Colts Are Down to Their Final Out and Must Win in Oakland

The Colts’ situation is dire and quickly approaching grim. In order to make the playoffs, they need a lot to go their way and most of it is out of their control. They can start their unlikely playoff bid with a win over the 11-3 Raiders in Oakland on Saturday and if the trends are any indication, the 7-7 Colts may actually stand a fighting chance on Christmas Eve in the Bay Area.

After getting off to a 1-2 start at the Coliseum, the Raiders have now won four consecutive home games, covered the number in three of those and have had the total tumble OVER in all but one of their games in Oakland this season.

If that OVER trend continues, it could be good for Indy as the Colts are 3-0 in their last three games that have tilted the total scale to the side of the OVER. The problem for the Colts this year has been consistency. They show up one week, blowing the Jets out of the sky at the Meadowlands, and then lose to Brock Osweiler and the Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in a must-win game.

That inconsistency factor gives this game the potential to be one of the most exciting on the Week 16 slate. You never know which Andrew Luck is going to come to work but if we get the one that decimated the Vikings 34-6 last week, this matchup with Derek Carr could end up being a classic.

Many of the Colts’ wins this year have come in the final minutes of the game. If they leave it until the closing moments of this one, however, they could be in serious trouble. The Raiders have amazingly allowed zero points in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter this year. I think the boys in the silver and black might have the clutch gene.

Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick

Bettors who were going with the Oakland Raiders in this one found them listed as -3.5-point favorites on the betting line at Sportsbook. Fans betting on totals have seen that number set earlier in the week at 52.5 for Saturday.

A 27-21 result in favor of the Raiders was the prediction by the Odds Shark handicapping pick engine earlier this week. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.

Indianapolis Colts vs Oakland Raiders Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

Oakland battles the Indianapolis Colts, currently with a 7-7 mark (7-6-1 ATS). The over under records, important for totals betting, are 10-4 for the Raiders and 8-6 for the Colts. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Oakland vs Indianapolis injuries news.

The Oakland Raiders sit at No. 7 in the current NFL Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, while the Indianapolis Colts are at No. 9 on that chart.

Statistical Matchup

The game also pits Oakland's No. 3-ranked offense, averaging 26.93 PPG, against a Colts defense that ranks No. 23 this week at 24.21 PPG. The Raiders aerial game is averaging 259.57 yards per game, less than the Colts secondary allows through the air, 261.64 YPG per game.

Defensively, the Indianapolis Colts feature the league's No. 29-rated road run defense, allowing 133.6 yards per game. The Oakland Raiders, meanwhile, ranks No. 19 in rushing offense at home.

Recent Outings Betting Recap

Indianapolis lost its last outing 22-17 against Houston on Sunday, getting a 115-yard receiving performance from T.Y. Hilton in a losing cause at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Latavius Murray tore up the turf for 103 rushing yards in the latest Raiders game, a 21-13 loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Next Betting Matchups

Indianapolis home to Jacksonville, Sunday, January 1st
Oakland at Denver, Sunday, January 1st