Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 9-17-2023

Published

11 months ago

September 17, 2023

Two 0-1 teams will do battle in Texas on Sunday afternoon as the Indianapolis Colts travel to Houston to take on the Texans. This should be an interesting matchup of two teams with new head coaches and rookie quarterbacks leading the charge in this AFC South Divisional battle. The opening kick is slated for 1:00 PM EST on Sunday.

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Rookie Learning Curve

The Indianapolis Colts played admirably in week one and nearly pulled off an upset win against AFC South favorite Jacksonville before falling 31-12. The Colts have a new head coach, a new quarterback, and a new offensive scheme so things will take time. Rookie quarterback did a lot of good things, including one rushing and one passing touchdown, and some not-so-good things, a fourth-quarter interception with five minutes to play. Overall though, his coach was pleased with his efforts.

“I thought he played solid,” coach Shane Steichen said. “I’ll take fault for that interception right there. Second-and-10 and it was a Cover 2 deal and we didn’t have a great route called. [I have] to be better there. But I thought he managed the game well. He did some really good things. I’m really encouraged with his progress and what he did.”

Richardson’s final stats were solid. He was 24-of-37 for 223 yards and a touchdown while also rushing 10 times for 40 yards and an additional score. Richardson did this without any semblance of support from the Colts’ running game. The team’s top two backs, Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss, were both out with injuries and third-string back Deon Jackson fumbled twice in the game. Overall, the Colts’ running backs rushed 16 times for 25 yards. Richardson was able to find top wideout Michael Pittman Jr. eight times for 97 yards on the afternoon. Indianapolis was just 2-of-12 on third-down conversions in the game.

Defensively, the Colts were able to force two turnovers, one on a fumble and the other an interception by Samson Ebukam. Linebacker Zaire Franklin led the way with a game-high 17 tackles for the Colts’ defense. The Colts allowed 342 yards of total offense to the Jags but did hold their potent attack to just 3-of-12 on third-down conversions. All-in-all, it was a solid effort by a defense forced to deal with three turnovers from its offense.

The Colts are certainly in full rebuild mode after a 4-12-1 season a year ago and committing to Richardson as the full-time quarterback. In 2022, the team was ranked just 27th in the NFL in total offense including 23rd on the ground and through the air. The uncertain future of Taylor will weigh heavily on this year’s potential output on the ground although the addition of Richardson will certainly help. Steichen will certainly employ many aspects of the gameplan he used as the Eagles offensive coordinator last season with Jaylen Hurts as his quarterback given Richardson’s similar skill sets.

Defensively, the Colts were a respectable 15th in total defense last season. They were 20th against the run and a solid 11th against the pass. The team’s secondary has undergone some changes, most noticably the loss of Stephon Gilmore at cornerback. They still possess solid linebackers and a decent front four led by DeForest Buckner, who had a sack on Sunday.

Injury Report: Evan Hull – RB – IR (Knee), Zack Moss – RB – Questionable, Drew Ogletree – TE – Questionable (Concussion), JuJu Brents – CB – Questionable (Personal), Jonathan Taylor – RB – Out (ankle).

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Looking in a Mirror

The Houston Texans, like the Colts, are in the midst of a major rebuild and, also like the Colts, are doing so with a first-time head coach and a rookie quarterback. Unlike the Colts, the Texans had to hit the road to start the season as they traveled to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. Houston battled hard through the first half and trailed just 7-6 at the break. The veteran Ravens’ team wore down the Texans in the second half for a 25-9 win. Rookie head coach DeMarco Ryans and rookie quarterback CJ Stroud will be looking for their first win this week when the Colts come to town.

“First time out, C.J. was in a tough place to play, a tough opponent, a lot of things were stacked up against him,” Ryans said. “But I thought he handled himself well.”

Overall, Stroud was 28-of-43 for 242 yards without a touchdown or interception in the game against the veteran Ravens’ defense. Stroud did so behind an offensive line that is currently decimated by injury. Stroud (shoulder) is already banged up and has a tough time making it through the season if he doesn’t get better protection. As with most rookie quarterbacks, he also has to get rid of the ball quicker.

The Texans lost left guard Kenyon Green for the season after the last preseason game while center Juice Scruggs and right tackle Tytus Howard, both projected starters, will be out the first four weeks on injured reserve. Not surprisingly, Stroud was on the run much of the game and was sacked five times and lost a fumble. Stroud performed well despite much of a running game against the stout Ravens’ front seven. Damien Pierce led the way with just 38 yards rushing on 11 carries. Overall, the Texans ran for just 73 yards while averaging a dismal 3.1 yards per carry. Wide receivers Nico Collins and Robert Woods led the way with six catches each but neither broke 100 yards as the Texans were forced to settle for underneath passes with Stroud frequently under pressure. Stroud was a respectable 7-of-18 on third-down conversions in the game.

Defensively, the Texans hung tough and even held the dangerous Ravens’ offense to just seven points at halftime. The Texans sacked the ever-elusive Lamar Jackson four times in the game and had five tackles for loss overall. In fact, Jackson rushed for just 38 yards in the game and fumbled twice, losing one. The vaunted Ravens’ rushing attack averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in the game. Linebacker Denzel Perryman led the Texans with 11 tackles in the contest. Rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. had six tackles in the game including a sack.

