Colts vs Cardinals Betting Odds, Picks, and Predictions

• The Cardinals are 1.5-point home favorites over the Colts on Saturday night
• Betting Record: 1-2 ML; 8-6 ATS: 1-0 O/U; +1.2 units
• A look at the matchup and odds can be found below with a prediction

The Arizona Cardinals will again try to clinch a playoff berth when they host the Indianapolis Colts at 8:15 p.m. ET Saturday in a Christmas game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

With the opportunity to seal a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2015 in both games, the Cardinals (10-4) have lost back-to-back to the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. The Cardinals and Rams are now tied for the NFC West lead.

The Colts (8-6) have drawn within 1.5 games of the first-place Tennessee Titans (10-5) in the AFC South with six wins in their last seven games.

In a game that will be broadcast on the NFL Network, the Cardinals are small favorites.

Colts vs Cardinals Odds

Odds as of December 24th at FanDuel.

The line has held steady throughout the week as the Cardinals also opened as 1.5-point favorites. The sharp money is going on the Colts, who are receiving 69% of the handle and 58% of the total bets.

Colts Offense vs Cardinals Defense

The Colts’ formula for success over the past seven games has been simple – give the ball to running back Jonathan Taylor, who leads the NFL with 1,518 yards rushing on 270 carries.

JONATHAN TAYLOR CALLED GAME pic.twitter.com/Hpzbe2B0Oq

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 19, 2021

Taylor has rushed for at least 100 yards in eight of the last 11 games. He also has 10 100-yard scrimmage games in that span and has scored a touchdown in 11 straight games to tie the franchise record.

A few other Colts’ single-season records held by Hall of Famers are within Taylor’s reach. His 19 total touchdowns are one away from the mark set by Lenny Moore in 1964 and he is within 192 rushing yards of the 1,709 by Edgerrin James in 2000.

While the Cardinals are seventh in the NFL in total yards allowed, they are just 17^th in rushing defense.

Cardinals Offense vs Colts Defense

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray established himself as the NFL MVP favorite in leading Arizona to a 7-0 start. However, his play has fallen off during a 3-4 stretch and Murray has struggled during losses in the last two weeks.

Against the Rams and Lions, Murray completed just 61.1% of his passes. While he had 640 yards combined in those games, he threw only one touchdown pass and was intercepted three times.

Kyler Murray totally missed Christian Kirk running WIDE open in front of him on 3rd down

Watch Kirk look behind him to see if he was really that open pic.twitter.com/kzf8fbgKCF

— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) December 19, 2021

Murray will be without his top receiver as DeAndre Hopkins is sidelined with a knee injury. Christian Kirk was Murray’s top target against the Lions when he had nine receptions for 94 yards and a TD.

Perhaps Murray can get right against the Colts, who are 15^th in the NFL in pass defense. However, Indianapolis leads the league with a plus-14 turnover margin.

Colts vs Cardinals Recent History

The teams have split 16 games, though most of those matchups came before the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

The Cardinals won the most recent meeting, 16-13 in overtime in 2017 in Indianapolis. Carson Palmer threw for 332 yards for Arizona and Phil Dawson kicked the game-winning field goal from 30 yards.

Colts vs Cardinals Injury Report

Defensive end Jordan Phillips (heel) has been ruled out for the Cardinals. Listed as questionable are running back James Conner (heel), center Max Garcia (knee) and wide receiver Rondale Moore (ankle).

Conner’s 16 total touchdowns are third in the league behind Taylor and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Austin Ekeler (17).

.@JamesConner_ leads the league with 5 one-handed grabs this season. 😮 #RedSea

📺: #AZvsDET — Sunday 1pm ET on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/2yU7430d8i

— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2021

Colts center Ryan Kelly could miss a third straight game following the death of his infant daughter. Safety Andrew Sendejo (concussion) will also miss the game.

Indianapolis guard Mark Glowinski is on the COVID-19/reserve list with cornerback Rock Ya-Sin and defense end Kemoko Turay. On the list for Arizona is punter Andy Lee and center Rodney Hudson.

Colts vs Cardinals Prediction

The Cardinals are in a late-season swoon for a second straight year, 3-4 at home this season and 0-4 overall under coach Kliff Kingsbury in games in which they can clinch a playoff berth. Those are a lot of reasons why the sharps are fading the Cardinals.

The Pick: Colts moneyline -102