Bills vs Colts Predictions, Picks, and Best Bets: Shakir Torches Indy's Zone Defense

With Buffalo's receiver corps banged up and Khalil Shakir boasting an impressive track record against zone schemes, we expect the Bills' slot man to thrive against a leaky Colts secondary.

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst
Nov 9, 2024 • 20:35 ET • 4 min read
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This article contains predictions for an old game!

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Khalil Shakir Buffalo Bills NFL
Photo By - Imagn Images. Pictured: Bills receiver Khalil Shakir breaks out in space.

The Buffalo Bills hit the highway in Week 10, set to visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

As Buffalo crosses the midway mark of the schedule, the grind of the NFL season shows on the team’s injury report — specifically at receiver. There’s a laundry list of ailments to Josh Allen’s top targets, which see my Bills vs. Colts predictions open the door for a big game from slot man Khalil Shakir.

My latest NFL picks break down the spread, total, and player props for this November 10 affair. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the game airing on CBS.

Bills vs Colts prediction

Who will win?

This is a tricky spot for the Buffalo Bills. Not only are they on the road, but a massive showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs looms in Week 11.

We’re seeing this spread dip from the opener of -4.5, with some shops as low as Bills -3.5 due to the injury concerns at receiver. The current outright odds give Buffalo an implied win probability of around 67%.

If we look at road favorites between -3.5 and -4.5, they carry a 64% outright win rate since 1985, so this one could be tighter than expected.

I’m projecting a 24-21 win for the Bills in Week 10.

My best bet
Khalil Shakir Over 53.5 receiving yards  (-110 at BetMGM)

My analysis

Even before you account for the possible missing bodies in the Bills’ receiving corps, Khalil Shakir gets a great matchup against the Indianapolis Colts defense. 

The Colts currently rank 22nd in EPA allowed per dropback, with opposing passers enjoying a success rate per pass of 47.2%, along with an average passer rating of 100.2 (25th). Those numbers are also tempered a bit, as Indianapolis hasn’t played many quality QBs and none as strong as Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Indianapolis runs zone coverage almost exclusively and Shakir is by far Buffalo’s best WR against zone schemes, ranking Top-18 among qualified receivers in the NFL against zone, according to PFF. On top of that, Shakir is among the top players in the NFL in yards after the catch, sitting third in YAC heading into Week 10 (358 YAC). The Colts defense has given up the 10th most YAC and enters the weekend fourth-worst in missed tackles.

Shakir is also becoming a popular option for Allen, seeing his targets jump in the past three games. He’s drawn 24 total passes and has hauled in all but two of those throws for a collective 222 yards since Week 7.

His growing production could see a significant spike in Week 10 if the Bills’ injury report holds true. As of this writing, fellow WRs Amari Cooper, Keon Coleman, and Curtis Samuel are all listed as questionable for the Colts game.

Player projections for Week 10 range from 48 yards to a ceiling of 66 yards from Shakir, with the bulk of models coming in Over his receiving yards total of 53.5 O/U. My number settles in at just north of 60 yards on Sunday.

Shakir’s ceiling is much higher considering the Colts' dreadful pass defense, the Bills’ WR concerns, as well as this game being played indoors on the fast turf of Lucas Oil Stadium. 

Allen also sees his output surge indoors, with a QB rating of 106.7 versus 92.3 outdoors, a completion rate of 70.73% up from 62.79%, and 8.43 yards per attempt against 7.19 in open-air venues.

Bills vs Colts same-game parlay

Khalil Shakir 50+ receiving yards

James Cook anytime touchdown

Bills moneyline

Shakir is one of the few healthy WRs for the Bills, and the bulk of projections call for 50+ receiving yards. He'll break off extra gains after the catch against a poor Indy pass defense.

Meanwhile, James Cook will be involved on the ground and through the air and has four touchdowns in his last four games.

The Bills could get caught looking ahead to KC in Week 11, so I’m going to pass on the spread and take Buffalo to battle for the outright win.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Bills vs Colts odds

Bills vs Colts live odds

Bills vs Colts opening odds

  • Spread: Buffalo -4.5 | Indianapolis +4.5
  • Moneyline: Buffalo -210 | Indianapolis +170
  • Over/Under: Over 47.5 | Under 47.5

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

Bills vs Colts spread and Over/Under analysis

• This spread opened at Bills -4.5 and has moved down to as low as -3.5, with most of the markets dealing Buffalo -4. Injuries to the Bills receiving corps are dragging this spread down. Covers Consensus shows 72% of picks laying points with the visitor.

• The total hit the board at 47.5 and is now up to 48 points. According to Covers Consensus, 60% of picks on the total are taking the Over.

Bills vs Colts betting trend to know

Since 2021, Indianapolis is just 5-15 SU as underdogs of more than a field goal (+3.5 or higher) but is 12-8 ATS (60%) in those games, including 4-2 ATS as home pups of +3.5 or more. Find more NFL betting trends for Bills vs. Colts.

Bills vs Colts game info

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Date: Sunday, 11-10, 2024
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS

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Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst “JLo” has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike.

Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he’s honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet.

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On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast – WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio – he’s had his analysis featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers’ flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.

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