Looking to get some legal Indiana sports betting action on the Indianapolis Colts during the 2020 NFL season? SportsbookWire.com has you covered with a beginners’ guide to betting on sports, the NFL and the Colts. We’ll discuss Moneyline, Against the spread and Over/Under bets, and look at how to read odds and find the best value at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Indianapolis Colts’ 2019 betting results
The Colts went 7-9 straight up last season, winning just seven games outright on the moneyline. They were 7-7-2 against the spread, while being outscored by 0.8 points per game and falling an average of 1.0 point short of the projected point spread.
Indianapolis was a profitable play for Over bettors, as the Colts were 9-7 on the Over/Under and topped the projected point total by an average of 0.8 PPG.
How to bet on the Colts: Bet types
Moneyline (ML) betting
This is the first stop of all sports bettors and the easiest way to get betting action on a game. Pick one team to beat the other. The NFL standings, recent performance, injuries and historical head-to-head records all factor into the odds.
Home teams are often given an innate edge in the NFL, but that could change in 2020 with teams like the Colts capping the number of fans allowed in attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts were 5-3 as moneyline favorites in 2019 but just 2-6 as underdogs.
Against the spread (ATS) betting
Moneyline bets are best for backing underdogs to win outright in an upset as there’s greater profit with a winning ticket. The spread is how to bet favorites.
A point spread sets a line (i.e. 3.5) for how many points a favorite will need to win or the underdog will need to stay within in a loss for the bet to cash. Each team is assigned odds based on their chances of covering the line. The odds will generally be set equally on either side but can be skewed in an attempt to steer betting action.
Example: The Colts opened as 6.5-point favorites against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. They would need to win by 7 or more points for an ATS bet to cash, while the Jaguars would need only to lose by 6 or fewer points (or win outright) for their side of the bet to win. The Colts had -120 odds to cover; the Jaguars were even-money at +100.
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Over/Under (O/U) betting
Betting the Over/Under, or total points scored from both teams combined, is a common play when the game is too tight to call on the moneyline or spread. It can also be a good place to look as a neutral viewer or when trying to eliminate personal bias.
NFL point totals typically range from the low 40s to mid-50s but can extend in either direction based on the matchup, injuries or television slot. Like with spreads, the odds are typically equal for both the Over and Under, but they can differ in an attempt to draw in more bets on a particular side.
How to bet on the Colts: Understanding odds
Moneyline favorites can range from -125 to -455 (or lower) early in the season. A $10 bet would return a profit of $8 or $2.20, respectively. The latter is referred to as a chalk play and is best avoided as the return isn’t worth the risk.
Underdogs can be +105 to +350 for profits of $10.50 and $35, respectively, on a $10 bet. All odds can extend further in either direction later in the season as separation grows in the standings.
Spread and Over/Under odds are typically kept within a tighter range of -120 to +120, but are typically set at an equal -110 on either side. The 10-cent loss on a winning bet is how the sportsbook makes its money as what’s called the juice or vig.
How to bet on the Colts: Live/mobile betting
Sportsbooks have fully embraced smartphone technology, and BetMGM has a terrific mobile sports betting app. Bets can be placed anywhere, anytime after the opening kickoff and allow bettors to double-down on pregame wagers or flip sides based on the early results.
Odds and lines will be adjusted with each scoring play, big gain, turnover or injury. Following along with the game and knowing when the live odds don’t match the eye test is a great way to get value and beat the book.
Get some action on the Indianapolis Colts or other NFL teams in 2020 by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
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