Bet On Colts
Indianapolis Colts (11-5 SU, 8-8 ATS) vs. Buffalo Bills (13-3 SU, 11-5 ATS)
NFL Wild Card Betting Picks: Best Prop Bets Colts at Bills by Chris Vasile - 1/7/2021 Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills, Bills Stadium, 1:05 p.m. The Colts have closed the gap with QB Philip Rivers, though most of the credit goes to the No. 1-ranked Indy defense (allowing just 290 yards per game). Sharp money has driven the betting.
When: Saturday, January 9, 1 p.m.
Where: Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.
TV: CBS
Point Spread: IND +6.5/BUF -6.5 (Best Bonus Offers - Deposit $100; get $100 FREE!)
Total: O/U 51
Outlook
It’s playoff time, and for the long-suffering Bills Mafia, it’s party time, as western New York plays host to the postseason for the first time since 1996. The Bills have dominated all season, winning seven of eight games at home, and they’ve really hit their stride as of late, covering in eight consecutive games. In their season finale, a game they didn’t even need, they unloaded on Miami for 56 points, wrapping up the No. 2 seed in the AFC and sending the Dolphins home for the season.
The direct beneficiary of that result was this weekend’s opponent, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts did their best to choke away the Bills’ gift by nearly losing to the 1-15 Jaguars, but Indianapolis did manage to get out of its own way long enough to earn the final AFC playoff spot and a meeting with the red-hot Bills in the frigid weather of Buffalo. However, if you think this is as simple as a dome team facing an outdoor game, think again. The Colts are actually built to play outside and have the running game necessary to survive the nasty weather of January in western New York. They’ve also got a coach who knows exactly how to play in this situation, as Frank Reich was the backup quarterback in Buffalo during the Bills’ glory years in the early 1990s. With Philip Rivers potentially playing his final season, can the Colts bite the hands that fed them and take down the Bills?
How the Public is Betting the Indianapolis/Buffalo Game
I’ve been waiting for this line to move, but it’s stubbornly holding at Buffalo -6.5, despite 67 percent of tickets coming in on the Bills. The money has moved the total down from 52 to 51, but the sharps have put enough money on the Colts to keep the line where it started.
Injury Concerns
Indianapolis:
Safety Khari Willis (concussion) is probable. Cornerback T.J. Carrie (ankle), quarterback Philip Rivers (toe), defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle), running back Jonathan Taylor (shoulder), tackle Will Holden (ankle), and cornerback Rock Ya Sin (concussion) are questionable. Guard Le’Raven Clark (Achilles) and tackle Anthony Castonzo (ankle) are out.
Buffalo:
Tight end Reggie Gilliam (knee) is probable. Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (ankle), wide receiver Stefon Diggs (oblique), wide receiver Cole Beasley (leg), and cornerback Siran Neal (head) are questionable. Running back T.J. Yeldon (back), tackle Cody Ford (knee), and tight end Tommy Sweeney (heart) are out.
When Indianapolis Has the Ball
When the Colts are at their best, they’ve been pretty difficult to stop. However, there’s a real concern that Philip Rivers might be running out of gas after a full season, as the Colts have lately only had enough energy for about 30 to 40 minutes of action. Indianapolis has scored 20 or more points in the first half of each of its past four contests, but the Colts have really struggled in the second half. In four of their last six games, Indianapolis only managed to score eight points or less in the final 30 minutes after leading at halftime.
That could be a real problem for the Colts against a Buffalo offense that’s putting up outstanding numbers, especially if Jonathan Taylor is too banged up to be effective in the second half. Taylor has had an outstanding rookie season, especially after blowing through Jacksonville in the season finale, but with him nursing a shoulder injury, it’s a major question as to whether he’ll be able to hold up in the second half when the Colts need him most. Indianapolis might need to put up some big numbers early to withstand Buffalo in the final 30 minutes.
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When Buffalo Has the Ball
Don’t panic if the Bills fall behind early. In fact, you might want to take the Colts +0.5 in the first quarter because the Bills have almost made slow starts into an art form. In their past five games, they’ve either been tied or trailing at the end of 15 minutes, and in all four instances, their opponent has scored first.
Once the Bills get going, though, look out. Buffalo has won six straight games by double digits, and falling behind early only means that you’ve got a chance to live bet the Bills at a cheaper price because the algorithm won’t be able to adjust. Hardly anyone has been able to adjust to Josh Allen this season, even at this late date of the campaign. Allen has really blossomed this season, throwing 37 touchdowns against ten interceptions and tossing for 15 touchdowns over the past five weeks.
The one concern for the Bills’ offense is whether the wide receivers will be at 100 percent because both Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley are nursing injuries and have had one fewer day of recovery time than usual. Both will almost certainly play, but if they’re not up to their normal standards, Buffalo’s attack could be stymied.
Betting Trends
If you decided to ride the Bills early, you’ve been a very happy and wealthy gambler. Buffalo has now covered in eight consecutive contests, and the Bills have done most of that despite the expectations of the public. Buffalo has now covered in six of its past seven as a home favorite, and the Bills have covered in four straight at home.
