expert picks – Page 25 – Syndication Server

Week 12 NFL picks: Who are the experts picking in Bears vs. Giants?

The Bears will host the Giants on Sunday, and the experts have overwhelmingly sided with one team.

The Chicago Bears (4-6) will host the New York Giants (2-8) as the Bears look to rebound from a disappointing loss in Week 12 and the Giants look to end their six-game losing streak.

The experts are feeling confident about the Bears’ chances against a struggling Giants team as 88 percent of experts polled believe the Bears will beat the Giants on Sunday, according to NFL Pick Watch.

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who left last Sunday’s game against the Rams with a hip pointer, will get the start for Chicago and look to continue a string of good performances in what’s been a disappointing third season for the young quarterback.

There’s no better time than against a Giants defense that has been torched over the last several games. But the Bears will need more than just Trubisky. They’ll need the whole offense working on the same page.

Can the Bears offense take advantage of a bad Giants defense? Can the Bears defense stop Saquon Barkley? Can the Bears avoid the devastation that would come with a loss to the lowly Giants?

We’ll see Sunday when the Bears and Giants kick things off at noon CT on FOX.

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For third week in a row, 100% of experts pick Saints to win

For the third week in a row, the New Orleans Saints are unanimous picks to win. 100% of expert picks have them beating the Carolina Panthers

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The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers are on a collision course, with Week 12’s game in the Mercedes Benz-Superdome carrying huge implications for both teams. If the Saints win, they’ll inch a little closer to competing for the top NFC playoff seed. But if the Saints lose, they’ll open the window a little wider for the Panthers to claw their way back into playoff contention.

Per the expert picks surveyed by NFL Pickwatch, the Saints are again the unanimous pick. And New Orleans is the only team to receive 100% of votes this week; the next-closest teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers (99% of votes picking them over the Cincinnati Bengals) and the Cleveland Browns (96% to beat the Miami Dolphins).

This is the third consecutive week in which the Saints are seen as surefire victors. 100% of expert picks came in for them to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday (which they did) and a week earlier against the Atlanta Falcons (which, well, didn’t happen). So obviously being favored by experts doesn’t guarantee a win.

That same Falcons team upset the Saints and the Panthers (beating them 29-3, intercepting Kyle Allen four times and sacking him five times) in subsequent weeks, further clouding this week’s result. If the Saints win their next two games and the Panthers lose their next two, New Orleans will clinch their third consecutive division title. But that could be easier said than done in the always-wild NFC South.

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10 Best Predictions Against The Spread: Week 13. It’s a B1G Week

What ten college football games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 13? Here you go. Enjoy.

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What ten college football games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 13? Here you go. Enjoy.

Week 13 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
– Week 13 Expert Picks & Predictions

Contact @PeteFiutak

10 Best ATS Picks So Far: 65-58

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

And the ten games that appear to be a wee bit favorable are …

10. Samford at Auburn

LINE: Auburn -48.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Samford
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

For those of you new to the program, here’s the tried-and-true, blind-faith belief system that’s worked really, really well this year.

If the world wants to give a team 40 points or more, you take them, you say “thank you,” and you move on.

There are a whole slew of things that have to happen to win by more than 40 points – it’s actually hard to do.

Sometimes a team shows mercy – like Ohio State did against Rutgers last week – and sometimes a team isn’t good enough to win by a bazillion, like Northwestern not covering against UMass.

However, there are a few things to take into account when it comes to the FBS vs. FCS matchups late in the season. 1) Is it the final home game for the FBSer? If it is, the starters will likely stay in a bit longer. Alabama is coming to Auburn next week. 2) Does the team need a week off to rest everyone?

You ready to play the deep cut on this?

The last two times Auburn played a wipeout paycheck game at home before going to Alabama, it won it brutal blowouts – by 53 over Liberty last year, and 55-0 against Alabama A&M in 2016. However …

The last few times it was the game BEFORE Senior Day – like it is this year? 42-14 over ULM in 2017, 56-34 over Idaho in 2015, 35-16 over Samford in 2011, 62-24 over UT Chattanooga in 2010, and 37-20 over UT Martin in 2008.

The gods are handing you 48.5 points AND a wacky trend/streak?

In this case, Samford actually has a fun enough offense that it can luck its way into a touchdown or two against the backups.

