Colts vs Jaguars Picks, Predictions, and Betting Odds

• The Indianapolis Colts aim to clinch a playoff spot when they visit the bottom-feeding Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday as betting favorites
• The Colts have won nine of 13 overall, but have lost six straight road dates with the Jaguars, who are currently mired in an eight-game slide
• Read on for all the odds and trends ahead of Sunday afternoon’s AFC South matchup at TIAA Bank Field

The Indianapolis Colts will be aiming to nail down a playoff spot with a win on Sunday, when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars as lofty 14.5-point favorites in the NFL Week 18 odds.

The Colts blew their opportunity to lock up an AFC wild card with last weekend’s 23-20 loss to Las Vegas, but still control their own postseason destiny entering the final weekend of the regular season.

The Jaguars return home following a humbling 50-10 defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots, which extended their current straight up losing streak to eight games.

However, the Jags also enjoy a six-game SU win streak when facing the Colts on home turf.

Indianapolis Colts vs Jacksonville Jaguars Odds

Odds taken January 8th at DraftKings.

Start time of Sunday afternoon’s clash at TIAA Bank Field is 1:00pm ET. It is expected to be a gorgeous day in Jacksonville on Sunday. Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s Fahrenheit are forecast for game time, with clouds expected to roll in as the afternoon progresses.

Colts vs Jaguars Line Movement

Sunday afternoon’s matchup marks the second and final scheduled clash between these AFC South rivals. The Colts eked out a narrow 23-17 win over the Jaguars as 10.5-point home chalk back in Week 10, and have tallied two straight outright victories in head-to-head action.

After posting six straight losses in Jacksonville, including five straight as betting favorites, the Colts now sport a dismal 1-11-1 against the spread record in their past 13 dates with the Jags.

Indianapolis has struggled to generate offence during their 0-6 run in Jacksonville, averaging just 15.5 points per game, and have scored just 10 total points after halftime over their past four visits.

My story for @SBD: NFL Week 18 Odds – Opening Lines and Spreads for All Games https://t.co/XyDVS7KU9Z #Bills #Jets #Chargers #Raiders #NFL

— John Perrotto (@JPerrotto) January 3, 2022

The Colts’ road woes versus Jacksonville have not dampened their position at the sportsbooks, where they have held steady since opening as 14.5-point chalk. The total also remains unchanged since opening at 44.

Indianapolis Colts Outlook

The Colts saw a three-game SU win streak snapped with last week’s loss to the visiting raiders. However, they remain one of the NFL’s consistent teams since overcoming a dismal 0-3 SU start, avoiding consecutive defeats during their current 9-4 SU run.

The Colts have also emerged as road warriors during their rebound. Indy has won outright in five of its past six, with a heartbreaking 31-25 overtime loss in Baltimore in Week 5 marking their lone road defeat during that run.

Carson Wentz has 10 TD and 0 INT in 7 road starts this year.

If Wentz doesn’t throw an INT Sunday (at #Jaguars), he’ll become the first QB in #NFL history to start 8 road games without throwing an INT. #Colts #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/r95knGCwR9

— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) January 6, 2022

Indianapolis has also emerged as a reliable bet, covering in each of their past six road dates. They also enjoy a steady run of success when favored by double digits, winning outright in 14 of 15 since September 2008, capped by a crushing 31-0 victory in Houston as 10-point chalk back in Week 13.

Colts DL DeForest Buckner (knee) DNP again, questionable to play vs. Jaguarshttps://t.co/4XexHUiRDj pic.twitter.com/wTzOMm747Z

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) January 7, 2022

While the Colts enjoy reasonable good health, they must contend with a few worrisome injuries. The status of defensive tackle Deforest Buckner remains uncertain for Sunday after missing practice all week due to a knee injury.

Buckner leads the Colts with seven sacks this season, and tallied a season-high eight tackles in last week’s loss to Vegas.

Jacksonville Jaguars Outlook

The Jaguars have nowhere to go but up after last week’s embarrassing performance to the Patriots. In addition to extending their current SU slide to eight games, the Jags have now also failed to cover in seven straight outings, including ATS defeats in their past two as double-digit underdogs.

Since the year the Colts last beat Jacksonville on the road:

The Jags have finished last in the AFC South 5 of the 7 seasons. 3rd once & won the division in 2017 when they reached the AFC Championship Game.

Their record is 32-80.

They've been outscored by 578 points.

— Brett Bensley (@brettbensley) January 7, 2022

A feeble Jaguars offence has averaged just 11.9 points per game during the team’s current race to the bottom of the AFC standings, and there is little reason to expect that to change this weekend. While rookie quarterback has done his best to power the Jags attack, he has few offensive weapons at his disposal.

#TrevorLawrence has put up 3,735 total yards of offense this season.

Somehow, he’s 265 yards away from reaching 4,000 for the year.

It’s a staggering statistic considering the the roster and coaching support he’s had to work with.#Jaguars #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/UitgZO4o6d

— Ryan Michael (@theryanmichael) January 3, 2022

Tight end James O’Shaughnessy joins a growing list of offensive personnel currently sidelined that is already includes rushers James Robinson and Carlos Hyde, tight end Dan Arnold, and receiver DJ Chalk Jr.

With a playoff spot on the line for Indy, and the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft there for the taking for Jacksonville, expect the Jags to put up little resistance on Sunday afternoon.

The Picks: Colts -14.5 (-110)