Colts (10-4) @ Jaguars (5-9) - December 18th, 2008

By WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

This week’s Thursday night NFL game sure seems like a major mismatch, with the streaking Indianapolis Colts visiting the completely battered Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 6-point home underdogs on WagerWeb.com.

You probably know that the Jags already beat the Colts this year, 23-21 at Indy in Week 3. But the teams gone on divergent paths since then. Jacksonville, 2-5 at home, just ended a four-game losing streak with last week’s 20-16 victory over Green Bay.

And in the past few weeks, the Jags have lost an incredible amount of players for the year. Last week it was fullback Greg Jones, running back Fred Taylor and WR Matt Jones. This week, the team put free agent bust WR Jerry Porter on injured reserve.

Porter had all of 11 catches for 181 yards and a TD this season after signing a $30 million contract to assumingly be Jacksonville’s No. 1 receiver, but a groin injury has bothered him all season. You can bet he will be cut during the offseason. The Jags also took a hit on defense this week, losing linebacker Daryl Smith and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel to injured reserve. Without Smith the final two games, team captain Mike Peterson will return to the starting lineup Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Indy has won seven in a row to take the top AFC wild-card spot heading into the weekend. Peyton Manning has played his way into the MVP voting and has four straight games completing at least 70 percent of his passes. He has rebounded from offseason knee surgery to throw for 3,543 yards and 23 touchdowns.



However, Manning may be short two big weapons on Thursday night, as WR Marvin Harrison underwent an MRI on Wednesday and is questionable. Harrison has a hamstring issue, according to coach Tony Dungy. Running back Joseph Addai also is in question, and he will be a game-time decision. Dominic Rhodes would start in Addai’s place and isn’t much of a drop off. The Colts have the worst rushing offense in the AFC, averaging 80.1 yards and 3.4 per carry. Jacksonville has given up 3.6 yards per carry in its past six games, the seventh-stingiest average in the NFL in that stretch.

Indy’s defense also might be without a key player as safety Bob Sanders (knee) also is expected to be a game-time decision. Neither Addai nor Sanders played in last week’s win over the Lions.

Dungy said both players have practiced with the team this week and want to play.

“They’re excited about going. My sense is they’ll play, but we’ll see what happens,” Dungy said.

The Colts will be without linebacker Gary Brackett. He has missed the last two games after cracking a bone in his lower right leg.

Look for the entire Jags offense tonight to be RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who has averaged 6.8 yards per carry in five career games against the Colts. In that Week 3 victory, the Jags ran for 236 yards with both Taylor and Jones-Drew surpassing 100 yards.

Indy beat the Jaguars 29-7 on the road last season, and has won three of four in Jacksonville. And this should be an Indy win, but if Harrison, Addai and Sanders all sit, the Jags could potentially pull the upset.

Bet on Colts @ Jaguars