NFL Week 17 picks, predictions: Who is favored in Colts vs. Raiders?

The Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders meet in NFL Week 17 action, both carrying AFC playoff hopes.

The Colts (8-7) hold a wild-card spot and are tied atop the AFC South entering the weekend. The Raiders (7-8) have a slimmer chance.

The question revolving around this game: Which team will continue to overachieve? Little was expected of the Colts at the start of the season, and the Raiders have thrived under interim coach Antonio Pierce.

Who is favored to win, Colts or Raiders?

via BetMGM

Favorite: Colts by 3.5 points (Colts are 9-6 against the spread; the Raiders are 8-6-1 ATS)

Over/under: 42.5 total points (10 Colts games have gone over, 5 under; 4 Raiders games have gone over, 11 under)

Moneyline: Colts -185, Raiders +150

Insider: Time to extend Pittman, seeing as Colts can't function without him

Insider: Can the Colts get Taylor going in final two games?

NFL Week 17 picks, predictions: Colts vs. Raiders

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports, Raiders 23-15: The Raiders are out on the road for a second straight week with slight playoff chances in play. The Colts need this for their playoff hopes. The Raiders defense is playing at a high level as we saw against the Chiefs on Monday. I think that will continue here against Gardner Minshew as they pull off the upset.

Bill Bender, Sporting News, Raiders 24-20: The Raiders are playing a tough brand of football with a physical rushing attack and dominant pass rush led by Maxx Crosby, and that could give an up-and-down Colts’ team problems – even at home. Indianapolis ranks 28th against the run at 130.7 yards per game. This line is going to drop before Sunday.

Mark Lammey, Sports Spotlight, takes the Colts: Two more of the hottest teams in the NFL are the Raiders and Colts. Las Vegas is coming off a huge upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, and Indy has won five of seven. The difference should be Colts RB Jonathan Taylor exploiting the Raiders bad run defense to lead Indy to a home victory.

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk, Colts 24-20: It’s now or never for the Colts to get things back on track. It won’t be easy against a surging Raiders team.

Gennaro Filice, NFL.com, Raiders 20-15: Asked this week about how he'd make his case for the permanent job to Raiders owner Mark Davis, interim head coach Antonio Pierce did not mince words: "My résumé is on the grass." Having posted a 4-3 record since taking the wheel after Josh McDaniels' firing, Pierce's two most striking résumé items have come in the past two weeks: dropping 63 points on the Chargers in prime time and then stifling the Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes Chiefs in Kansas City. This Sunday provides another opportunity to impress, with Pierce's Raiders traveling to Indianapolis to take on Shane Steichen's Colts. Steichen has received widespread acclaim in his debut head-coaching season, as his injury-riddled team surprisingly remains squarely in the playoff race at 8-7. But Las Vegas' defense, which has taken off since Pierce took over, is the best unit in this game. Maxx Crosby and Co. win the day.

Sheil Kapadia, The Ringer, Raiders cover the spread: Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham are doing an incredible job with that Raiders defense. They are all the way up to eighth in defensive DVOA. Look at the talent they’re working with. They have no business being that good, but they’ve been playing at a high level for weeks now.

Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report, takes the Colts: Indianapolis didn't lose the turnover battle in its last five victories. Whereas the Raiders' last four touchdowns all came via the defense. Expect a heavy dose of ball-control offense from Indianapolis, with Steichen leaning heavily on his offensive line and running backs.

Ryan Reynolds, 33rd Team, Colts 21-17: You could argue this is a matchup between the league’s two most overachieving teams. ... The Raiders’ defense paved the road to victory against the Chiefs in Arrowhead. ... Indianapolis’ offense has driven most of the team’s success, although that group may be the most overachieving unit in the league.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL Week 17 picks, predictions: Who is favored in Colts vs. Raiders?