The Indianapolis Colts’ Philip Rivers Reunion Tour rolls by means of Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday when the slumping Colts host the surging San Francisco 49ers in a Monday Evening Soccer matchup.
The primary leg of the tour was not precisely successful for the Colts. Final week towards the Seahawks, the 44-year-old Rivers accomplished 18 of 27 passes, together with a landing, however Previous Man Rivers, who even in his prime didn’t have a cannon for an arm, struggled getting the ball downfield and threw a game-ending interception when Indianapolis was operating out of time. The Colts misplaced, 18-16, which was their fourth straight defeat.
Indianapolis (8-6) desperately wants a win on Monday to maintain its dwindling playoff hopes alive.
On Monday Rivers and the Colts will face a San Francisco staff heading in the other way. The 49ers (10-4) have received 4 in a row and have already got clinched a spot within the postseason. Quarterback Brock Purdy is coming off an environment friendly efficiency, finishing 23 of 30 passes for 295 yards, three touchdowns and nil interceptions towards the Titans.
San Francisco is a 5.5-point favourite over Indianapolis on Monday night time.
Whereas Colts vs. 49ers is the marquee attraction on Monday, there are different choices on a sporting panorama that additionally features a seven-game NBA slate and a full NCAA basketball schedule. Under is a snapshot of what to observe and guess for Monday, Dec. 22. All instances Jap.
NFL finest bets, the place to observe
49ers at Colts
Time: 8:15 p.m. | Location: Indianapolis | TV: ESPN/ABC | Stream: Fubo (Attempt free of charge)
SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Colts +205 | Skilled: 49ers -5.5 (R.J. White)
Indianapolis’ slim defeat final week in Seattle wants a little bit of context. The Seahawks gained 314 complete yards towards the Colts protection however needed to accept six area objectives as quarterback Sam Darnold misfired. As well as, how badly did Rivers wrestle throwing the ball downfield towards Seattle? In response to Subsequent Gen Stats, he went 2-for-8 for 33 yards, a 4.7 passer score and the game-ending interception on throws of 10-plus air yards. “[San Francisco defensive coordinator] Robert Saleh ought to have a area day scheming towards such a restricted QB, and I may see Indy held to single digits consequently,” White says. “A surging 49ers staff probably deserves to be -7.” Nevertheless the SportsLine Projection Mannequin disagrees. The mannequin, which simulates each NFL recreation 10,000 instances, says Indianapolis has a 41.0% probability to win and assigns a B grade to Colts cash line (+205).
Extra NFL finest bets
NBA finest bets, the place to observe
Hornets at Cavaliers
Time: 7 p.m. | Location: Cleveland | TV: Peacock | Stream: Fubo (Attempt free of charge)
SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Cavaliers -9.5 | Skilled: Hornets +9.5 (Bruce Marshall)
What’s fallacious with the Cavs? One season after profitable an Jap Convention-best 64 video games, Cleveland is 15-14, has misplaced three in a row, eight of its final 11, and sits in seventh place within the East. A kind of losses got here to those similar Hornets at Rocket Area. Donovan Mitchell went 6-of-24 that day whereas rookie Kon Knueppel scored 29 for Charlotte. “The Hornets additionally had a win on the street at Toronto inside the previous two-plus weeks and have normally been staying inside earshot as Knueppel, who’s led the staff in scoring for 4 straight video games, has emerged as a drive,” Marshall says. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin disagrees. It says that the Cavaliers have a 59.0% probability to cowl and offers a C grade to Cleveland -9.5.
Grizzlies at Thunder
Time: 9:30 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma Metropolis | TV: Peacock | Stream: Fubo (Attempt free of charge)
SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Thunder -15.5
Cease the presses. After profitable 24 of their first 25 video games, the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have misplaced two of their final three. The offense has sputtered over that stretch, producing 106.6 factors per 100 possessions, which is a big dropoff from their season common of 119.0. However they nonetheless personal an elite protection, which is limiting opponents to 103.2 factors per 100 possessions. That is dangerous information for a Grizzlies staff that ranks twenty fourth within the league in offensive score (112.5) and is coming off a loss to the Wizards (5-22), who personal the worst document within the NBA. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin says Oklahoma Metropolis has a 67.0% probability to cowl and assigns a B grade to Thunder -15.5.
Wanting forward
Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Louisville
Time: 2 p.m. Tuesday | Location: Boca Raton, Fla. | TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Attempt free of charge)
SportsLine picks — Mannequin: Over 43.5 | Skilled: Over 43.5 (Mike Tierney)
The Boca Raton Bowl options two high-scoring offenses. The Rockets common 31.6 factors per recreation, whereas the Cardinals rating 30.2. Tierney additionally notes that Louisville’s two bowl video games below coach Jeff Brohm have been scoring-fests: 70 and 69 factors. “Below a south Florida solar with climate conducive for scoring, this quantity may very well be caught by third quarter’s finish,” Tierney says. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin agrees. It says there is a 62.0% probability the groups mix for 44 factors or extra and offers a B grade to Over 43.5.
