weekly picks Indy, Luck will inflict more pain on Jags

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Sam Riche / mcclatchey news service archives Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is putting together a record-breaking rookie season. (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

Andrew Luck quickly is erasing the pain of the divorce with Peyton Manning for Colts fans. Now, he and the suddenly playoff-contending Colts head to Jacksonville, where just about everything about the Jaguars is painful.

The Colts (5-3) have won three straight and four of five to firmly plant themselves in the AFC wild-card picture. Luck comes off one of the great quarterbacking games for any rookie, ever -- better, even, than Manning managed with Indianapolis in 1998. He completed 30 of 48 passes for 433 yards and two touchdowns for a 105.6 quarterback rating in the victory over Miami. The 433 yards set an NFL single-game record by a rookie quarterback, and Luck became the only rookie aside from Manning with four 300-yard passing games.

Indianapolis has risen to 12th in the AP Pro32 rankings and is a 3-point favourite against No. 31 Jacksonville (1-7).

It's a nice matchup for Indy, which has been stingy on defence lately and timely on offence. Defensive leader Dwight Freeney wants everyone, especially the younger players -- and there are plenty of them on the roster -- to take things in stride.

"They're experiencing it for the first time and it's up to the older guys to kind of keep them, 'all right, look, it's about this week, who cares what happened last week, who cares how many games we've won in a row, it doesn't matter,"' Freeney said. "We have to get this victory coming up."

Jacksonville ranks last in total offence, has scored 117 points, 16 fewer than any other team, and has dropped five in a row. But the Jaguars, 6-21 in their last 27 games, have three of those wins against the Colts, including their only victory in 2012, 22-17 in Week 3.

Nearly three dozen Colts shaved their heads in a show of support for coach Chuck Pagano, who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. The best way to show support is to keep winning.

COLTS, 17-13

No. 8 Denver (minus 4)

at No. 25 Carolina

Broncos "manning up" behind Peyton and coach John Fox, who was fired by Panthers.

BEST BET: BRONCOS 31, PANTHERS 24

No. 13 Detroit (minus 2)

at No. 18 Minnesota

Lions trending upward, Vikings the other way. That ends here.

UPSET SPECIAL: VIKINGS, 21-20

No. 2 Houston (plus 1) at No. 3 Chicago

On a neutral field, would pick Texans. Not in Soldier Field, especially at night.

BEARS, 19-16

No. 32 Kansas City (plus 12 1/2)

at No. 10 Pittsburgh, Monday night

Steelers getting back to power game, will pummel awful Chiefs.

STEELERS, 30-13

No. 1 Atlanta (minus 2)

at No. 17 New Orleans

Falcons will lose this season, just not here.

FALCONS, 34-28

No. 28 Buffalo (plus 11)

at No. 6 (tie) New England

Simple fact: Patriots are matchup nightmare for Bills.

PATRIOTS, 36-23

No. 27 Oakland (plus 7 1/2)

at No. 9 Baltimore

Simple fact II: Raiders don't handle travel to East Coast very well.

RAVENS, 30-21

No. 19 Dallas (pick 'em)

at No. 20 Philadelphia

Once a prime matchup, now just an eyesore.

COWBOYS, 21-17

No. 26 St. Louis (plus 11 1/2)

at No. 4 San Francisco

Niners don't often have such a big spread. Maybe too big ...

49ERS, 20-10

No. 6 (tie) New York Giants (minus 4)

at No. 22 Cincinnati

Giants need to rekindle offence and sliding Bengals might provide opportunity.

GIANTS, 22-17

No. 16 San Diego (plus 3)

at No. 14 Tampa Bay

Vincent Jackson can't wait to get back at Chargers.

BUCCANEERS, 33-17

No. 29 Tennessee (plus 6)

at No. 15 Miami

Until Titans stop someone on defence, we're not picking them.

DOLPHINS, 26-14

No. 24 New York Jets (plus 6 1/2)

at No. 11 Seattle

Watch out for Seahawks in NFC wild-card race.

SEAHAWKS, 17-13

2012 RECORD

Against spread: 9-5 (53-75-3). Straight up: 10-4 (76-56)

Best Bet: 4-4-1 against spread, 7-2 straight up.

Upset special: 6-3 against spread, 4-5 straight up.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 8, 2012 D4