Money, handicapper on underdog Colts vs. Panthers on ‘MNF’
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has been playing with broken ribs since Week 3 of the NFL season, Fox Sports reported Sunday. Despite that news, money has been pouring into Las Vegas sports books on underdog Indianapolis against the Carolina Panthers in advance of today’s “Monday Night Football” matchup.
The Colts were getting 7 points at a few spots in town Sunday, but that number has since been bet down to between 5 and 6 points at Vegas books. The total is between 45½ and 46½ points.
“We dropped the Panthers down to 5½. A lot of that is due to the weather. It’s raining pretty hard in Carolina and it’s supposed to be pretty hard rain the whole game,” Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller said. “There’s a lot of public money on the Colts and a lot of sharp money on the Colts. They took the 6½, they took the 6 and it’s currently at 5½.
“Me, personally, I love the Panthers. I think the Panthers win tonight easily. Their defense is too much for the Colts. (The Colts’) offensive line is weak. I can see Andrew Luck on his back a lot tonight.”
The Gold Sheet handicapper Bruce Marshall likes the Colts (3-4) plus the points against the undefeated Panthers (6-0), who have yet to beat an opponent that currently has a winning record.
“Even with Luck being hurt, I thought that number went too far the other way with Carolina,” said Marshall (goldsheet.com). “(The Panthers) keep winning but I still maintain things have broken incredibly well for them. I’m just not sure they’re going to be able to blow these guys out.
“Also, (Colts coach Chuck) Pagano is getting to the point where he’s in trouble. If they lose another game, I can see them making a coaching change. Everybody is circling the wagons for the Colts. I think it’s going to be close. Can they win? Maybe.”
Miller said he hasn’t received much play on the total.
“I’m surprised by that with the weather,” he said.
Monday night underdogs are 6-2 against the spread this season and the under is 7-1.
Todd Dewey can be reached at tdewey@reviewjournal.com.
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