And from the Department of Oh Screw It, We’ve Come This Far With The Theme …

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9. Arkansas at LSU

LINE: LSU -43.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Arkansas
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Take everything that was just said about the FBS vs. FCS thing, and apply it to this.

The Arkansas Razorbacks will get up Saturday morning up 43.5-0.

LSU can win the SEC West with a victory, but it has bigger fish to fry next week against Texas A&M and the week after against Georgia in – most likely – the SEC Championship.

It’s not Senior Day – that’s next week – so this is just about coming up with an instant wipeout and then sitting everyone possible. Also, as dominant as LSU has been, it hasn’t won a game by more than 43 against an FBS team since the 55-3 win over Georgia Southern in the opener.

One more thing. After what happened last week to Tua Tagovailoa, but watch out for some teams to be a bit spooked about how long the superstar starting quarterback keeps playing in a blowout.

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8. Pitt at Virginia Tech

LINE: Virginia Tech -3.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Virginia Tech
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Stick with the hot hand. It’s the last home game of the year for a Virginia Tech team that’s in the thick of the ACC Coastal hunt. Pitt is, too, but the Hokies have rolled in their last two games, played Notre Dame well, and has won five of their last six games. Pitt is hot, too – winning six of its last seven – but the Hokies are sharper. You’re only giving away an extra half point taking the home team.

7. Nevada at Fresno State

LINE: Fresno State -14
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Nevada
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

This isn’t the Fresno State of the last two years. The defense isn’t nearly as nasty, it lost three of its last four, and the only win so far by more than 14 is over UNLV. The Bulldogs just played San Diego State – and lost – while Nevada has had two weeks off since winning on the road in San Diego. The Wolf Pack were blown away by Utah State and Wyoming on the road by a total score of 67-13 in their previous two road games, but the Bulldogs just aren’t that potent.

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6. Nebraska at Maryland

LINE: Nebraska -4.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Nebraska
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Nebraska has last four straight and five of its last six. It can’t seem to do much of anything right, and that includes only scoring 13 in a win over a miserable Northwestern team. However, the offense started to click last week against Wisconsin, Adrian Martinez played well, and the team wasn’t that bad in a 37-21 loss.

Maryland is rested after two weeks off, and it’s the home finale, but it hasn’t come closer than six of anyone but Rutgers since losing to Temple 20-17 back in mid-September. Basically, Nebraska is bad, but Maryland is a whole lot worse.

NEXT: The Top Five Picks of the Week Against the Spread

Pages: 123456

Colts vs. Texans: NFL experts make Week 12 picks

Who are the NFL experts choosing in Week 12?

The Indianapolis Colts (6-4) are underdogs when they travel to take on the Houston Texans (6-4) at NRG Stadium on Thursday night for a Week 12 matchup.

This matchup is huge for both teams. They are currently tied atop the AFC South with the Colts holding the tiebreaker due to their Week 7 win against the Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It should be a physical game, but the experts are mostly siding with the Texans in Week 12:

Expert	Pick	Score (if applicable)
Nate Davis (USA TODAY)	Texans	28-24
Mike Jones (USA TODAY)	Texans	27-25
Jarrett Bell (USA TODAY)	Texans	24-21
Mike Clay (ESPN)	Texans	N/A
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News)	Texans	24-20
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports)	Texans	28-21
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports)	Texans	N/A
Todd Haislop (Sporting News)	Texans	27-21
NumberFire	Texans	N/A
Pro Football Focus	Texans	N/A
Bleacher Report	Texans	24-21

Week 11 NFL picks: Who are the experts picking in Bears vs. Rams?

The Bears are looking to extend their winning streak to 2 games in a primetime matchup against the Rams. Do the experts believe in Chicago?

The Chicago Bears (4-5) and Los Angeles Rams (5-4) will meet in a rematch of last season’s defensive contest on Sunday Night Football.

While the Bears broke their four-game losing streak with a 20-13 win over division foes the Detroit Lions last week, the Rams are coming off a disappointing 17-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But the experts aren’t feeling confident about the Bears’ chances even against a struggling Rams offense as an overwhelming 84 percent of experts polled believe the Rams will beat the Bears on Sunday, according to NFL Pick Watch.

Luckily for the Bears, Jared Goff and the Rams’ offense has been struggling behind a makeshift offensive line, which presents an opportunity for Chicago’s defense to make a statement on primetime.

