The Detroit Lions visit the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday afternoon in a preseason finale both sidelines are treating as a final roster audition. Indianapolis is a 4-point home favorite, and that number has already climbed off its opening mark. Detroit will be without Jared Goff. Indianapolis will be without Daniel Jones. The participation plans on both sides point one of these markets in a direction the public has not followed. Below is the breakdown, the current line, and our two plays.
Last Updated: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis IN |
| When | Saturday, August 29 – 1:00 PM ET |
| TV | NFL Network |
Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts Betting Preview
Detroit arrives at 1-1. The Lions lost their opener to Cincinnati 16-14 on August 13, then edged Washington 17-13 a week later. Both games finished with exactly 30 combined points, and both came with Detroit’s front-line offense watching from the sideline.
Indianapolis has yet to win. The Colts tied New England 13-13 before Atlanta ran them off their own field 34-6 last weekend. Quarterback play was the culprit. Anthony Richardson Sr. finished 3-of-9 for 24 yards against the Falcons, and Riley Leonard went 7-of-14 for 62 yards in a game neither passer could steady.
The participation plans matter more than the records. Head coach Shane Steichen has said most healthy Indianapolis starters will take roughly eight to 12 snaps before turning it over. Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor sit entirely. Richardson starts and handles the first quarter, Leonard takes the second, and Easton Stick works the second half. Wide receiver Keenan Allen is in line for a series or two, while defensive tackle DeForest Buckner may see only a snap or two as he works back from neck surgery.
The Colts injury list is long for late August. Tight ends Tyler Warren and Will Mallory are out, as is safety AJ Haulcy. Cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. is not expected to play, and wide receiver Alec Pierce has come off the active/PUP list but is not expected to suit up.
Detroit’s plan is simpler. Goff will not play, and head coach Dan Campbell has made clear that roster spots remain genuinely open, so bubble players get long looks. Joshua Dobbs and Luke Altmyer split the quarterback work in a backup competition this game may settle. The 53-man roster deadline lands Sunday evening.
Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | +4 (-115) | +165 | O 36 (+100) |
| Colts | -4 (-105) | -195 | U 36 (-120) |
Odds accurate as of Saturday, August 29, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Lions | 70% | 30% | Colts |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Lions vs. Colts Prediction — Is the Home Favorite Worth the Bigger Number?
Start with the movement. This game opened with Indianapolis laying 3.5 points and the Colts moneyline at -175. It now sits at 4 with the moneyline out to -195. Meanwhile, 70 percent of spread tickets are on Detroit. When a number moves toward the side the public is not backing, that gap usually points to where sharper money has landed. It is a divergence worth respecting in a thin preseason market.
The participation gap supports the same read. Indianapolis is putting its offensive line, Keenan Allen and part of its defensive front on the field, however briefly. Detroit is resting Goff and handing the afternoon to players fighting for the back end of a roster. Early scoreboard damage decides these games, and the Colts have the clearer first-quarter plan.
The case against is not thin. Eight to 12 snaps is close to a rounding error across 60 minutes, so most of this game belongs to reserves. Indianapolis was outclassed 34-6 a week ago, and its two first-half passers have one efficient outing between them. Dobbs, by contrast, is a veteran with real NFL starting experience. Laying four points in a game decided by third-stringers is never comfortable.
The Pick: Colts -4 (-105)
Lions vs. Colts Prediction — Will Two Backup Offenses Reach the Number?
The total is the cleaner read. The number opened at 36 and has not moved, but the price has. The Under was -110 at open and is now -120, while the Over has drifted to +100. That is money arriving on one side without the line following it.
Detroit’s form fits. Both Lions preseason games finished with exactly 30 combined points, six under this number, and Saturday’s offense is the same group that produced them. Indianapolis has been more volatile, landing at 26 combined in the New England tie and 40 in the Atlanta loss. The counterargument sits with the Colts starters. Richardson gets a full quarter with the first-team line and Allen available, and one special-teams score changes the math in a game this low. Still, passing efficiency has been poor on both rosters, and 36 is a number these offenses have to work for.
The Pick: Under 36 (-120)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
Both plays lean on the same fact. This is a cutdown-weekend game. Nothing about it rewards handicapping on team quality, and everything about it rewards reading the participation plans correctly. Both clubs have published clear ones, the market has priced them, and the public has leaned the other way on the side.
There is no moneyline angle worth chasing. At -195 the Colts price implies roughly 66 percent, too much to lay when a backup’s bad half decides the outcome. Detroit at +165 is live, but that argues for the points rather than the win. In a market this shallow, two plays and no reaching is the honest position. Our Commanders vs Ravens Prediction August 28: No Starters No Problem works the same question in a different spot.
To recap the card: Colts -4 (-105) on the side, Under 36 (-120) on the total. Both are modest positions, and both go wrong quickly if Indianapolis leaves its starters out longer than announced or Detroit’s bubble receivers get loose early.
NFL Lions vs. Colts FAQ: Saturday August 29, 2026
What time does the Lions vs. Colts game start?
Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It is the preseason finale for both clubs, played one day before the NFL’s deadline for teams to trim their rosters to 53 players.
What channel is the Lions vs. Colts game on?
The game airs nationally on NFL Network. Locally it is carried on CBS4 in the Indianapolis market and on Fox 2 Detroit in the Detroit market, with additional Fox affiliates covering West Michigan, Lansing and Toledo. Streaming is available through NFL+ and the Detroit Lions app.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Lions and Colts?
Anthony Richardson Sr. starts for Indianapolis and plays the first quarter, with Riley Leonard taking the second and Easton Stick handling the second half. Detroit will not play Jared Goff, leaving Joshua Dobbs and Luke Altmyer to split the work in an unsettled backup competition.
Where are the Lions and Colts playing?
The game is at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Colts’ home venue. Detroit is the visiting team for this preseason finale, and both clubs face the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline the following evening.
Who won the last meeting between the Lions and Colts?
Detroit won the most recent regular-season meeting 24-6 on November 24, 2024, also played in Indianapolis. The Lions held the Colts to six points in that game, which remains the last time the two clubs met outside of preseason play.