The Texans finished last season at just 3-13-1 and a game behind the Colts in the AFC South standings. Offensively, the Texans were a mess ranking 31st in total offense. The team was also 31st rushing the football and just 25th through the air. Stroud’s poise in the pocket on Sunday was a good sign, particularly against an above-average defense like the Ravens.

On the defensive end last season, the Texans were 30th in total defense. They were dead last against the run and 10th against the pass. Ryans’ influence was evident on Sunday as the Texans kept the Ravens’ rushing attack in check, holding them to 3.1 yards per carry.

Injury Report: Hassan Ridgeway – DT – IR, Noah Brown – WR – Questionable, Jimmie Ward – S – Questionable, John Metchie III – WR – Questionable, Dare Ogunbowale – RB – Questionable, Blake Cashman – LB – Questionable, Jalen Pitre – S – Questionable (chest), George Fant – OT – Questionable (shoulder)

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Last season, the teams met twice with the Texans winning once and the other game ended in a tie. Following their loss on Sunday, the Colts are now 1-6 ATS in their last seven games. They are also 1-7 ATS in their last eight games against teams from the AFC South.

Richardson’s lack of a running game will likely continue against a Houston defense that completely shut down a Ravens team that specializes in running the football. Without Taylor, the Colts will not be able to move the ball on the ground against Houston. Texans head coach Ryans also has experience facing quarterbacks that can run after his battles with the Eagles’ Hurts in the NFC over the last few seasons and against Jackson just last week. I expect the Texans to contain Richardson and force him to throw in the pocket.

Texans QB Stroud should be a bit more comfortable in the pocket facing the Colts than he was against the Ravens. Stroud showed an excellent ability to check down in week one against the Ravens and a willingness to take what the defense gives him. He will do that often on Sunday and help the Texans pull out their first win in the DeMarco Ryans Era.

Take the Texans -1.5

Prediction: Houston -1.5

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These two teams played to the under in both contests last season and in five straight in Houston. The Texans have also played to the under in seven of their last ten games and that trend should still be relevant with a rookie quarterback at the helm and the team employing a new offensive system. The Colts should also heav difficulty producing points on Sunday, particularly with the team’s struggles to convert on third down in week one. I expect a tightly played game that stays under what is already a modest total.

Take the under.

Prediction: Under 39

Written By
Mark Ruelle , “Mark Ruelle”

Mark has been a sports fanatic since childhood. He is also an avid follower of sports analytics and has used it in his own betting analysis for over two decades. Now we have Mark on our team here at Stat Salt. He holds degrees in marketing, broadcasting, and English and uses this vast array of assets to dissect and analyze game matchups. Mark will provide you with a wide variety of statistics to consider and a strong opinion in each matchup that he covers. Please follow him daily for an up-to-the-minute analysis of all the important games.

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Indianapolis, IN

BLQ+ Pride Summer Fest returns

Published

6 hours ago

August 4, 2024

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a five-year hiatus, the BLQ+ Pride Summer Fest event was held on Monument Circle on Saturday.

The event featured several shopping, entertainment, and eating opportunities.

“They are doing testing, we have food vendors, we have alcohol for the adults, we have folks who are selling merchandise,” said Belinda Drake, president of Indiana Pride of Color. “We have the ice cone shop for the kiddos, too.”

The day is created to honor and celebrate Black, Queer joy in the city and state overall.

One of the vendors who came out to sell items and celebrate alongside the community is Nakeya Harris, the owner of Meraki Mobile Boutique. Her shop carries women’s clothing items, with a specific focus on statement items with bright colors. She also carries jewelry and additional staples.

“I enjoy people expressing themselves and being free, so I wanted to be a part of that,” Harris said.

Local LifeJourney Church was also in attendance at the event. They aim to extend a safe space for worship to anyone interested.

“Today we are trying to reach out to communities of color and just say we have a welcoming space where people can come and be themselves

Though it is the first event of its kind since 2019, the Summer Fest is set to return to Monument Circle next year, and for many years to come.

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Indianapolis, IN

Todd’s Take: Home Cooking? Indiana Needs To Clean Its Big Ten Tournament Plate In Indy

Published

14 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Todd’s Take: Home Cooking? Indiana Needs To Clean Its Big Ten Tournament Plate In Indy

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – On Wednesday, white smoke finally hovered over Big Ten headquarters in Rosemont, Ill., as the conference revealed its future plans for the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments.

If you’re a Big Ten-mad basketball fan who resides in Indiana, you’re happy. Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis will host both the men’s and women’s tournaments twice each between 2025 and 2028. The Fieldhouse will host both tournaments in 2025.

Spanning all 3 time zones across the Big Ten!
Here are the hosts for the 2025-2028 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments: https://t.co/lDiAEA5oVI#B1GMBBT l #B1GWBBT pic.twitter.com/clkRFmWP7O
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) July 31, 2024
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In theory, you’d think having the Big Ten Tournament right in the heart of Hoosier country would create a home-court advantage for the cream-and-crimson. You’d think that Fieldhouse moments would be part of the collective memories of candy-striped fans statewide.

