Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots |
2* Freeplay: New England +3
This could be the best game of the season so far. The Colts are undefeated at 8-0 but are only 5-3 ATS and 1-3 ATS at home. The Patriots are 6-2 and 4-4 ATS this season. Indianapolis has not covered their last 2 home games and many can argue that they were lucky to come out with the victory.
5* Platinum Selection: UNDER 50
This will be one of the most exciting matchups of the season. I find that the total is inflated based on public perception. Everyone knows that the Colts and Pats can put up huge numbers. However, one thing that is very important to consider is that these teams can play some defense too. The Colts rank first in points allowed, while the Pats rank second. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are Hall of Fame quarterbacks but the reality is that they are each facing a very strong pass defense.
The Colts and Patriots have met 72 times on the field, but the true rivalry is a relatively new creation. Dating back to the days when the Colts played their football in Baltimore, New England holds a 44-28 advantage. More recently,t he rivalry has been renewed because the two teams have dominated the AFC and their respective quarterbacks have dueled a number of times.
The Colts have both the oldest and most recent championships won by the two teams, claiming the Super Bowl title under Johnny Unitas in 1970 and under Peyton Manning’s leadership in 2006. In between those, the Patriots went on one of the NFL’s most impressive runs, claiming Super Bowl championships in 2001, 2003, and 2004.
The rivalry between these two teams exists in large part because of the quarterbacks in place for each franchise. New England’s Tom Brady is a two-time Super Bowl MVP, while Indy’s Peyton Manning has put his name all over the NFL record books and claimed a title for his city, as well. The teams have played some of the most anticipated regular season football games in NFL history, most recently in 2007, when the 7-0 Patriots came into Indianapolis to meet the 8-0 Colts.
