will be held out an extra week, while running backs Joseph Addai (neck) and Mike Hart (ankle) are questionable. Session (arm) and Brackett (toe) will have to be watched this week by Colts.
Betting Edge: Draw
Outlook and Pick: Chargers Colts Betting
NFL betting odds have the Colts as a 3-point favorite at home, where they are 3-1 ATS this season, while the Chargers are 1-4 ATS away from home. The Chargers have actually fared pretty well in Indy, going 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS since 1996, but we’re going to go with the Colts to come away with the win this week as the Chargers are two different teams: one at home, and one on the road. The Colts are pretty similar, have yet to lose at home, and Manning will be eager to erase last week’s memories. Jackson will take a bit to get back into game shape, so he shouldn’t be that big of a factor. Take Indy to cover in your sports betting book.
Stan’s Pick: Indianapolis Colts
