Free NFL Picks Today: Minnesota Vikings vs Indianapolis Colts 12/17/22

Free NFL Picks Today: Minnesota Vikings vs Indianapolis Colts 12/17/22
Sat 17th December 2022

The Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1, 2-4-1 Away) will be hoping to halt their losing run when they travel to face the Minnesota Vikings (10-3, 6-1 Home) at U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday. The Vikings are four-point favorites, and the total is 48.

Indianapolis is coming off a crushing 54-19 loss at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 4, their third consecutive defeat. Matt Ryan was 21 of 37 for 233 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Jonathan Taylor ran 21 times for 82 yards. Alec Pierce was targeted eight times, catching four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Minnesota lost 34-23 to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday. Kirk Cousins threw for 425 yards and two touchdowns.

Dalvin Cook carried 15 times for 23 yards and a touchdown. Justin Jefferson was targeted 15 times, hauling in 11 receptions for 223 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time since September 2020, a 28-11 win for the Colts. Philip Rivers threw one touchdown for Indianapolis.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Colts are averaging 16.1 points per game for the season, 31st in the NFL, and they are facing a Vikings defense that has surrendered 24.1 PPG (24th). Meanwhile, Minnesota has scored 24.0 points a game this season, 10th in the league, and Indianapolis is allowing 22.9 PPG (18th).

The Colts rank 14th in the league in passing yards per game (244.5) and 26th in rushing (100.2). Look for them to exploit a matchup advantage through the air, as the Vikings are worst in the league in passing yards allowed per game (301.9).

Against the run, Minnesota is 16th (116.5).Minnesota is seventh in the league in passing yards per game (265.9) and 27th in rushing (95.6). Indianapolis’ defense could prove challenging through the air, as the Colts are 3rd in the league in passing yards allowed per game (204.1). Against the run, the Colts are 21st (126.2). Indianapolis is averaging 2.8 red zone trips a game this season, fourth lowest in the NFL, finding the end zone 47% of the time (28th).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through 11 games, Matt Ryan has thrown for 13 touchdowns (13 INT) and 261.4 yards per game to lead Indianapolis in passing. In six away games this season, he has five TDs (11 INT) and an average of 249.3 yards passing.

Jonathan Taylor leads the team in rushing with an average of 86.1 yards a game over 10 games. He has four touchdowns on the ground. Michael Pittman Jr. is the Colts’ leading receiver with 62.9 yards a game and two TDs. He is averaging 6.3 receptions on 8.9 targets per game.

Kirk Cousins has 20 passing touchdowns (9 INT) with 258.3 yards per game through 13 games to lead Minnesota. In seven home games this season, he has thrown for 11 TDs (2 INT) and an average of 234.6 yards. Dalvin Cook has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 73.1 yards a game through 13 games.

He has nine total touchdowns, eight rushing and one receiving. Justin Jefferson has been a workhorse in the Vikings’ passing game. He has six touchdowns and a 115.4 yard per game average through 13 appearances. Justin Jefferson is averaging 10.9 targets per game (7.6 receptions).

SportsTips’ NFL Pick:

Minnesota Vikings -3.5 (-110)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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