Monday Night Football: Indy @ New England

[Tinfish]

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS +4
Indianapolis Colts (7-0) at New England (4-3)

Months of anticipation will be manifested at Gillette Stadium on Monday night, when Peyton Manning and the undefeated Indianapolis Colts meet the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.

The Colts have been the NFL's best team through the season's first two months, and many expect this to be the year that Indianapolis reaches its first Super Bowl since moving from Baltimore following the 1983 season.

But Tony Dungy's team will not be considered to have "arrived" unless it can down a New England club that has caused nothing but misery to the Colts in the recent past. The Patriots have won six straight over the Colts, including playoff victories in 2003 and 2004, and Manning is 0-7 in New England during his career. Last year, the high-octane Indy offense went into Foxborough for an AFC Divisional Playoff, and left as 20-3 losers.

The Colts' Week 8 bye was preceded by a 38-20 win in Houston.

The Patriots, meanwhile, come off a 21-16 win over AFC East rival Buffalo in a Sunday night tilt that marked the return of linebacker Tedy Bruschi following a mild stroke suffered in the offseason.

SERIES HISTORY:

The Patriots hold a decisive 41-24 edge in the all-time regular season series, including seven consecutive home wins and four straight victories overall. New England was a 27-24 home winner in the last such meeting, in Week 1 of the 2004 season. The Colts' last win in the series came on Oct. 22, 2000, and their most recent road win against New England took place on Nov. 19, 1995.

In addition to the regular season series, the teams have met in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, with New England taking both a 24-14 decision in the 2003 AFC Championship and a 20-3 triumph in last year's AFC Divisional Playoff.

New England is 31-9, including playoffs, against Indianapolis since the Colts moved from Baltimore following the 1983 season.

Patriots Head coach Bill Belichick is 9-3 against the Colts all-time (including 7-1 with the Patriots), while Indianapolis' Dungy is 2-4 versus New England (including 0-4 with the Colts). Dungy is 1-4 head-to-head against Belichick, with the victory coming for Dungy's Buccaneers team in the 2000 campaign.

OVERALL ANALYSIS:

There is little doubt that the Colts have been the better team through the season's first two months, but that doesn't mean they'll win them all. The Patriots have had Indy's number for the better part of the last decade, and they should come in fired up for a primetime tilt at home. Look for Belichick to come up with some formula to annoy Manning, for New England to pound the football offensively, and frustrate the Colts once again.

RECENT TRENDS:

• IND is 5-2 ATS in their last seven overall.
• Under is 5-2 in IND last seven overall.
• IND is 3-1 ATS in their last four played in Nov.
• Over is 4-1 in NE last five overall.
• NE is 4-0 ATS in their last four played in Nov.
• NE is 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

Recent Away/Home 5 Meetings: since 2001:

• 1/16/2005 *IND 3 NE 20
• 9/9/2004 *IND 24 NE 27
• 1/18/2004 *IND 14 NE 24
• 11/30/2003 *NE 38 IND 34
• 11/30/2003 *NE 38 IND 17


I've pondered & analyzed this game all week long and I've come to the conclusion if this game was in Indianapolis I would definitely go w/ the Colts here.

Remember NE are still the Super Bowl Champs until they are proven otherwise.

I'm sure a lot have been said and Overanalyzed about tonight's game.

It's a Risky Play either way especially on NE who is decimated w/ a lot of injuries which is of concern to me but ...

"I'm not about to bet w/ my heart here." Until Indianapolis Proves to me they can beat New England, with that being said I'll take my chances and take "NE + 4 Points tonight" especially as the "Home Dog" here to "Cover the Spread" in a much anticipated CLOSE hard fought battle.

[INTIMID8OR]

Im a Manning fan so Im pulling for Peyton ....

[trip]

can't wait, should be a great game, won't miss a minute

[INTIMID8OR]

MY girlfriend will be watching a game tonight lol...

[Timma]

I'm watching this one all the way through. It's gonna be one of the best games of the year hopefully.