The Indianapolis Colts visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Here’s our complete guide to Colts Steelers Bet Tips. Odds and lines for Colts-Steelers Picks are from PointsBet, current as of Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Indianapolis Colts (10-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3)
Colts Steelers Bet Tips
Odds & Betting Lines for Colts-Steelers Picks
- Against The Spread: Colts -1.5 (-115)/Steelers +1.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Colts (-125)/Steelers (+105)
- Total: 44.5 — Over 44.5 (-115)/Under 44.5 (-105)
- Implied Team Totals: Colts 23, Steelers 21.5
This week has a handful of juicy games with postseason implications. This Colts-Steelers matchup is no different. While the Colts are in second place in the AFC South, they do have a shot to pass the Titans, but at worst, they are a Wild Card team barring a collapse.
The Steelers had a stranglehold on the AFC North, but after losing three straight following their perfect 11-0 start, the Browns and even the Ravens are right at their heels. The Colts have won three consecutive games and five of their past six.
[esi cache="public" adrotate group="1" ttl="60"]
Colts-Steelers Key Injuries
Colts
Indianapolis is not dealing with any new significant injuries that would impact Colts-Steelers Picks.
Steelers
The Steelers are banged up on both sides of the football, which is showing amidst their three-game slide. While Diontae Johnson (leg), Eric Ebron (back), and James Conner (quadriceps) are all questionable to play with their respective injuries, the main one is the running back.
Johnson’s injury is not expected to be serious as he briefly exited Monday night’s loss to the Bengals but quickly returned while Ebron did not suffer any organ damage in the aforementioned Week 15 loss. Although Ebron left the game and did not return, he should be fine to play against the Colts in a revenge game.
Conner may not be as lucky. While he missed three of the Steelers’ past four games, there are no guarantees that he plays this week either. And although Steelers HC Mike Tomlin is suggesting to the press that he is optimistic about Conner’s playing status, the longtime head coach also said that he was “impressed" with Benny Snell.
If the Steelers elect to sit Conner , Snell will have his hands full against a Colts defense allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (98.1). Last week against the Bengals, Snell had one of his better games of the year when filling in for Conner. Snell rushed for 84 yards and a score on 18 carries while adding another 23 yards on 3-of-4 targets.
Colts-Steelers Players to Watch
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor has taken off in the second half of the year. In his past four games since Week 11, Taylor has lived up to his offseason hype, really, for his best stretch of the year.
In those four games, Taylor has gone for 95+ yards, including 114+ total yards in three of them. He also scored four times in each of his past three outings, getting one touchdown in three straight.
With Taylor hot, the upside rookie rusher will look to build on his recent totals in a tough but exploitable matchup against the Steelers. While the Steelers are allowing the eighth fewest rushing yards per game (104.6) this season along with the third-fewest scores allowed on the ground (8) to enemy rushers, they have been exploited amidst their three-game losing streak.
In seven of their past eight games, the Steelers have given up 109+ total rushing yards to their opponents. Now, they get the Colts, one of the best running teams in the NFL. Taylor should once again be effective in Week 16.
Steelers WR Chase Claypool was one of the best rookie receivers to open the year. However, he has been quiet in the past month of play.
In his first 10 games, Claypool scored 11 touchdowns in six games. In his past four games, however, Claypool is on a scoring drought, failing to find the end zone in four straight. Claypool has also gone for fewer than 54 yards in that four-game period as well despite seeing 6+ targets in three of the four games.
Claypool must get back on track if the Steelers are going to end their three-game losing streak. It all can’t be on Ben Roethlisberger, Diontae Johnson, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Colts are 17th in passing yards allowed per game (236.0) this season.
Colts-Steelers Weather Report
The weather at Heinz Field calls for a possible rainy afternoon at the time of kickoff with a 10% chance of precipitation.
The temperature is set at 39 degrees Fahrenheit with 7 mph winds blowing SouthEast.
Colts-Steelers Picks & Best Bet
BEST BET: Over 44.5 (-115)
Although both the Colts and Steelers are known for their defense this season, I like the Over in this matchup. While the Colts have a defense allowing the seventh-fewest yards allowed per game (334.1), they are giving up the 11th-fewest points. The Colts were a top-five unit in the first half of the year. While they have been gashed in the second half, they remain one of the best teams in the NFL.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are on a three-game slide. Amidst their losing streak, the Steelers have surrendered 23, 26, and 27 points. Their worst three-game stretch of the year. Pittsburgh’s defensive injuries are beginning to show.
Their lack of balance on offense does not help either. While the Steelers have a terrific and deep quad stack at wide receiver with players that include James Washington, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, and Diontae Johnson — not to mention Eric Ebron at tight end — Pittsburgh’s pass-catchers are amongst the deepest and best in the NFL. It is up to Ben Roethlisberger to make it work.
On the Colts end, now that Jonathan Taylor has taken a stranglehold of the Indy backfield with Nyheim Hines maintaining his role as the primary pass-catcher/ third-down back, there is more balance, which is showing. Philip Rivers is finally showcasing a rapport with T.Y. Hilton, one of the best wideouts in the NFL in the past month.
There won’t be a ton of points on both ends, but there will be enough to cover the 44.5-point Over.
The Over is 2-6-2 in the Steelers’ past 10 games, hitting in last week’s loss to Cincy.
The Over is 7-3 in the Colts’ past 10 games, hitting in four of their past six games, but failing to meet the Over last week.
The Over is 5-2 in the past seven meetings between the Colts and Steelers, hitting in their 2019 matchup.
[esi sportsbookgrid num=3 ttl=”0″]
CONSIDER: Colts -1.5 (-115)
While it is difficult to imagine the Steelers losing four-straight games, I think it could, in fact, happen.
The Steelers are aging at quarterback and along their offensive line. They also have a suspect running game. If the Steelers are one-dimensional on offense, Ben Roethlisberger can and will struggle as we have seen amidst their losing streak.
Meanwhile, the Colts have won five of their past six games outright. And although their defense has struggled, yielding 20+ points in each of their past five games including 31 to the Packers and 45 to the Titans, their offense has shown up. Indy’s offense has scored 26+ points in each of their past six games, including dropping 34 on the Packers and Titans while lighting up the Raiders with 44.
The Steelers are 4-3 against the spread in their past seven meetings with the Colts, covering in four of their past five, including in their 2019 matchup.
The Colts are 4-2 ATS in their past six games, failing to cover in last week’s win over Houston.
The Colts are 4-0 ATS in their last four games on the road.
The Steelers are 2-5 ATS in their past seven games, failing to cover in four straight.
CONSIDER: Colts (-125)
There is not much of a difference between the Colts’ moneyline and the against the spread pick outside of slightly better odds. I’d sacrifice the odds and just take the Colts’ Moneyline just in case this is a one-point game.
Anthony Cervino is 55-44-1 on his NFL Best Bets in 2020.
Prepare Week 16 betting tips and plan
After studying Colts Steelers Bet Tips and Colts-Steelers Picks:
- Read our latest NFL news, analysis, tips, predictions and betting tips.
- Learn how to bet on sports, including strategies, key terms, and betting process.
- Watch videos of our latest NFL analysis and predictions from experts.
- Choose the sportsbook and betting offer that fits your budget and strategy.
[video-archive num=4]
