Mid Season Super Bowl

In this mid season clash of undefeated titans... there has been heavy action on the Patriots.

The line opened at -3 NE and went to -6 NE, the game is being played at IND.

NE is: 8-3-1 ATS vs IND, 8-0 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 10 pts; 7-1 ATS on road vs a team with a winning record, 4-1 ATS in thier last 5 vs IND

IND is: 8-3 ATS in their last 11 played in NOV, 4-0 ATS vs a team with a winning record, 5-2 ATS as a home underdog, 5-0 ATS at home & on turf.

In this matchup, the UNDERDOG is 9-3-1 ATS over the last 13 games. IND has won the last 3 games outright, two of those in NE, prior to last years AFC title win at IND.

Despite, off season player defections and All-Pro nose tackle Booger McFarland being on IR, the 7-0 Colts #4 defense has taken it up a notch allowing only 14.6 pts pg. game.

On the offensive side Indy's #3 offense is running the ball better than last year.

The 8-0 Patriots brought in Randy Moss and Dante Stallworth to form the NFL's #1 offense for Tom Brady.

The Patriots #3 defense brought in, inside linebacker Adalius Thomas allowing Mike Vrabel to play his true outside position.

The Colts have the #1 pass defense, the Pats have the #1 pass offense, somethings gotta give. Both teams are tied for a league leading +11 on turnover ratio.

The Pats are #2 in time of possesion averaging 34:06, the Colts are #11 at 30:52.

The Pats defense has the 2nd least amount of time on the field at 25:44, the Colts D are #10 at 29:08.

Statistically, the Colts have the better overall defense vs pass and run. Defense wins championships, when complimented by excellent offense.

The Colts are the defending Super Bowl champions and playing BETTER than last years team. Indy has road wins over TEN, HOU, JAX, CAR; home wins over NO, DEN, TB

NE has blown teams away with home wins over SD, BUF, CLE, WAS; road wins over NYJ, CIN, DAL, MIA. The Colts have played the tougher schedule to date.

The Patriots have jumped out to big leads by passing, forcing the opponent to throw the ball and eschew the running attack.

The Patriot running game is anemic and their rushing defense has been pourous, despite being untested year to date.

The big question: will New Englands relatively untested run defense (87 YPG) be able to hold the #5 Colt ground game in check, much less the passing attack?

IND has only 12 (234 to 222) more passing attempts than rushing and lead the NFL in rushing TD's (12). NE has only 14 more passing attempts (273 to 259).

Despite no-one running against them, the NE rush defense has allowed 4.2 yards per carry, and allowed 179 rushing yards and three TDs to winless Miami two weeks ago.

Will additional time on the field wear the NE D down? The Colt defense should be able to slow down the Patriot passing attack.

While Manning's offense runs and passes the ball at will, chewing up the clock and tiring the NE defense.

We are taking the defending Super Bowl champ Colts at home as a 6 point underdog.

Who will win? The team that makes the fewest mistakes; and probably the team that has the ball last.

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