The Washington Commanders (3-4) and Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1) play a Week 8 game Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Commanders vs. Colts odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
The Commanders have won back-to-back games to get themselves back near .500 football. Washington posted a 23-21 win over the Green Bay Packers last week as a 4-point underdog, cashing the Over in QB Taylor Heinicke‘s first start of the season. The Under was 4-0 in its previous 4 outings.
The Colts made huge headlines this week when coach Frank Reich announced veteran QB Matt Ryan would be benched for the season, with QB Sam Ehlinger taking the reins of the offense. While Ryan has been ruled out with a shoulder, Reich said Ryan would have been benched regardless.
Indianapolis is just 1 win back of the Tennessee Titans for 1st place in the AFC South, so it was a stunning move. The offense has struggled, though, scoring 20 or fewer points in 6 of 7 games overall. It’s no surprise the Under is 6-1 to date.
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Commanders at Colts odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 10:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Commanders +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Colts -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Commanders +2.5 (+100) | Colts -2.5 (-125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 39.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Commanders at Colts key injuries
Commanders
- WR Dyami Brown (groin) questionable
- OL Saahdiq Charles (illness) questionable
- WR Jahan Dotson (hamstring) out
- LB Cole Holcomb (foot) out
- CB William Jackson (back) out
- TE Logan Thomas (calf) questionable
Colts
- DL Kwity Paye (ankle) out
- QB Matt Ryan (shoulder) out
- CB Kenny Moore (finger) questionable
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Commanders at Colts picks and predictions
Prediction
Colts 23, Commanders 19
Moneyline
The Colts (-150) aren’t too highly-priced, but there are plenty of questions on how this offense will look with Ehlinger under center. Of course, it couldn’t be much less productive than the first 7 games under Ryan’s direction.
Still, I don’t like the value on Indy here straight up, and I don’t like the Commanders (+125), either. Washington has too many key players like Dotson, Holcomb and Jackson in street clothes.
AVOID.
Against the spread
The COLTS -2.5 (-125) are worth playing lightly, with a max bet of a half-unit. There are just too many unknowns with Ehlinger making his first start, and he is sure to be nervous, at least initially.
The good news is that he won’t have Holcomb gumming up the works in the middle, so RB Jonathan Taylor should finally be able to get going, opening up the passing game a little bit.
Over/Under
OVER 39.5 (-115) is also worth playing lightly.
This is a very low number for the NFL, but this is a game that features Heinicke vs. Ehlinger at the quarterback position. It isn’t expected to be a track meet by any means.
Still, we do have the likes of RB Brian Robinson and WR Terry McLaurin on one side, and Taylor and WR Michael Pittman Jr. on the other. There is the potential for plenty of points if the quarterbacks can do their jobs.
More NFL Week 8 picks and predictions
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