Indianapolis Colts vs Jacksonville Jaguars Matchup

Keep reading to see our NFL week 18 Jaguars vs Colts pick and preview. In this article we will outline who will come away with the win and cover the spread.

The Jaguars and Colts will face off at 1:00 ET on Sunday, January 5th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Colts are favored by -5 in this week 18 matchup, with their money line odds at -223. On the other side, Jacksonville's money line odds are +186. The game will be televised on FOX, and the over/under line is set at 45 points.

Jaguars vs. Colts Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NFL
Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
Where: Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium
Date: Sunday, January 5th
Betting Odds IND -5, JAX +186 | IND -223 O/U 45

Jaguars Preview:

With a 4-12 record, the Jaguars are 3rd in the AFC South, including a 3-2 division record. They rank 26th in our power rankings and have a -7 scoring margin. Against the spread, Jacksonville is 8-7-1, with a 6-4-1 record as underdogs and 2-3 as favorites. Their O/U record is 8-8, with the under hitting in their last two games.

In week 17, the Jaguars beat the Titans 20-13, snapping a 4-game losing streak. They were 0.5-point favorites and covered the spread. The O/U line was 38.5, and the teams combined for 33 points.

Jaguars Offense Breakdown

Heading into week 18, Jacksonville ranks 23rd in our offensive power rankings. They sit 24th in the NFL in points per game (18.6) and 26th in total yards per game (305.4). The Jaguars are 16th in passing attempts, averaging 204.4 yards per game through the air, which ranks 23rd. On the ground, they rank 22nd in rushing attempts and 26th in rushing yards per game (101). Jacksonville ranks 18th in 3rd-down conversions, with a 37.4% success rate, and they are 15th in red zone conversion percentage.

Mac Jones posted a passer rating of 122 in week 17, throwing for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15/22 passing. Brian Thomas Jr. led the team with 7 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, while Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for 49 yards on 15 carries. Jacksonville scored 10 points in the 2nd quarter and 7 in the 4th, converting 8 of 13 3rd-down attempts and going 2/2 in the red zone.

Jaguars Team Defense

Jacksonville's defense played well in their 20-13 win over the Titans, holding Tennessee to 178 passing yards and 159 yards on the ground. The Jaguars defended the pass well, allowing just 19 completions and holding the Titans to a 5.7 yards per attempt. They also recorded three sacks and came away with one interception.

Against the run, the Jaguars gave up 5.3 yards per attempt, but they managed to limit big plays and keep the Titans out of the endzone, allowing just one touchdown. Additionally, they held the Titans to a 40% success rate on third down.

Colts Preview:

Heading into week 18, the Colts sit 25th in our power rankings and have a 7-9 record, leaving them with no playoff chances. They are 2nd in the AFC South and 10th in the conference. Indianapolis is 4-3 at home and 3-6 on the road.

Against the spread, the Colts are 9-7, with a 6-4 record as underdogs and 3-3 as favorites. Their O/U record is also 9-7, with the over hitting in four straight games. Their matchups have averaged 47.2 points per game, with an average line of 44.

Colts Offense Breakdown

Heading into week 18, the Colts rank 25th in our offensive power rankings. They are 16th in the NFL in points per game (21.9) and 15th in yards per game (328.9). Indianapolis ranks 27th in passing attempts and 26th in passing yards per game, averaging 194.3 yards through the air. On the ground, they are 7th in rushing attempts and 8th in rushing yards per game, with 134.6.

Jonathan Taylor has been productive, rushing for 125 yards on 32 carries in week 17. Before that, he had 218 yards and 3 touchdowns in week 16 and 107 yards in week 15. In the passing game, Alec Pierce led the team with 6 catches for 122 yards in week 17, while Joe Flacco threw for 330 yards, going 26/38 with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

Colts Team Defense

In their most recent game, the Colts' defense gave up 309 yards through the air to the Giants, including four passing touchdowns. They lost 45-33 and allowed the Giants to convert on 53.8% of their third down attempts. Indianapolis didn't record any sacks and struggled to pressure the quarterback, finishing with a -3 differential in QB hits.

Overall, the Colts allowed the Giants to average 13.4 yards per passing attempt, with a completion percentage of 73.9%. Despite holding the Giants to 80 yards rushing on 30 attempts, the big plays in the passing game were too much to overcome.

Jaguars vs Colts Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their five previous road games, Jacksonville has an ATS mark of 2-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-4 while averaging 13 points per game.
In their last five games at home, the Colts have a straight up record of 2-3 while going 1-4 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 22 points per game in these contests.
The last five games that Jacksonville was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 1-3-1 while going 1-4 straight up.
Through their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Colts have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 1-2.