NFL Week 15 Picks: Can the Vikings cover at home vs. the Colts?

Colts vs. Vikings Pick

Can the Minnesota Vikings stay in the playoff race when they host a desperate Indianapolis Colts team this Sunday at 1PM ET?

According to the oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Vikings are favored at home on Sunday, as they are getting odds of -4 points against the Colts. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 45.5 points. The Colts have won four straight in this series and are 3-1 against the spread in those four games.

Bet on Colts vs. Vikings

Minnesota is coming off a 25-16 win at Jacksonville last week to move to 7-6 on the year and keep their hopes alive for a playoff spot. They still trail the Lions by 2 games in the NFC North and are a game back in the Wild Card race. Minnesota is 8-5 against the spread this season, covering in three of its last four games. The Vikings are led by their defense, as they are allowing just 17.3 points and 324.5 yards per game. Their pass defense is very strong, holding opponents to only 222.4 yards per contest. Minnesota has 35 sacks as a defense and has forced 22 turnovers. Danielle Hunter has 10.5 sacks to lead the team while Xavier Rhodes has four interceptions. On offense, Minnesota is putting up just 19.8 points and 319.2 yards per game. They have one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL at just 73.4 yards per game. Sam Bradford has thrown for 2,954 yards and 14 touchdowns with only three interceptions, but has been sacked 28 times. He has just one 300-yard game this season.

The Colts are coming off a 22-17 loss to the Texans at home last week to fall to 6-7 on the season. The loss especially hurt as now the Colts are a game behind the Texans and Titans in the AFC South race. Indy is still a dangerous team because of its offense. The Colts are putting up 25.2 points and 377.2 yards per game. Andrew Luck has thrown for 3,381 yards and 25 touchdowns to lead the team while TY Hilton has caught 78 passes for 1,203 yards and six touchdowns. Still, Luck has been sacked 37 times this year and doesn’t have a reliable run game. Defensively, Indy is giving up 25.6 points and 389.1 yards per game. They have struggled against the pass, giving up 273.7 yards per game through the air.

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While the Colts have the better offensive weapons, I see them struggling mightily with the Vikings. The Indy line hasn’t protected Luck very well and now faces one of the top pass rushes in the league. Minnesota should cause havoc in the backfield all game. That will make up for the Vikings’ poor offense, which will find a way to produce some scoring drives against a questionable Indy secondary.

 

NFL WEEK 15 PICK: MINNESOTA VIKINGS -4