SWAMPY TNF - UGLY GAME ESPECIAL INDY @ HOU

***INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ HOUSTON TEXANS***

Tonight we have a not so appetizing matchup between two divison opponents who have had subpar seasons so far. The Colts, who were extremely hyped up as a Super Bowl contender this year have shown their weaknesses early. QB phenom Andrew Luck has been battered every game and is out once again tonight with a shoulder injury. His replacement, 40 year old veteran Matt "we want the ball and we're gonna score" Hasselbeck will get the start tonight after a solid one last week against the Jaguars at home in Indy. Yes, they were extremely fortunate to get the win in OT due to some terrible FG kicking by the Jags. Nonetheless they got it done and are feeling good heading into Houston tonight to take on a Texans team that seems to be a compete mess after getting their butts handed to them in Atlanta last weekend. The highly regarded Houston defense has not lived up to the hype this year either. Their intimidating defensive line and linebackers were absolutely torched by Falcon RB Devonta Freeman and are surely pissed off and embarassed after a performance like that. They will be amped up tonight to redeem themselves on the big stage and have been preparing as though Andrew Luck will get the start but not so fast my friends.....it was reported earlier today that Luck is out and I believe this actually works in the Colt's favor believe it or not. I know it sounds crazy, but Hasselbeck is a very smart veteran QB and knows that he will have to get the ball out of his hands extremely fast tonight. Andrew Luck's current problem thus far seems to be that he is holding onto the ball way too long in the pocket, resulting in some brutal beatings in the first two weeks against some dominant defensive fronts in the Bills and Jets who love to blitz. Hasselbeck now has gotten his feet wet with a start last week and despite supposevely being very sick since then (which I am going to go out on a limb and say that I think it was more of an oldman recuperation from an NFL game type thing), I think he will be much more prepared tonight then he was on Sunday due to getting some fresh game-speed like experience under his belt again. The Houston secondary is nothing to be afraid of and I believe Hasselbeck performs well again tonight with smart short passes over the heads of the Texan pass rush. Don't hold your breath but if there was ever a game for WR veteran and new Colt Andre Johnson to make his mark for Indianapolis, tonight is the night while playing in his former home for the past 12 years when he was a pillar of the Houston Texan offense. You can bet that this guy wants nothing more than to have a huge night for both his career purposes and personal reasons. I have faith in him to do some work tonight and be motivated to show Houston what they are missing and because of his lack of performance this year, he will surely not be the focus of the Houston secondary with other speedster WRs like Hilton, Montcrief, and rookie Dorsett to worry about. This will work in his favor and so will the need for Hasselbeck to get rid of the ball early. I think the Texans gameplan to get their money's worth on his contract tonight, if even just for a decoy in the redzone. Another new Colt, veteran RB Frank Gore should also have a big game tonight running downhill against these guys who as I mentioned earlier seem to be surpsingly weak against the run.

This Houston team is in shambles early while in the midst of a QB controversey between Ryan Mallet and Bryan Hoyer. Not being sure who's your 'guy' is NEVER a good thing to have going on for your team during the season and can cause implosion which looks to already be taking shape for Houston. It causes a lack of confidence in the team and also for the QBs, especially when that said QB has to worry about losing their job if they don't perform well. I don't like what I've seen from Mallet thus far, and have no faith in him to all of a sudden turn it around here tonight. The Texans do have their stud RB Arian Foster back and that will surely help their offense and he should get a heavy dose of the rock tonight. He played last week and fumbled, but he at least looks to finally be healthy and they have no choice but to rely on him with their current QB situation. That being said the Colt's defense has been playing better, but is still banged up and has it's weaknesses but I don't think the Texan's have enough firepower to take advantage of them, especially with all of their current injuries and lack of playmakers at the WR position. Bottom line, eventhough Luck is out, it doesn't change the fact that Mallet and the entire Houston offense is avg at best. This one will be close, I foresee a 24-20 game either way. That being said I am taking 'ol Reliable Matty Hasselbeck and the Pony's tonight. COLTS +5