Can the Bears extend their winning streak to two games? Can the Bears offense make less mistakes than the Rams? Can the Bears defense rise to the occasion on the national stage? Or will the Bears’ playoff hopes be dashed?

We’ll see Sunday when the Bears and Rams kick things off at 7:20 CT on NBC.

10 Best College Football Point Total Predictions: Week 12

What ten games appear to be the best bets and the best point total picks going into Week 12? Here you go. Enjoy.

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What ten games appear to be the best bets and the best point total picks going into Week 12? Here you go. Enjoy.

Week 12 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | MW | Sun Belt
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
– Week 12 Expert Picks & Predictions
– 10 Best Predictions Against The Spread
– Week 12 Final Thoughts, Betting Advice

Contact @PeteFiutak

10 Best Over/Under Point Total Picks So Far: 48-45

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

10. Ohio State at Rutgers

LINE: Ohio State -52.5, o/u: 61.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Oh, why not? Go really, really light – this is the sugar rush over pick just to have a little fun.

The correct, professional play here is to go with the under, mainly because Rutgers might not score and the final should be around 55ish-0. But why miss out on the fun if the Buckeyes just sort of stumble into their third 70+ game of the year?

9. South Carolina at Texas A&M

LINE: Texas A&M -12, o/u: 49.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

There’s reason to be nervous considering South Carolina hasn’t scored more than 27 points against an FBS team, but it should be good for 21. Texas A&M at home should be able to handle the rest. The Aggies put up 49 on Mississippi State three weeks ago, and followed it up with 45 against UTSA. They only scored fewer than 41 at home against Alabama.

8. Kansas at Oklahoma State

LINE: Oklahoma State -17.5 o/u: 68.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Both teams are rested, both teams have bad defenses, both teams have enough offense to make this fun. But do we get good Kansas or bad Kansas? If it’s bad Kansas, forget about it, take the loss and move on. But if the passing game shows up – and it should against the horrible OSU D – asking for a 45ish-35ish game isn’t crazy.

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7. Arizona at Oregon

LINE: Oregon -27, o/u: 68.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

This is a massive total to hit, but the Arizona defense is just that bad. It hasn’t allowed fewer than 41 points in any of its last four games, but you’re going to need the offense to show up, too. Oregon always seems to underwhelm when you expect the O to blow up, and there’s the worry of a 45-3 win over Colorado type of game, but it’s worth taking the shot at a wee bit of a shootout.

6. Wyoming at Utah State

LINE: Utah State -4.5, o/u: 50.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

It’s Wyoming. Under, under, under. The last four Cowboy games didn’t get past 48 total points, and they only got past 51 two times all year – the wins over Missouri and UNLV. Before putting up 37 on Fresno State last week, Utah State scored 14 points or fewer in three of its previous four games.

5. Middle Tennessee at Rice

LINE: Middle Tennessee -14.5, o/u: 47.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Rice needs to go Rice here. Middle Tennessee hung up 50 on FIU a few weeks ago, but Rice has a way of keeping scores low and games tight. The Owls and Southern Miss got to 26 points, and the Marshall game hit 27 two weeks ago. The Owls won’t score more than 17 points – do with that what you must.

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4. Tulane at Temple

LINE: Tulane -6, o/u: 54.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Tulane has been scoring lately, putting up 38 or more in six of its last seven games. Temple has been giving it up lately, allowing 45 to SMU and 63 to UCF. Expect both sides to chill out in Philly in a game played in the 20s. Both defenses will show up, especially the Owls’.

3. Southern Miss at UTSA

LINE: Southern Miss -17, o/u: 52.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

6 and 2. That’s what the Southern Miss defense has done over the last two weeks, beating Rice 20-6 and UAB 37-2. USM has the potential to put 40 on the board, but expect the defense – and the middling UTSA O – to come through low. The Roadrunners have scored 14 points or fewer in five of its last eight games.

2. West Virginia at Kansas State

LINE: Kansas State -14, o/u: 46
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

It’s always fun when there’s a chance one side might hit the over on its own. Kansas State hit Oklahoma for 48 points a few weeks ago, and West Virginia gave up 38 to Texas Tech last week. The Mountaineers have to show up and score at least 14, but the last three K-State games have gone past 46 and six of the last seven WVU games passed the mark.

