The Indianapolis Colts announced shortly after Week 7 that quarterback Matt Ryan would miss the rest of the season due to injury. Others, however, have suggested it's because they're looking to rebuild after Ryan played so poorly. Either way, though, the decision has not lowered oddsmakers' expectations for Indy. The Colts enter their October 30 matchup with the Washington Commanders as pretty staunch favorites.
This isn't a one-off occurrence, either. Basically all of the best online NFL betting sites have the Colts as decided favorites over the Commanders. That includes the folks over at BetOnline, who have given us the latest NFL online betting odds ahead of Week 8:
| Favorite |  | | Underdog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | -152 | +128 | Washington Commanders |
Please make sure to double-check these online NFL betting odds until you actually place your wager. Commanders vs. Colts will not kick off until 4:25 p.m. EST on Sunday, October 30, and our NFL Week 8 picks are accurate entering Wednesday, October 26. The lines will have plenty of time to change between now and when the game starts. We recommend circling back, in particular, if you're not placing a wager until Thursday, since that's when many injury reports are released.
Anybody searching for a place to bet on Commanders vs. Colts, meanwhile, should check out our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. These extensive guides give you all the tools you need to find and sign up with some of the best NFL online betting sites in 2022.
As for our Commanders vs. Colts predictions, we have what might be a surprise for you. We don't agree with the oddsmakers. Read on to find out why—and also to see our NFL Week 8 predictions for the Commanders vs. Colts moneyline, point spread and over/under.
Washington Commanders Should Have the Slight Edge Over the Indianapolis Colts
Many speculated the loss of quarterback Carson Wentz would actually help the Commanders offense to close the season. And they might be right.
Taylor Heinicke stepped in during Week 7 to deliver a victory over the (slumping) Green Bay Packers. He already has some nice chemistry with wide receiver Terry McLaurin, and it looks like he can actually generate both velocity and precision on his throws the down the field.
To be clear, hanging 23 points on the Packers defense isn't anything to write home about. But it was the first time Washington scored more than 17 points in four weeks. So, yes, it's a big deal.
Going up against the Colts' defense will be a tougher test. For all their struggles, Indiana does rank in the top half of the league in both net yards allowed per passing attempt and net yards allowed per rushing attempt. The Commanders don't have the high-end strengths to attack any one weakness in the first place, and it'll be even harder to generate consistent chain movement when the defense you're facing is well-rounded.
Still, the Colts are going through their own quarterback transition. Matt Ryan has been shut down for the season and will be replaced by Sam Ehlinger. He can't do any worse than Ryan, but Indy's offensive line hasn't been able to generate adequate breathing room for star running back Jonathan Taylor. Why should Ehlinger be any different?
That bodes incredibly well for the Commanders. They don't have the stingiest pass rush, but they like to get after it up front. If the Colts' offensive line remains a turnstile, they should be able to limit first-down opportunities and perhaps even force a couple of turnovers, both on the ground and through the air. In other words: Sign us up for the upset.
OSB Prediction: Washington Commanders (+128)
Even If You Don't Bet on Washington to Win, Here's Why They Will Still Cover the Point Spread
Below you can find the latest NFL Week 8 point spread betting odds for Colts vs. Commanders:
- Indianapolis Colts, -3 (-105)
- Washington Commanders, +3 (-115)
Even if you're not a fan of betting on the Commanders to win outright, you should consider wagering on them to cover the spread.
Forget everything else you know about these two teams. Their offenses stink, generally speaking. We get it. But they're also both going to be working new (or relatively new) quarterbacks into the fold. That inherently drives down their scoring opportunities and should ensure that neither side pulls away no matter who wins.
We'd feel a lot more comfortable if the spread we nudged up to 3.5 points. Under the circumstances, though, we'll take the Commanders at +3 and feel relatively awesome.
OSB Prediction: Washington Commanders, +3 (-115)
Should You Bet the Over or Under in Commanders vs. Colts?
Here are the latest NFL Week 8 over/under betting odds for Commanders vs. Colts:
- Over 40.5 (-110)
- Under 40.5 (-110)
Investing in the over has been a fool's errand for most Colts games. They have cleared the benchmark just one time in six tries. Maybe that means they're overdue. Also: 40.5 points in an incredibly low touchstone. Normally, it'd be too low for our tastes.
But this isn't a normal game. The Colts are trotting out a new quarterback and have neither the offensive line nor receiving talent to rack up big plays down the field. Indiana has scored more than 20 points just once all season under Ryan, and we fully expect that to continue with Ehlinger calling the shots.
Washington is more of a wild card. They have a much better receiving core than the Colts, and Heinicke has more experience under center on his resume. However, we can't just ignore that this team is averaging 14 points per game since Week 2. And even if they manage to top 20, there's no guarantee Indianapolis comes close to doing the same.
OSB Prediction: Under 40.5 (-110)
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