Colts vs. Bills Betting Guide: Should Indy Be Favored Without Andrew Luck?

Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills Betting Odds

• Spread: Colts -2.5
• Over/Under: 34.5
• Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET

The Bills host the Colts in one of 11 Preseason Week 1 matchups on Thursday night. Let's take a look at key storylines for both teams, complete with daily fantasy analysis, then make our pick.

Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck (calf) won't suit up on Thursday night, leaving the Colts with the following three options at quarterback:

• Jacoby Brissett has completed 114-of-174 (66%) passes for 1,247 yards (7.2 yards per attempt) with six touchdowns and only one interception in his 12 preseason games.

• Phillip Walker hasn't been quite as consistent (53% completion rate), but he's still managed to post a five-to-three touchdown-to-interception ratio on an average of 6.7 yards per attempt.
• Chad 'Swag' Kelly lit the preseason on fire in 2018, averaging a robust 7.8 yards per attempt thanks to his gunslinger mentality. The former Ole Miss signal caller is must-watch television and a top-tier DFS pick this week.

Head coach Frank Reich has confirmed that Brissett will play "around a quarter." Sleeper breakout candidate Deon Cain will suit up, while recently acquired D'Onta Foreman might play.

The Colts haven't made a point of relishing in their preseason success, but Reich does deserve credit for ripping off a 4-0 record against the spread during his head coaching debut in August 2018.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are all sorts of banged up along the offensive line as tackle LaAdrian Waddle (quad), center Mitch Morse (concussion) along with guards Dorian Johnson (undisclosed, IR) and Quinton Spain (foot) are injured. Each of the offense's top-three tight ends are also dealing with various ailments.

The Josh Allen experience was a bit of a mixed bag in 2018, and there isn't much proven talent behind him in journeyman Matt Barkley and rookie undrafted free agent Tyree Jackson. The Bills boast a sneaky-great defense and added some juice to their receiving corps and backfield, but this is still a fairly pedestrian offense when it comes to depth across the board.

Ultimately, Buffalo's offensive line is so banged up that I'm inclined to back Indy.

PICK: Colts -2.5