Speaking of one side doing all of the work …

1. Wake Forest at Clemson

LINE: Clemson -34, o/u: 59.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

The fear is that the Clemson defense rises up and does something ridiculous to the nation’s 13th-best offense, but … nah. The Tigers are on a ridiculous run scoring 55 points or more in their last three games. The last three Wake Forest games haven’t come close to 60 points, but that’s what Clemson on Senior Day is for.

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Undeterred by last week’s loss, 100% of experts pick Saints over Bucs

The New Orleans Saints were again a unanimous choice over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL expert picks for Week 11 of the regular season.

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According to expert picks surveyed by NFL Pickwatch, 100% of observers around the league expect the New Orleans Saints to take down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their Week 11 road game at Raymond James Stadium.

This is despite New Orleans’ shocking loss at home a week earlier to the lowly Atlanta Falcons, which became just the second dirty birds victory of the year. 100% of the expert picks gathered called for a Saints win in that game, too. In fact, the Saints were one of three teams to have unanimous certainty last week, along with the Indianapolis Colts (who actually lost to the Miami Dolphins) and the Baltimore Ravens (who beat the Cincinnati Bengals).

So obviously this means that the expert picks are sort of meaningless. Football is a great game to watch and study, but nearly impossible to predict. That held true during Thursday Night Football when two-thirds of experts picked the Pittsburgh Steelers to win, but the Cleveland Browns found a way to succeed instead.

For the curious, the Saints are one of two teams with 100% certainty of their success from the experts this week, along with the Oakland Raiders (who play winless Cincinnati). Several other teams come close, including the Minnesota Vikings (99%), San Francisco 49ers (97%), Dallas Cowboys (97%), and Buffalo Bills (96%), but too many contrarian picks — or calculated cuts against the grain — avoid a group consensus. We’ll see soon who ended up picking correctly.

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10 Best Predictions Against The Spread: Week 12. Reckless And Irresponsible Week

What ten college football games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 12? Here you go. Enjoy.

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What ten college football games appear to be the best bets and the best picks against the spread going into Week 12? Here you go. Enjoy.

Week 12 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | MW | Sun Belt
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
– Week 12 Expert Picks & Predictions
– Week 12 Final Thoughts, Betting Advice
– 10 Best Point Total Predictions

Contact @PeteFiutak

10 Best ATS Picks So Far: 58-55

Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.

Enough safe and sane. It’s time to go against conventional wisdom, blow past everything we know to be dear and true, and make picks based on hardened theories that have worked well before and will now be applied in real time.

What does that all mean?

Welcome to Reckless and Irresponsible Week. They’re the picks you probably shouldn’t make, and in your heart of hearts, can’t make. But at the end of the day, these are will likely be the right ways to go. You’ll see in a moment.

And the ten games that appear to be a wee bit favorable are …

10. Ohio State at Rutgers

LINE: Ohio State -53
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Rutgers
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

We’re going to kick this whole thing off with two hopelessly irresponsible picks – because conflicting predictions and conclusions are exactly what you’re looking for in a Ten Best Picks Against the Spread piece.

The official, more mature prediction in the Ohio State vs. Rutgers Game Preview is different. Of course Ohio State could win this by 54, or 84, or 104 if it wants to. But for anyone familiar with the tried-and-true method with the predictions over the years in this piece – and it worked when New Mexico State visited Alabama, and when UConn went to UCF, among other games – if someone wants to give 50 points or more, you take them, and you don’t ask questions.

Rutgers is going to get up on Saturday morning up 53-0 against Ohio State.

Too many things can go wrong for the Buckeyes not to get there. They have bigger fish to fry, so they might get up 48-0 at halftime, sit everyone, and stall the rest of the game. Rutgers could get a fluky touchdown. Ohio State could be unfocused for a quarter. There could be a lightning strike, a plague of locusts … it’s HARD to win a game by more than 53 points.

Ohio State could totally and completely wipe out the Scarlet Knights and win 55-3.

With all of that in mind, Irresponsible Pick No. 2 …

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9. UMass at Northwestern

LINE: Northwestern -41.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: UMass
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

There’s one massive difference between this game and the Ohio State-Rutgers game. Northwestern might not be nice, because this is the only time all year the O is going have a little fun.

Northwestern has scored a grand total of 63 points since hanging 30 on UNLV in mid-September, and now you’re asking it to win a game by 42?

