NEW ENGLAND/INDY

[Lofunzo]

I believe that New England has started as a 4 1/2 point favorite. Has there ever been a time when the defending champion was undefeated, playing at home, and was a dog?? I am talking about more than a few weeks into the season (although not sure if it matters).

Hope that this goes here.

[Mookie4ever]

On my book the Pats opened as a 3 point fav on Monaday and have climbed to a 5.5 fav in less than 24 hours.

The magic number will be 7. I think that the line will stop at 6.5 and you may even see a 7 here or there at gametime. I want Indy to win but I just can't pick them unless I get at least 7 b/c the Pats are too strong.

The over/under is at 56.5 and the over seems a little more appealing to me. I'll wait to see what Marvin's status is before I take that bet though.

[Lofunzo]

Then what about the defending champ being undefeated and playing at home being 3 point dogs?? What about 5.5?? I just find it amazing that you have a defending SB champ being undefeated at home and being a dog. Maybe I'm alone.

[Mookie4ever]

Then what about the defending champ being undefeated and playing at home being 3 point dogs?? What about 5.5?? I just find it amazing that you have a defending SB champ being undefeated at home and being a dog. Maybe I'm alone.

What about the fact that going back to last year and the playoffs they have won about 17 in a row, including the superbowl?

It's crazy but instead of looking at it from the Colts perspective look at it from the Pat's point of view. Most people agree that the Pats are the best team in the league. The Pats have been the favourite and have covered every single time this year. How many times has a team been the favourite and covered 7 times in a row?

Throw into the mix that the Pat's D is outperforming the Indy D and that Marvin has been gimpy for weeks now and I think that the Pats are properly the fav and that the line will go up to 6.5 by game time.

[PMoneyTKE]

Not a lot of people are noticing the significant difference in strength of schedule. I think Indy's D is at least on par with the Pats D if not better when you take that into account.

[Lofunzo]

Not a lot of people are noticing the significant difference in strength of schedule. I think Indy's D is at least on par with the Pats D if not better when you take that into account.

I don't see how anyone can say that New England's D is better. Indy has given up fewer point per game.

[SniperShot]

What has shocked me more this season has been the incredible hype around the Patriots which has seemed to result in the Colts being totally thrown under the bus.

The Colts are flying so far under the radar it's insane. They are defending champs, they are also undefeated... They are still one GREAT football team and beat the Patriots and Tom Brady TWICE last year. Granted that was without Moss/Welker but it was still the Patriots who have been no slouch of a team in the past 5+ years.

I do find it amazing how the Colts are going to be underdogs this week. And people who are calling for the Colts to lose by 20+ points at home are pretty crazy in my opinion. The game will be VERY competitive and I believe the Colts will win it at home. I'd gladly take whatever points the Colts get vs the Patriots this Sunday. Their offense is more than capable with keeping up with the Patriots, X Factor for the Colts will be Bob Sanders. He is in my opinion the best safety in the game right now at pre-snap reads, he's not a big dude but he hits like a truck and figures out where the ball is going. One of the hardest things about the Patriots is they have so many options on offense it's next to impossible to stop them. I'm looking for Bob Sanders to create one or two game changing turnovers in this game due to some nice jumps he gets off the snap.

Peyton will play awesome as usual and I think the Colts have figured out the Patriots, they proved that last year. Those days of Peyton looking completely lost vs the Patriots defense should be over. The key to this game I think is the Colts defense stopping the Patriots just enough for the win. Just enough will probably mean giving up 42 points but I have no fears the Colts can match swing for swing with the Patriots.

Final score could easily be something like 45-42.

[Mookie4ever]

Nobody is disputing that Indy is good but the Pats are 8-0 against the spread this year. 8-0!! The closest any team has come to them is 21 points. They would have to have been at least a 22 point favourite at some point this year to have not covered.

The Colts are good but they are still 5-2 vs the spread and were tested and could have easily lost to the Titans and the Texans.

The only reason that the Pats have given up more points this season (and it 15.9/gm vs 14.6/gm big deal) is that the other team is out of it so early that they give up the running game and feel that they have to compete in a track meet with them.

I believe that the Pats D is better and their offence is clearly better this year 41.4/gm vs 32/gm.

It's going to be a great game. I'm looking forward to this game more than a lot of superbowls. I can't pick a winner but I've put some money down on the over.

[PMoneyTKE]

Nobody is disputing that Indy is good but the Pats are 8-0 against the spread this year. 8-0!! The closest any team has come to them is 21 points. They would have to have been at least a 22 point favourite at some point this year to have not covered.

The Colts are good but they are still 5-2 vs the spread and were tested and could have easily lost to the Titans and the Texans.

The only reason that the Pats have given up more points this season (and it 15.9/gm vs 14.6/gm big deal) is that the other team is out of it so early that they give up the running game and feel that they have to compete in a track meet with them.

I believe that the Pats D is better and their offence is clearly better this year 41.4/gm vs 32/gm.

It's going to be a great game. I'm looking forward to this game more than a lot of superbowls. I can't pick a winner but I've put some money down on the over.

I agree about the Offense being better, but I really think that Indy's D is playing a lot better. Indy has had a MUCH tougher schedule and still given up less points, I don't know how you can say that the Pats D has been better. The argument that teams are out of it so early could work the other way too meaning teams basically just give up and stop trying to score points. Regardless it will be a ridiculous game, i've never been so excited for a game in my life.

[daullaz]

I'm with you, Sniper. I'm definitely taking Indy and the points here. Defending champs are undefeated midway through the season and are a dog at home?

If NE wins this game, it'll be on a late Vinatieri FG.