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          Betting tips for Week 9 'Sunday Night Football': Colts at Vikings

          Joe Flacco takes over as starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts as they look to pull off an upset on Sunday night. Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
          • ESPN
          Nov 3, 2024, 10:30 AM ET

          Sunday's Week 9 NFL slate concludes with a cross-conference matchup between two quarterbacks that have been valuable journeyman around the league over the past few years. The Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings meet at U.S. Bank Stadium (8:30 p.m. ET) as 16-year pro Joe Flacco is set to start at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts after the team benched former first-round pick Anthony Richardson earlier this week.

          Flacco, the 2023 NFL comeback player of the year, will look to spark a Colts' offense that has been stagnant with Richardson at the helm. He proved he is worthy of the task already this season, throwing for 716 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception in relief of Richardson this season. Meanwhile the Vikings, look to bounce back from back-to-back losses to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams in Weeks 7 and 8.

          The Vikings opened as seven-point favorites over the Colts earlier in the week but then the line ticked down to Vikings -5.5 after the Colts announced Flacco as the starter.

          Here is everything you need to know to bet on Vikings-Colts.

          Odds current as of publish time, courtesy of ESPN BET

          Game lines

          Spread: Vikings -5.5
          Money line: Vikings (-240), Colts (+200)
          Over/Under: 46.5

          First-half spread: Vikings -3.5 (-105), Colts +3.5 (-125)
          First-half moneyline: Vikings (-190), Colts (+150)
          Vikings total points: 26.5 (Over -105/Under -125)
          Colts total points: 20.5 (Over -110/Under -1\20)

          Andre' Snellings' favorite pick

          Justin Jefferson over 6.5 receptions (even)

          Jefferson is ultra-consistent as a producer, but he has been slowly ramping up his receptions as the season has progressed. He grabbed four receptions in each of his first two games, increased to six in each of his next three games, and after the bye has grabbed seven and eight receptions in his last two outings. On Sunday, Jefferson faces a vulnerable Colts defense that has three defensive backs on Injured Reserve and allows the ninth-most passing yards per game (227.8 yds/game) on the season. The Colts defense ranks 25th in the league in catch percentage allowed to opposing wide receivers (65.9%), and they also rank 29th in yards per target allowed (8.72 YPT), indicating that Jefferson could be in for an overall big night and makes a good 'over' bet on all of his props this Sunday.

          The props

          Passing

          Sam Darnold total passing yards: 249.5 (Over -115/Under -115)
          Darnold total passing TDs: 1.5 (Over -135/Under +105)
          Joe Flacco total passing yards: 249.5 (Over +105/Under -135)
          Flacco total passing TDs: 1.5 (Over +120/Under -155)

          Rushing

          Aaron Jones total rushing yards: 69.5 (Over -140/Under +110)
          Jonathan Taylor total rushing yards: 69.5 (Over -135/Under +105)

          Receiving

          Justin Jefferson total receiving yards: 89.5 (Over Even/Under -130)
          Josh Downs total receiving yards: 69.5 (Over -105/Under -125)
          Jordan Addison total receiving yards: 39.5 (Over -125/Under -105)
          T.J. Hockenson total receiving yards: 39.5 (Over Even/Under -130)
          Alec Pierce total receiving yards: 24.5 (Over -105/Under -125)
          Aaron Jones total receiving yards: 24.5 (Over +105/Under -135)
          Taylor total receiving yards: 14.5 (Over -130/Under Even)

          Betting trends

          Courtesy ESPN Research

          • The Colts are 7-1 ATS this season, tied with the Commanders for the best record in the NFL. The Colts have covered six straight games, their longest streak since 1992-93 (8) and their longest single-season cover streak since 1980 (6).

          • The Colts are 5-0 ATS as underdogs this season.

          • The Colts have covered five straight meetings.

          • The Vikings are 8-15 ATS as home favorites since 2020. They are 1-6 ATS as home favorites of at least 3.5 points under Kevin O'Connell.

          • Sam Darnold is 6-12 ATS in his career as a favorite (2-2 ATS with Vikings), including 2-6 ATS when laying at least three points. Darnold has been a six-point favorite once in his career (-8 at Texans in 2021 with Panthers - won by 15).

          • The Vikings are 0-2 outright and ATS in their last two games (both as favorites) after starting 5-0 outright and ATS. Overs are 2-0 in Vikings losses and 1-4 in Vikings wins.

          • Underdogs of at least six points are 21-12 ATS this season.

          • Unders in Sunday Night Football games are 32-12 over the last three seasons.

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