The Indianapolis Colts have a forecast 71% chance to win against The Arizona Cardinals with a spread of -1.0/1.0 and an over/under of 46.0. The Indianapolis Colts are 0 – 0 against The Arizona Cardinals in the 2021-22 Season.
— Saturday, December 25th Indianapolis Colts @ Arizona Cardinals
Coming off an embarrassing loss to the 1-win Detroit Lions, the 10-4 Arizona Cardinals look to bounce back on Saturday when they host the surging 8-6 Indianapolis Colts. The hosts can clinch a playoff spot in the wild NFC West on Saturday while the visitors are looking to keep pace with Tennessee in the AFC South. Kickoff on Christmas Night is set for 8:15 ET at Glendale’s State Farm Stadium and will air on NFL Network.
This will be the first time the Colts have ever played on Christmas and the third time for the Cardinals, the first since 2010. These teams last met in 2017, an overtime road win for the Cardinals, who also beat the Colts in 2013 at home. The Colts won the previous four meetings, but Arizona leads the all-time series 9-8.
Taylor Tearing It Up for Colts
The Colts are 9-5 ATS this season, and the over is 8-6 in their 14 games. They are 4-2 on the road, and the offense ranks 2nd in the NFL at 157 yards per game while the team is 3rd in the league with 28.4 points per game. The defense is middle of the pack allowing 234.1 passing yards and 109.6 rushing yards per game while yielding 21.4 ppg.
Running back Jonathan Taylor is having an MVP caliber season with 1,518 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s gone over 100 yards in five of the last six games and scored a touchdown in each of the last 11 games. Taylor ran all over the Patriots for 170 yards in last week’s win, and he also has 36 receptions on the season.
Carson Wentz is taking care of the ball this season with 23 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He has 3,005 passing yards with a 63 percent completion rate. Wentz has a touchdown pass in four straight games but threw for just 57 yards last week as the Colts pounded the ball with Taylor.
Michael Pittman Jr. is the top target for Wentz this season, and he has 68 catches for 889 yards and five touchdowns. Mo-Allie Cox has four touchdown catches while Zach Pascal has three touchdowns, as does tight end Jack Doyle.
Cardinals Need To Find the Home Magic
The Cardinals are 9-5 ATS, and the total is 7-7 in their 14 games. They are only 3-3 at home with an average of 255.1 passing yards, 121.3 rushing yards, and 27 points per game. The defense has been bad against the run, ranking 20th at 112.8 ypg but good against the pass, ranking 5th.
Quarterback Kyler Murray was named a Pro Bowler this week after a rough outing against Detroit in which he was intercepted and threw for just 257 yards. On the season, he has 3,039 yards in 11 games with 20 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Murray has been sacked 25 times while rushing for 270 yards and five touchdowns.
James Conner leads the Cardinals’ ground attack with 700 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s questionable for Saturday with a heel injury that limited him to eight carries last week. Chase Edmonds ran for 53 yards last week and has 483 on the season, with one touchdown.
The Cardinals are without DeAndre Hopkins for the rest of the season though Christian Kirk stepped up last week with 12 catches for 94 yards. Overall, Kirk has 62 catches for 812 yards and five scores, while A.J. Green has 46 catches for 718 yards and three touchdowns. Zach Ertz has taken over tight end duties since being acquired and has 49 catches in eight games with 395 yards and three touchdowns.
Betting Analysis
- Indianapolis Colts +2.5 (-110). Money Line +105
- Arizona Cardinals -2.5 (-101). Money Line -115
- Total: 48.5 points. Over -115. Under -105
The Colts have covered in five straight road games, winning all of them outright. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have home losses to the Rams, Panthers, and Packers in their last three-game home games and haven’t won at State Farm since October 24. The Colts lead the NFL in turnover margin (+14) this season and will look to steal the ball and the win from the Cardinals on Christmas.
Betting Pick: Colts +2.5 (-110)
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