NFL Raiders-Colts Player Prop: Best Jonathan Taylor Bet (Dec. 31)

Raiders-Colts Odds

Odds via BetMGM
Raiders: +165 | Colts: -200
Raiders +4: -110 | Colts -4: -110
Over 42.5: -110 | Under 42.5: -110
When: Sunday, Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. ET
Expert: Justin Martin

Jonathan Taylor Player Prop Bet

The Colts had no concern feeding the football to Jonathan Taylor last week after missing nearly a month due to having thumb surgery. Taylor registered 18 rush attempts in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Colts rode Taylor on the first drive of the game for six attempts, including a touchdown on the one-yard line. Let’s shift our focus to Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Books are offering Taylor’s rushing attempts line at 17.5 at plus-money — a +EV bet that correlates well with our top bet for Jonathan Taylor: over 74.5 rushing yards on FanDuel. Bettors should have faith that if Taylor runs the ball 18 times, he’ll soar over his rushing line.

The Colts will again be without backup running back Zack Moss on Sunday. Moss, one of the most serviceable backups in the NFL, is a significant loss for the Colts. But now that Taylor is back to full strength, it’s his backfield. Trey Sermon will get a handful of carries, but this game script reads for Taylor to be used early and often in the run game.

There is no question that the Raiders defense has flipped a switch with interim head coach Antonio Pierce. They’ve allowed the 14th-fewest rushing yards per game in the last three weeks and the fewest points. But if the Raiders offense can’t produce, which they haven’t as of late, the Colts will be able to run Taylor through the ground.