NFL Betting :
Colts Won’t Allow Ravens To Run Them Over

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts
Football : United States : NFL Divisional Playoff
Saturday 16th January 2010 - Kickoff 8:15pm ET

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Betting Line : Colts -6.5

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The Super Bowl odds shifted around quite a bit last week when the Baltimore Ravens upended the New England Patriots and sent a lot of people scratching their heads about the Patriots future. Nonetheless, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are on the outside looking in while the Ravens advanced.

NFL betting fans are taking a much closer look at this Ravens team this week as they head to Indianapolis to face the Colts. Are they in fact that good or are they a team that took advantage of some really sloppy play on the Patriots behalf and turned it into points?

The Ravens scored an 83-yard rushing touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, then scored a couple more times after a couple of Tom Brady turnovers. Before the Patriots knew what hit them, they were already down big time.

That type of game plan is perfect for the Ravens, who have a good running game and a good defense. But will it work against the Colts? Likely not. It didn’t work in the first meeting between the teams and it might be tough for it to work this time around, especially with the game being in Indianapolis.

One disconcerting part of the Ravens win last week has to be the fact that quarterback Joe Flacco did not look so hot. Going into the game, there were concerns about his hip and leg and he didn’t do much to quell those issues.

Flacco finished the day just 4-of-10 passing with 39 yards and one interception. That’s not exactly ideal.

Last week, that was fine for the Ravens as they had a big lead the entire way. This week against the Colts, that won’t work.

The first time these teams met up, the Colts held the Ravens running game to just 98 total yards and the Ravens passing attack failed. One of those two things has to change this week if the Ravens are to win. But the question is how?

Flacco is obviously hobbled by a bad hip and the Ravens don’t have any lethal passing weapons. At the same time, the Colts know they will try to run the ball and they will stack the box against it.

THe Betting Verdict

This just isn’t a good matchup for Baltimore, who is just 2-6 against playoff teams this year. THe Colts should come out on top by more than a one score margin.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Colts 31, Ravens 21

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS to win and cover the spread.