Indianapolis Colts vs Jacksonville Jaguars Picks and Predictions January 5th 2025

Indianapolis Colts vs Jacksonville Jaguars January 5th 2025

FOX will broadcast this week 18 AFC South matchup between the Jaguars and Colts, which is set to kick off at 1:00 ET. The Colts are favored by -5 points and have a money line of -223. The Jaguars, the road team, have a money line of +186. The over/under line is set at 45 points for the game, which is being played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

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Jacksonville vs. Indianapolis Key Information

With a 4-12 record, the Jaguars are 3rd in the AFC South and 26th in our power rankings. They are 3-2 in division games and 4-7 in conference play. Jacksonville is 3-5 at home and 1-7 on the road.

Jacksonville has an average scoring margin of -7 points per game and is 8-7-1 against the spread. They are 6-4-1 as underdogs and 2-3 as favorites. Their O/U record is 8-8, with the under hitting in two straight games.

Heading into week 18, the Jaguars rank 23rd in our offensive power rankings. They are 24th in the NFL in points per game (18.6) and 26th in yards per game (305.4). Jacksonville ranks 16th in passing attempts and 23rd in passing yards per game (204.4). On the ground, they are 22nd in rushing attempts and 26th in rushing yards per game (101). The Jaguars are 18th in the league in 3rd-down conversion percentage (37.4%) and 15th in red zone conversion percentage.

Mac Jones posted a passer rating of 122 in week 17, throwing for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15/22 passing. Brian Thomas Jr. led the team with 7 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, while Travis Etienne Jr. had 49 rushing yards on 15 carries. Jacksonville scored 10 points in the 2nd quarter and 7 in the 4th, converting 8 of 13 3rd-down attempts and both of their red zone opportunities.

In their 20-13 win over the Titans, the Jaguars’ defense gave up 159 rushing yards on 30 attempts but held Tennessee to just 13 points. The Jaguars’ defense allowed 178 passing yards on 19 completions, with one passing touchdown allowed. They also came up with one interception and recorded three sacks. Jacksonville’s defense held the Titans to a 61.3% completion rate and forced them to convert just 3-of-8 third down attempts.

Heading into week 18, the Colts are 7-9 and rank 25th in our NFL power rankings. They have a -3.3 average scoring margin this season and are 9-7 against the spread. As underdogs, they are 6-4 ATS, and they have a 3-3 record as favorites. Their O/U record is 9-7, with the over hitting in four straight games.

Indianapolis has a 0.0% chance of making the playoffs or winning the AFC South. They are 2-3 in division games and 6-5 in conference play. The Colts are 4-3 at home and 3-6 on the road. In week 17, they lost 45-33 to the Giants, dropping their record to 7-9. They were 7.5-point favorites in that game but couldn’t cover the spread.

Heading into week 18, the Colts rank 25th in our offensive power rankings. They are 16th in the NFL in points per game (21.9) and 15th in yards per game (328.9). Indianapolis leans heavily on the run, ranking 7th in rushing attempts and 8th in rushing yards per game (134.6). On the other hand, they are 27th in passing attempts and 26th in passing yards, averaging 194.3 per game.

Jonathan Taylor has been busy, carrying the ball 32 times for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns in week 17. In week 16, he rushed for 218 yards on 29 carries, and in week 15, he had 107 yards on 22 carries. Joe Flacco threw for 330 yards (26/38) in week 17, with Alec Pierce leading the team with 6 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.

In their 45-33 loss to the Giants, the Colts’ defense gave up 309 yards through the air, with New York completing four touchdown passes. Indianapolis struggled to defend the big play, as the Giants averaged 13.4 yards per passing attempt. The Colts failed to record any sacks and allowed the Giants to complete 73.9% of their passes.

On third downs, the Giants converted 53.8% of their chances, and the Colts’ offense managed just 80 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Despite this, the Colts’ offense still put up 389 total yards in the game.

Our pick vs. the spread for this week 18 matchup between the Jaguars and Colts is to take the Jaguars to cover as road underdogs. They are currently sitting at +5 point underdogs, and we have them not only covering but winning by a score of 26-20.

For the over/under, we are leaning towards taking the over, with a projected combined score of 46 points and the line sitting at 45 points.

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Colts, Jaguars Wrap Up Disappointing Seasons in AFC South Showdown

The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, both eliminated from playoff contention, will meet on Sunday in a season-ending AFC South matchup in Indianapolis. While the game won’t impact the playoff picture, it offers both teams a chance to salvage pride and build momentum for next year.

Colts Looking to Rebound

The Colts (7-9) enter the finale reeling from a humiliating 45-33 loss to the New York Giants, a game in which their playoff hopes officially evaporated. The defensive collapse was particularly disappointing, as the Giants—previously the league’s lowest-scoring team—more than tripled their season scoring average.

“It’s embarrassing. It’s disappointing,” Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “You can’t play like that when you’re planning on being a playoff team. So we ain’t a playoff team.”

Indianapolis hopes to have rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson back after he missed last week’s game with severe back pain. Richardson, who admitted he could barely move on Christmas Eve due to the injury, is optimistic about playing.

“I’m standing up now, and I’m looking forward to playing this week if I can,” Richardson said.

The fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has had an up-and-down rookie season, completing just 47.7% of his passes with 12 interceptions. However, he has also thrown eight touchdown passes, rushed for six more, and led the Colts to a 6-5 record in his starts.

Jaguars Aiming to End on a High Note

The Jaguars (4-12) have endured a frustrating season but can achieve back-to-back wins for the first time in 2024 with a victory on Sunday. Jacksonville is coming off a 20-13 home win over the Tennessee Titans, a performance highlighted by three sacks from defensive end Josh Hines-Allen.

Despite their struggles, the Jaguars are looking to finish strong.

“We’re not playing for a playoff game, so there’s frustration there,” Hines-Allen said. “But we want to make it 2-0 (to end the season). If we can do that going into next season, it’s a good starting point.”

Mac Jones will start at quarterback for Jacksonville in place of Trevor Lawrence, who remains sidelined after left shoulder surgery. Jones, 2-4 as a starter this season, is focused on ending the year with a victory.

“For me, just keep it simple this week,” Jones said. “A lot of distractions, a lot of this and that. But the challenge for everybody and for me is to focus on doing my part.”

Whether it’s breaking news or trends, it’s all in the Scores and Stats gambling news section.

Key Matchups and Notes

• Colts Offense: Star running back Jonathan Taylor, who missed the Week 5 loss to Jacksonville, ranks seventh in the NFL with 1,254 rushing yards. His presence could be pivotal against a Jaguars defense that has struggled at times against the run.
• Jaguars Defense: Hines-Allen’s three-sack performance last week was a bright spot, and his ability to disrupt Richardson will be critical.
• History: The Jaguars have dominated the recent rivalry, winning three straight and five of the last six meetings.

Injury Updates

• Colts: Quarterback Anthony Richardson (back) was limited in practice, while defensive tackle Denico Autry (knee) and guard Shaq Mason (knee) missed practice on Wednesday.
• Jaguars: Left tackle Walker Little (ankle) did not practice, but the team otherwise appears relatively healthy.

The Stakes

While the game lacks playoff implications, both teams are playing for pride and an optimistic finish to disappointing campaigns. For the Colts, snapping a losing streak against their division rivals could serve as a morale boost. Meanwhile, the Jaguars aim to build on their late-season progress and set a positive tone for 2025.