However, Indianapolis has been a fairly solid road team this season, covering in four of their past five trips away from Indiana. However, that hasn’t translated well to trips to Buffalo. The Colts have failed to cover in any of their past four visits to the Bills, and the offense has been the problem. In the past seven matchups in western New York, the under has cashed six times.
Weather Report
It’s going to be cold, but the thing the Colts care about is it’s going to be clear. Temperatures will be at 33 degrees, with the wind blowing north six miles an hour.
Dan’s Pick to Cover the Spread
With how the Colts are fading in the second half as of late, I just can’t see Indianapolis staying with Buffalo in this one. I might look to live bet this one to get Buffalo at a cheaper price, but I’m very comfortable with laying 6.5 with the Bills. I expect this to be a Buffalo win that ends up hitting the over; give me the Bills and the chalk. Bet your Colts/Bills pick and ALL your sports bets at -105 reduced odds instead of the more expensive -110 option that you’re probably laying at BetAnySports! Wagering at -105 saves you $5 in vig per $100 you’re trying to win. Tons over the course of the year!
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How to read Super Bowl 56 Odds
The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55. However, the Chiefs remain the favorites to win Super Bowl 56 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The Chiefs are listed at 6/1 odds (Bet $100 to win $600), while the defending champion Buccaneers are the third-betting choice at 10/1.
In between Kansas City and Tampa Bay are the Green Bay Packers, who are currently at 9/1 odds.
Here is a quick reference on Super Bowl odds for the upcoming 2021 NFL season.
How to read NFL Las Vegas Odds
The point-spread was developed to provide a balance for both teams involved in a contest to entice bettors to potentially back the weaker team and receive points. The two squads in a game are listed with a title, either a favorite or an underdog. The favorite is usually the perceived better team in the game, as backing them means giving up several points.
The favorite is always listed with a minus (-) sign before the point-spread while the underdog is labeled with a plus (+) label.
Ex. Favorite -10, Underdog +10
On the VegasInsider.com odds page, there is another number associated with the favorite and its listed as -10. This number is simply defined as “vig” or what many in the sports betting industry call vigorish. Another common term is called “juice” and it’s technically the price the bettor has to pay on a straight wager.
Ex. Bet $110 to win $100 (10% juice)
Ex. Bet $100 to win $90.91 (10% juice)
It's not uncommon to see other values posted other than -10. Examples seen on the NFL Vegas Odds pages could include -08, -12, -15 and -20. The -10 price is the most common value in the industry while many books offer reduced 'juice odds' and that would fall into the -08 category.
The lower-juice sportsbooks are normally found outside of the state Nevada. If you are in a state where sports betting is legal, please check out our online sportsbook directory to find the best and most secure places to make NFL bets.
Another number that’s posted on the NFL Las Vegas is the total or ‘over/under’ for the specific matchup. If the favorite is designated as the home team, then the total will be listed above and vice versa if the visitors are favorites.
All of the above numbers are listed next to the teams, and before each matchup is a Rotation number. The NFL Las Vegas Odds are listed in order of rotation and those numbers are generated and produced by the sportsbooks. Above each matchup and rotation is the Time of the game, which is subject to change. All game times are Eastern Standard Time.
NFL Open Line
Bet On Colts Game
One of the best features on the NFL Vegas Odds is the Open Line. This numbers consists of the first betting line received from one of our Las Vegas or Global Sportsbooks. The opening line varies depending on the sportsbook but it provides a clear-cut rating that the oddsmakers use. If you’re betting on the NFL or any other sport, it’s a great idea to view the open line first.
VI Consensus NFL Line
The VegasInsider.com Consensus NFL Line is just as important as the Open Line and also a key resource on odds platform. The Consensus column could be called a “Median Line” since it shows the most consistent number provided by the sportsbooks on VegasInsider.com. The consensus line will be the same as the open line but once the wagers start coming in, this number is often different than the openers.
How do I bet on the Super Bowl?
We know that you can bet on the Super Bowl and all of NFL Futures or bet on the NFL Draft at any time of the year, but what’s the process? The future wager or the “Odds to Win” bet on the Super Bowl is correctly selecting a team to win an event that takes place at a later time. A bettor will have his wagered money tied up until there is an outcome and bettors will receive fixed odds when they place the wager. In the case of the Super Bowl, you’re not a winner or loser until you see zeros on the clock in the final game.
Most sportsbooks offer different ways to read to Super Bowl Odds. In the fractional NFL Futures Odds format below, you simply take the odds and multiply by the amount wagered.
Ex. Green Bay (8/1) to win the Super Bowl
The Packers are listed as an 8/1 betting choice to win the Super Bowl. If you wager $100 on Green Bay to win the NFC and they capture the championship, then you would win $800 (8 ÷ 1 x 100). Your online betting account would then credit your account $900, which includes your win and stake ($100).
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The American Format would see Green Bay listed at +800 and for the Decimal Format, the Packers would be 9.00.
Bet On College Football Spreads
If you are in a state where online betting is legal, we encourage you to check out our sportsbook directory to find the most trustworthy and reputable sites and mobile apps to place your Super Bowl bets.