The Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans will meet on the gridiron at Reliant Stadium on Sunday in a battle of division rivals.

With news that Peyton Manning will not be playing Saturday, oddsmakers reacted by moving the Colts-Texans spread to -9 favoring Houston. The Texans opened as a Pick’em. Bet on NFL at Betonline. Get up to $900 Bonus for each deposit and Free Play!

Clearly, the oddsmakers have pushed the line up high enough to get some action on the Colts side, although we would point out that Houston was only getting around 55 percent of the early action when this line was at -2.

Manning, who has started in 227 consecutive NFL games, has not fully recovered from neck surgery. His record is the second best after Brett Favre (297).

"To say I am disappointed in not being able to play is an understatement," the 35-year-old Manning said in a statement. "The best part about football is being out there on the field with my team mates.

"It will be tough not to be out there playing for the organization and our fans. I simply am not healthy enough to play, and I am doing everything I can to get my health back.

"The team will do fine without me, and I know for sure that I will miss them much more than they will miss me."

Starting for Manning will be veteran quarterback Kerry Collins. He was brought on as an insurance play in case Manning was not ready to start the season.

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2010 team records:
Indianapolis: 10-6 SU, 8-8 ATS
Houston: 6-10 SU, 5-10-1 ATS

Indianapolis most recently:
When playing in September are 7-3
When playing on grass are 6-4
After being outgained are 7-3
When playing within the division are 8-2

Houston most recently:
When playing in September are 3-7
When playing on grass are 3-7
After outgaining opponent are 3-7
When playing within the division are 3-7

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indianapolis's last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indianapolis's last 5 games on the road
Indianapolis is 16-2 SU in its last 18 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Indianapolis's last 12 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games when playing at home against Indianapolis
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Houston's last 12 games when playing Indianapolis
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games at home