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Colts at Panthers: Odds, trends and more

By Matt Verderame

Oct 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) rushes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) rushes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indianapolis Colts have been nothing less of a haphazard dumpster fire throughout the first seven games of the 2015 National Football League season. Indianapolis is 3-4, and now visiting the undefeated Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football at Bank of America Stadium.

Vegas sees the Panthers as the favorite, but perhaps not by what you would think. Carolina is only laying 5.5 points to the below .500 Colts, with the over/under sitting at 45.5, per OddsShark.

Carolina has quietly been one of the best teams in the league over the last three years. In 2013, head coach Ron Rivera was able to get Cam Newton and Co. to a 12-4 record, an NFC South title and a first-round BYE in the NFC playoffs. Last year, the Panthers fell on hard times but were able to win a second straight division crown thanks to brutal competition with a 7-8-1 record.

This season, the Panthers are 6-0 and look like a team that could reach the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history. Carolina has been on defense and steady offensively, despite losing top receiver for the year in the preseason to a knee injury.

Meanwhile, the Colts are an utter disaster. Amazingly, Indianapolis is 1-4 in games started by quarterback Andrew Luck this year, mostly because of an awful offensive line and uninspired play on defense.

The trends say to bet on Carolina to cover if not win outright. The Panthers are 15-7-1 in their last 23 games at home against the spread, while the Colts are a measly 2-6 ATS over their last eight games. Another nugget would be Indianapolis seeing the UNDER in 11 of its last 14 games.

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