The AFC’s #1 seed is also in action on Saturday, and also hoping to snap out of a losing funk. The Colts won their first 14 games before losing the final two amidst a controversy of deciding to rest starters. They welcome to town the Ravens, who are off a

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The AFC’s #1 seed is also in action on Saturday, and also hoping to snap out of a losing funk. The Colts won their first 14 games before losing the final two amidst a controversy of deciding to rest starters. They welcome to town the Ravens, who are off a dominating 33-14 win at New England. Indianapolis will play as a 6.5-point favorite at Sportsbook.com, and getting the support from three out of every five bettors.

Recently, this has been a favorable matchup for Indianapolis, who has won seven straight in the h2h series while going 6-1 ATS, including a 17-15 decision in Baltimore in November. In those games, the Ravens have managed just 11.6 PPG. The Colts are just 6-12 ATS in their L18 home games though, and have been ousted in their first playoff game in three of the L4 seasons. Baltimore won two road games in last year’s playoffs and is on an 8-3 SU & ATS postseason run overall.

A week after becoming the first four-time winner of the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award, Peyton Manning will start his 16th playoff game for the Colts when they host Baltimore on Saturday night.

The Ravens are looking to eliminate the AFC’s No. 1 seed for a second straight year after knocking off Tennessee last January, en route to conference runner-up status. They come off a dominating 33-14 wild-card upset of New England, which saw its 11-game playoff winning streak at home end. Baltimore was ahead by 14 points before quarterback Joe Flacco attempted a pass and never looked back in its third postseason victory in four tries under head coach John Harbaugh. Ray Rice, who’ll be the focus of the Colts’ 24th-ranked run defense, ripped off an 83-yard touchdown run on the first offensive snap to stun the Foxboro faithful and set the tone.

Indianapolis had its hands full with the Ravens in Week 11 but managed to pull out a 17-15 win on the road—one of its seven come-from-behind victories. Manning threw for 299 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions, but the bigger story was the Colts’ defensive effort on third downs. Baltimore was forced to settle for five Billy Cundiff field goals.

Manning, who passed for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns, will be chomping at the bit after most of the first-team offense sat out the last 20-plus minutes of a 29-15 loss to the Jets in Week 16. Indianapolis led by five late in the third quarter when head coach Jim Caldwell traded a chance at history—an undefeated season—to protect the health of Manning, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark despite their missing only eight games combined over the past six seasons.

Caldwell opened himself up to criticism regardless of the postseason results. Should the Colts capture their second Super Bowl title in four years, his decision to rest the starters may be justified but he’ll have to answer a bombardment of “perfect season” questions. Should they not hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 7, he’s sure to get blasted for not keeping the team as sharp as possible through the regular-season finale.

It’ll be crucial for the hosts to win the turnover battle. Baltimore’s defense has 12 takeaways in its last three playoff wins, including four in its stunner over the Patriots.

PREDICTION: The Ravens were the most-impressive team on wild-card weekend but have dropped seven in a row to Indianapolis. After getting booed off the field in their last home game, the Colts make amends and advance to play for the conference title. However, covering the 6.5-points could be another story. INDIANAPOLIS 24, BALTIMORE 20

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