NFL Preseason Betting: Week 4

The Colts will continue to make due without star quarterback Peyton Manning as they close out their preseason schedule in Cincinnati on Thursday night, but Indy supporters at least got some encouraging news about the pivot on Monday afternoon.

Indianapolis activated Manning from the physically unable to perform list on Monday, meaning he can now practice with the team. That doesn't mean, though, that he'll be on the field on Thursday night – the team has already said that he'll skip that contest.

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And that also doesn't mean that he'll be playing in Houston when the Colts begin their 2011 campaign on Sunday, September 11 – but with Manning having never missed a start the smart money is probably on him suiting up for the opener versus the Texans.

If by some chance Manning's neck still isn't healed enough for him to play against Houston then newly-signed veteran QB Kerry Collins is expected to get the nod instead ahead of underwhelming backups Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky. Collins signed a two-year, $14 million deal with Indy last week to act as an insurance policy.

Collins is expected to get some work on Thursday night against the Bengals – which is probably a good idea since he's yet to see any action this preseason. The duo of Painter and Orlovsky has led the Colts to an 0-3 record so far in exhibition action, continuing the team's trend of being a poor preseason pick for bettors, especially on the moneyline – Indianapolis hasn't picked up a preseason victory since back in 2009.

Bettors who picked up the Colts on the NFL futures lists at shops like Bodog have to be happy about Monday's Manning news. At Bodog Indianapolis heads into the week at 9/1 odds to win the AFC Championship Game and at 18/1 to win Super Bowl XLVI.

All but one of the Week 4 NFL preseason games take place on Thursday night this week – the lone Friday straggler has the Raiders taking on the Seahawks in Seattle.

Thursday's slate kicks off in Buffalo where the Bills will be hosting the Lions, while Dallas is in Miami, New England hosts the Giants, and the Ravens visit the Falcons.

The marquee matchup for Thursday has Philadelphia at the Jets, while St. Louis is in Jacksonville, Washington hosts Tampa Bay, and Kansas City travels to Green Bay. As well, it's Tennessee at New Orleans, Cleveland at Chicago, Houston at Minnesota, Denver at Arizona, San Francisco at San Diego, and finally Pittsburgh at Carolina.

The Panthers are giving Cam Newton the start at quarterback on Thursday as he tries to lock down the team's top quarterback job over Jimmy Clausen. Newton went just 6-of-19 for 75 yards passing in the team's loss to the Bengals last week, but even that wasn't enough to push him behind Clausen on the Panthers' quarterback depth chart.

For all the lines for this week's NFL preseason action head to the Bodog Sportsbook.