But let’s partake in a short exercise. What is Indiana’s greatest Big Ten Tournament moment in the Circle City in men’s basketball? I’ll give you a moment to think about it.

That’s right, dig deep. Keep mining the recesses of your mind. Why do I hear crickets?

As I clear the cobwebs in my own head, in terms of good things that happened to Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament in Indy, I can only think of the 2022 run when the Hoosiers saved their NCAA Tournament bacon with a 2-1 performance.

Included were two of the three games Indiana has won by five points or less in Big Ten Tournament games played in Indianapolis – a five-point victory over Michigan and a two-point thriller against top-seeded Illinois. (The other was a 2006 five-point victory over Wisconsin.)

Past that? The cupboard is bare. There are infamous moments that jump to mind, such as former Hoosier Luke Recker’s heart-shattering buzzer-beater for Iowa in a 2002 semifinal in the first Big Ten Tournament played in Indy. Soon-to-be-outgoing coach Archie Miller was lustily booed in the tournament’s lone appearance at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2021.

There is infamy that had nothing to do with Indiana, such as the bizarre 2020 Big Ten Tournament game against Nebraska, where it seemed the entire nation seemingly coalesced during that game to the grim reality that COVID-19 was about to alter all of our lives.

Only in Indiana’s checkered Big Ten Tournament history could the Hoosiers win and not advance.

Past that, Indiana has largely entered and exited anonymously in the Circle City. The Hoosiers’ all-time Big Ten Tournament record in Indy is 7-11. Indiana has beaten a grand total of one ranked foe (No. 16 Illinois, 2022) among those seven victories.

The Hoosiers have had six one-and-done appearances at the Fieldhouse. Even if you exclude the 2008-10 post-probation period when the Hoosiers were mired in losing, that still leaves three other instances where cream-and-crimson tails were firmly planted between legs in front of the home folks.

The women don’t escape scrutiny, either. Indiana’s women have been better than the men – Heather Cassady and Jill Chapman led the Hoosiers to their lone Big Ten Tournament championship at the Fieldhouse in 2002. Teri Moren coached the 2022 team to the championship game at the Fieldhouse. But apart from that? Not much considering the women’s tournament has been played in Indianapolis far more often than the men’s tournament.

Indiana’s women are 19-24 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis and have 12 one-and-done appearances.

Indiana fans show their support on a late Indiana run, Thursday, March 10, 2022, during Big Ten tournament men’s action from Indianapolis Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana won 74-69. / Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

None of this is for lack of enthusiasm at the gate. Every Indiana Big Ten Tournament game I’ve been to in Indianapolis has been a Hoosier Nation takeover. Indiana fans always show up, it’s what they do, but in Indy, it’s almost never reciprocated with on-court success.

So why does Indiana struggle in the Big Ten Tournament in Indy? Part of it is Indiana’s uneven seasons in general since the tournaments began in 1995 (women) and 1998 (men), but even good Hoosiers teams have stumbled in Indy.

The 2016 Big Ten regular season men’s champions are one example as they went one-and-out. Indiana’s 2021 Elite Eight women’s team didn’t win in Indy, either.

Where the men are concerned, perhaps part of it is historical indifference. Bob Knight was famously opposed to the tournament’s very existence and that attitude has possibly settled in among fans who recall his stance.

Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve heard many (any?) Indiana fans put an emphasis on the Big Ten Tournament, apart from seasons where the Hoosiers had to win to get a NCAA Tournament berth. The vibe is that this is a program that has bigger fish to fry, in particular, the elusive sixth banner.

Well, sometimes reality slaps you in the face with the truth that you have to walk before you can run. Indiana’s .395 winning percentage in the Big Ten Tournament is only ahead of Northwestern’s among schools that have been in the conference since the inception of the tournament. Let that wash over you.

That dubious distinction alone should spur Indiana fans into giving this tournament a bit more emotional emphasis, but there’s something to be said for the enthusiasm a tournament run generates, too.

I was there for the Purdue men’s win in 2023 in Chicago as well as the Iowa women’s and Illinois men’s wins in 2024 in Minneapolis. The Big Ten Tournament championship didn’t define any of their seasons, but it undoubtedly added some spice.

For the 2024-2025 season, Indiana’s men’s and women’s teams will both be capable of making noise at the Fieldhouse. The in-arena support will be there. Home cooking for the Hoosiers will be served up piping hot.

It’s long past time for the Hoosiers to clean their Big Ten Tournament plate in their home state.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indiana Grown: 8th Day Distillery

Published

21 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each and every Saturday, WISH-TV highlights a local company together with our partners at Indiana Grown.

This week, Jaime and Matt Lamping with 8th Day Distillery in Indianapolis joined News 8 at Daybreak.

The Lampings share with News 8 what started their passion for the distillery, and elaborate on how Indiana’s state laws at the time impacted their plans.

They also share more about their Bottle Shop & Cocktail Bar, which recently celebrated its sixth anniversary. They discuss their various workshops and show off new releases ready to hit your shelves this year.

Watch the full interview above to learn more.

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