UMass has allowed 56 points or more over the last four games to teams like Liberty and UConn, and lost to FIU 44-0. Again, take this with a HUGE grain of salt, because this is more about the Minutemen getting off the bus up 41-0 than what the real pick and prediction is for this week,

If this helps, UMass started out the season losing to Rutgers 48-21.

Part Three of this theme, but not quite as much …

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8. Wake Forest at Clemson

LINE: Clemson -34.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Wake Forest
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

Pick against Clemson right now at your own peril, and Wake Forest is coming off a 36-17 loss to Virginia Tech, but there’s just enough offense on the field to at least make this a wee bit closer than the big number.

It’s hardly a plus that top Demon Deacon WR Sage Surratt is done for the year, and Clemson is hanging up 55 on the board without breaking a sweat, but it can win this in a total wipeout and not get to the 35.

The Tigers might have won each of their last four games by well over 35 points each, but the Demon Deacons are just good enough to score a few late points. Clemson will win in an ugly blowout on Senior Day, but in the final Irresponsible Pick of the Week, the team with the nation’s 13th-best offense is already up 34.5-0.

Oh what the heck, let’s just stay Irresponsible and keep the theme going …

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7. Central Michigan at Ball State

LINE: Ball State -2
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Ball State
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

What’s the most reckless way to make a pick? Spite.

Never, ever, ever, ever, chase, and that’s sort of what this pick is.

Who else had Buffalo -5.5 against Kent State?

It took an all-timer of a collapse – Kent State was 0-for-its-last-60 when down 21 points or more – in the fourth quarter to ruin that.

Throw in Toledo’s inexplicable home clunker to Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan coming through on the road in overtime against Ohio, and MACtion owes us.

So the final MAC game of the week is on here, only because we’re due for some puck luck.

Ball State has lost two straight, but Central Michigan isn’t strong on the road – 1-4 with the lone win coming against a bad Bowling Green team. The Chippewas are great overall against the run, but they’re 0-3 when allowing more than 125 rushing yards. NC State and Indiana are the only two teams to hold the Cardinals to under 150.

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6. Florida at Missouri

LINE: Florida -6.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS PICK: Florida
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line

It worked just fine putting Florida here last week against Vanderbilt – covering the 26.5 with ease in a 56-0 rout – so let’s not mess with it.

Kelly Bryant is back at quarterback for Mizzou, but he’s less than 100%. There’s some fear that the cold of Columbia could be an issue for the Gainesville guys, but the defense should be just fine against a Tiger O that’s having massive problems scoring. It put up 21 points over the last three games against Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Georgia.

This feels a bit like a trap, but Mizzou has yet to beat at team this year that will go bowling, and the one good team it played – Georgia – just pitched a shutout. If Florida really is the No. 11 team in college football, it wins this in a walk.

NEXT: The Top Five Picks of the Week Against the Spread

Pages: 123456

Colts vs. Jaguars: NFL experts make Week 11 picks

Who are the experts taking in Week 11?

The Indianapolis Colts (5-4) are preparing to host the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5) on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium for a Week 11 divisional matchup.

As both starting quarterbacks are expected to return from injury, most believe this will be a physical battle in the trenches. The Colts opened the week as slight home favorites, but the NFL experts around the league are split on who will win.

Here’s a look at who some of the experts are picking for this Week 11 matchup:

Expert	Pick	Score (if applicable)
Nate Davis (USA TODAY)	Colts	20-16
Mike Jones (USA TODAY)	Colts	28-26
Jarrett Bell (USA TODAY)	Colts	24-20
Mike Clay (ESPN)	Colts	N/A
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News)	Colts	23-19
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports)	Jaguars	21-17
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports)	Colts	N/A
Todd Haislop (Sporting News)	Jaguars	26-21
NumberFire	Colts	N/A
Pro Football Focus	Colts	N/A
Bleacher Report	Jaguars	23-20

After participating fully in Wednesday’s practice, Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett is expected to be ready to start. The 26-year-old missed the Week 10 home matchup with the Miami Dolphins due to a knee sprain.

On the flip side, the Jaguars will be seeing the return of quarterback Nick Foles, who suffered a broken collarbone in Week 1 against the Chiefs. Rookie Gardner Minshew has been under center since then.

As the Colts prepare to make a run for a playoff spot during the second half of the season, this Week 11 matchup will be crucial to ending the current slide the team is enduring.