Colts vs. Chargers odds, line, spread: Monday Night Football picks, NFL predictions, best bets by proven model
The Indianapolis Colts welcome a red-hot opponent to Lucas Oil Stadium for Monday Night Football. The Colts are 4-9-1 overall and looking to stop a four-game losing skid as the Los Angeles Chargers arrive. The Chargers are 8-6 overall and 4-3 on the road this season. Los Angeles is coming off back-to-back wins, though the Chargers have played seven consecutive games decided by seven points or fewer. A win puts Los Angeles in the playoffs.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is a 3.5-point favorite in the latest Chargers vs. Colts odds. The over/under for total points is set at 44.5, down from opening at 50.5. Before locking in any Colts vs. Chargers picks, be sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up more than $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 157-113 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season.
The model ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Chargers vs. Colts and just locked in its picks and MNF predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines and trends for Colts vs. Chargers:
- Colts vs. Chargers spread: Chargers -3.5
- Colts vs. Chargers over/under: 44.5 points
- Colts vs. Chargers money line: Chargers -205, Colts +170
- LAC: The Chargers are 8-5-1 against the spread this season
- IND: The Colts are 6-8- against the spread this season
- Colts vs. Chargers picks: See picks here
Why the Chargers can cover
In addition to an improving defense that has allowed only 15.5 points per game in the last two contests, the Chargers have the better offense in this matchup. Los Angeles has only 15 turnovers this season, sixth-fewest in the NFL, and the Chargers are No. 2 in the league in passing offense. Justin Herbert is a top-flight quarterback, and he ranks in the top five of the league in passing yards, completions and completion rate.
Only 1.5% of Herbert's passes have been intercepted this season, and he is flanked by a versatile and talented running back in Austin Ekeler. Ekeler is in the top five of the NFL with 95 receptions, and he is tied for the league lead with 14 touchdowns. He has more than 1,300 yards from scrimmage, and the Chargers should also take advantage of a Colts defense that is below-average in scoring defense (24.1 points allowed per game), red zone efficiency allowed and turnover creation (15). See which side to back here.
Why the Colts can cover
Indianapolis has offensive challenges with Nick Foles becoming the third starting quarterback of the season, but the Colts do have some potential areas to exploit against the Chargers. Indianapolis has a top-flight pass-catcher in Michael Pittman Jr., who ranks in the top eight of the NFL with 86 receptions. Pittman Jr. has nearly 1,900 receiving yards in 30 games over the last two seasons, and the Colts are facing a shaky Chargers defense.
Los Angeles is No. 25 in the NFL in scoring defense, giving up 24.3 points per game, and the Chargers are below-average in total yards allowed with more than 350 yards per game. The Chargers have allowed more than 2,000 rushing yards, No. 28 in the NFL, and Los Angeles is No. 31 in the league with 5.3 yards allowed per carry. Los Angeles yields a first down on 41.6% of third down chances, and the Colts have the benefit of playing at home. See which side to back here.
How to make Chargers vs. Colts picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 47 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time. You can only see the model's MNF picks at SportsLine.
