82% of All Bets Are on the Saints as 9-Point Favorites Over Colts on MNF

• Colts visit Saints needing a win to keep slim playoff hopes alive
• New Orleans still has a chance to clinch top seed in the NFC playoffs
• Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below

It’s quite possibly the last gasp for the Indianapolis Colts (6-7, 2-4 away), who are on the road to take on the New Orleans Saints (10-3, 5-2 home) on Monday Night Football, needing a win to stay alive in the AFC playoff hunt. The Saints, meanwhile, still have a shot at top seed in the NFC and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Kickoff is set for 8:15pm ET.

Indianapolis Colts vs New Orleans Saints Odds

*Odds taken December 15

Once a feel-good story and the betting darling of the NFL early in the season, the Colts vs Saints odds show that Indy’s luck might have run out. Oddsmakers are reporting nearly three-quarters of the betting public is laying it down for the home team (73%), while 82% of all betting money is on the Saints.

The sharps, however, are still showing a little respect to the Colts, skewing only to the Saints to the tune of 54%. Let’s delve into these betting waters.

Saints’ D Takes hit, Still Super Bowl Contender

Few teams can surrender 48 points, lose, and still make a statement, but that’s exactly what the Saints did in a 48-46 shootout loss to San Francisco at home last week. The Saints showed that they will not be an easy out come playoff time, with an offense that still has the ability to put up points, and a defense that, while not statistically as stout as other Super Bowl contenders, is opportunistic and can be stellar in key moments.

The biggest issue for the Saints this year is that they cannot play a complete game. Last week, the defense carried them to a win. This week, the offense puts up 27 in the first half against the No. 1 ranked defense and is TRAILING

— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) December 8, 2019

But it will get a lot tougher going forward, as defensive linemen Marcus Davenport and Sheldon Rankins will be out for the year after suffering injuries against the Niners.

While it won’t matter much against Indy’s mash unit (more on them in a second), New Orleans will likely lean on Drew Brees and the offense to outscore some of those deficiencies. Brees is coming off his best performance on the year, going 29-for-40 for 349 yards, five TD passes, no interceptions or sacks taken, while also adding a rushing TD.

Drew Brees is throwing darts in the Superdome, and the #Saints lead the 49ers 7-0. 🎯 #SFvsNO pic.twitter.com/mPYTTT9HSg

— Audacy Sports (@AudacySports) December 8, 2019

Three TD passes on Monday Night and he’ll pass Peyton Manning (539) for first on the all-time TD pass list.

Perhaps the biggest mismatch will be the Colts’ 22nd-ranked pass defense trying to contain receiver Michael Thomas, a supernova for the Saints again this season. He’s coming off an 11-catch, 134-yard, 1-TD performance. It’s the sixth straight home game he’s put up at least 10 catches and 100+ receiving yards.

Michael Thomas can do everything…🤭🤭🤭#Saints #49ers #NFL
pic.twitter.com/U7ifjiGwkI

— CJR Sports (@Sports_CJR) December 8, 2019

That’s propelled him to the top of the NFL receiving charts in both catches (121) and yards (1,424).

Colts Severely Undermanned on Monday

It’s win or go home for the Colts in this one. Expect them to try and grind the Saints down with the sixth-ranked rushing attack in the NFL. Marlon Mack, despite battling injuries most of the year, needs 100 yards rushing to surpass 1,000 on the season. He’ll be spelled by change-of-pace back Nyheim Hines, who needs eight catches to break Marshall Faulk’s team record of receptions (108) by a running back in the first two seasons of a career.

Marlon Mack’s double spin move was incredible. Amazing TD run 😱.

(@thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/lj1joccsQy

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 18, 2019

The only problem is, Jacoby Brissett, himself just back from injury, quite literally has no one to throw to, even with TY Hilton possibly returning to the lineup after a calf injury.

How can the #Colts still make the playoffs? It's going to need to happen in this manner. Follow along:

– Indianapolis wins out at 9-7
– Texans or Titans lose out at 8-8
– Steelers lose out at 8-8
– Browns lose one of their last three
– Raiders lose one of their last three

— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) December 12, 2019

Rookie Parris Campbell became the fifth Colts receiver to land on injured reserve this season when he broke his foot last week. The team signed Dontrelle Inman to at least have a warm body added to the roster, but a team that averages 22 points a game may struggle to put up points, even with the Saints battling those injuries up front.

What’s the Best Bet?

Perhaps the sharps are seeing the Saints inexplicably blowing that Week 10 loss to Atlanta at home, when they were an overwhelming favorite against a then-one win team, as well as the injuries that could hamper the Saints’ fifth-ranked run defense. Or maybe it’s the coaching chops of Colts head coach Frank Reich, who’s 7-3-2 ATS as a road underdog in his career.

But the Saints under head coach Sean Payton are about the best bounce back team against the spread. Payton is 45-28 ATS in his career after a loss, behind only Mike Zimmer in Minnesota for the best record among all active head coaches with at least one full season.

New Orleans needs some help, but they are still playing for top seed in the NFC, and won’t be messing around in this one. Indy will play hard, but they don’t have the horses to run in this race.

The pick: Saints -9.0 (-110)