Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts AFC Wild Card Round Predictions, Odds, Picks and Betting Preview – January 4, 2015

The Cincinnati Bengals do not have a lot of fond playoff memories as they haven’t had a win in the postseason over the last 24 years. Andy Dalton knows what that feels like, as he is 0-3 in the postseason thus far in his career. Will the Bengals break that curse this coming Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts? The Colts finished the regular season with their third-straight 11-win season after serving the Tennessee Titans a pummeling in Week 17.

At last, the NFL Playoffs are here. See our complete prediction for all wild card round games here.
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Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts Betting Preview and Prediction

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Colts

When: Sunday, January 4, 2015, 1:05 PM ET

Line: Cincinnati Bengals (+4) vs. Indianapolis Colts (-4); total: 49.5 – see all NFL lines

Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals

In the end, the Bengals won’t enter the playoffs by virtue of being the AFC North division champions. Instead, they’re going back to the postseason as a wild card team following a 27-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

[sc:NFL240banner ]Nevertheless, Andy Dalton and crew now have another chance to break the franchise’s cruel 24-year streak of going winless in the playoffs when they go up against their Week 7 tormentor—the Indianapolis Colts—in next Sunday’s AFC Wild Card Round.

In their first meeting back in October 19, the Colts handed Cincinnati a traumatizing 27-0 defeat. The Bengals’ offense was limited to 135 total yards, a season-low. Andy Dalton passed for just 126 yards. On top of that, the Bengals’ defense allowed Andrew Luck and company to compile 506 total yards. Despite the loss, the Bengals have shown enough bite on offense and defense, albeit inconsistently, to be not taken lightly by Indianapolis.

Dalton (3,398 passing yards and 19 touchdowns) had an up-and-down regular season, but his performance in Week 17 provides an encouraging sign for the Colts heading into the team’s clash with the Colts. Dalton was intercepted twice and got sacked three times but still managed to throw for 244 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals finished the regular season 21st in passing yards with a 213.8 per game average.

Regardless of which type of Dalton shows up on Sunday, though, expect the Bengals to pound the rock a lot, particularly with Jeremy Hill.

Hill (1,124 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) was a non-factor in the first meeting with Indianapolis, rushing for just 15 yards on four carries, but has since taken a bigger role for the team. The former LSU standout finished the regular season on a blistering three-game stretch that saw him compile 395 rushing yards and three touchdowns. That includes his 100 rushing yard production against the Steelers.

The under is 6-0 in the Bengals last three games as the road team.

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Betting on the Indianapolis Colts

The Colts would be nowhere near the playoffs if not for Andrew Luck. On Sunday, though, Indianapolis proved they could win a game with Luck playing just 30 minutes when the team beat the Tennessee Titans, 27-10.

With the AFC South division title already in their bag, the Colts decided to rest Luck for the entire second half. At that point, Luck has already passed for 160 yards and two touchdowns before handing over the quarterbacking chores to backup Matt Hasselbeck, who finished the ball game with 155 passing yards and a touchdown.

After a long rest, Luck (4,761 passing yards, 40 touchdowns) will be back looking to repeat his great performance against Cincy in Week 7. In that game, Luck completed 27 of 42 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.  Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton also had a blast in that contest, as he collected 107 receiving yards on nine catches.

The Colts’ passing game, however, took a hit when wideout Reggie Wayne injured his groin against Tennessee and did not return. Wayne is among the Colts’ top receivers in the regular season, as he totaled 779 receiving yards and two touchdowns. As of the moment, Wayne’s availability next Sunday remains unclear. Other Colts that are currently dealing with injuries are linebacker Andy Studebaker (hand), center A.Q. Shipley (ankle), safety Sergio Brown (hand) and offensive guard Hugh Thornton (shoulder).

Like the Bengals, expect Indianapolis’ backfield to be heavily involved on offense this coming Sunday. Led by Trent Richardson, the Colts gashed Cincinnati’s defense for 171 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 7. Richardson had 77 yards on the ground in that game, while Ahmad Bradshaw had 52. They’ll meet Cincinnati’s defense that ended the regular season 20th against rush (116.3   yards allowed per game).

The Colts are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games as the home team.

Writer’s Prediction

Indianapolis wins, 32-27.
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