The Indianapolis Colts will try to continue their road success when they take on the Arizona Cardinals in a 2021 NFL Christmas Day matchup at State Farm Stadium. The Colts (8-6), who are 4-2 away from home, have won their last three road games in impressive fashion, including a 41-15 win at Buffalo and a 31-0 victory at Houston. The Cardinals (10-4) have lost their last three home games and dropped two in a row overall. Since starting the season 7-0, Arizona is just 3-4 and has been outscored 170-153.
Kickoff from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., is set for 8:15 p.m. ET. Arizona is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest Cardinals vs. Colts odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 48.5. Before you make any Colts vs. Cardinals bets, make sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six-plus years ago. The model enters Week 16 of the 2021 season on an incredible 133-96 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past five years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has simulated Colts vs. Cardinals 10,000 times and just revealed its NFL expert picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting trends for Colts vs. Cardinals:
- Colts vs. Cardinals spread: Cardinals -2.5
- Colts vs. Cardinals over-under: 48.5 points
- Colts vs. Cardinals money line: Indianapolis +115, Arizona -135
- IND: Colts are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games as road underdogs
- ARI: Cardinals are 9-5 against the spread this season
Why the Cardinals can cover
Quarterback Kyler Murray is one of the league’s top passers and completing 69.8 percent of his passes. He is 252-of-361 for 3,039 yards and 20 touchdowns against 10 interceptions for a 102.3 rating. He is also a threat to run and has carried the rock 70 times for 270 yards (3.9 average) and five scores. He has passed for 250 yards or more in four of the past five games, including a 32-of-49 performance for 383 yards in a 30-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams two weeks ago.
His favorite target is wide receiver Christian Kirk, who leads the team with 62 receptions for 812 yards (13.1 average) and five touchdowns. He has had 14 explosive plays of 20 yards or more and has converted 37 first downs. Kirk had nine catches last week at Detroit for 94 yards and one touchdown. His best game was in the season-opener in a 38-13 win at Tennessee, when he caught five passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
Why the Colts can cover
Running back Jonathan Taylor continues his dominance. Last week against New England, he rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown and became the fifth player ever with a rushing TD in 11 consecutive games within the same season. He can become the third player ever with a rushing touchdown in 12 straight games on Saturday. Taylor has rushed for 115 or more yards in five of the past six games and leads the NFL with 19 touchdowns, including 17 rushing. He has 1,854 yards from scrimmage, including 1,518 rushing, and can become the first player in franchise history with 20 or more touchdowns and 2,000 or more yards from scrimmage in a single season.
Quarterback Carson Wentz has been a steady performer for Indianapolis and has completed 271 of 432 passes (62.7 percent) for 3,005 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has been intercepted just six times and has a rating of 95.3.
How to make Colts vs. Cardinals picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under the total, projecting the teams to combine for 48 points. It also says one side of the spread cashes in well over 50 percent of simulations.
So who wins Cardinals vs. Colts during the NFL Christmas Day 2021 schedule? And which side cashes in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Cardinals vs. Colts spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that returned over $7,000 on its NFL picks over the last six seasons, and find out.
