Most observers seemed to have this division pegged to a certain extent.  Before Luck retired suddenly before the season, many predicted the Colts to win a closely contended division.  When Luck retired, many still saw the division as closely packed, but many shifted the predictions to the Jaguars.  However, at the midway point, the Colts are at the top of a closely packed division, maintaining at most a game and a half lead over the bottom team in the division, the 4-4 tacks.   But with a bunch of divisional games coming up in the next few weeks, things will get more interesting to be sure.
As for my individual picks, last week saw a rare and welcome 4-0 week for me.  If I am to have any hope of respectability in my predictions record by the end of the year, I will need a few more of those undefeated weeks, starting with this week, because even with that, I am still below .500 so far.

Texans ( 5-3 ) at Jaguars (4-4)-A key divisional matchup in the midway point in the season, this game still has divisional and potential postseason ramifications.  Since the teams met in week 2, both have lost superstars that had a huge impact in the first game.  Last week, the Texans lost future Hall of Fame DE J.J. Watt for the year with a torn pectoral muscle, marking the 3rd time in the last 4 years he wound up on IR.  Meanwhile, the Jaguars traded away stud CB Jalen Ramsey, who held WR Deandre Hopkins to 4 catches for 27 yards in the last meeting.  These losses make both defenses more vulnerable.    While Bouye is a fine CB, I doubt he can duplicate what ramsey did against Hopkins last week.   Likewise, without Watt to provide pressure, the Jaguars can focus more attention to Whitney Mercilus, who wreaked all kinds of havoc on the Jaguars offense last matchup.  If Mercilus is controlled, the Texans’ suspect secondary can get exposed.  With Texans LT Laremy Tunsil nursing a sore shoulder and rookie OL Tytus Howard with a knee issue, I think the Jaguars are better able to pressure Watson than the Texans are able to pressure Minshew.  But will the pressure the Jaguars put on Watson be enough?  I have my doubts.  In the first game post trade they miss Ramsey’s presence on the field, the Texans win 28-24.
 
Colts (5-2) at Pittsburgh (3-4)-though the Steelers have dominated the series of late and are at home, it is far from the chalk pick.  While the Steelers still have a good enough defense to be problematic for the Colts, I’m questioning their offense.  A very young QB with banged up RBs in James Conner and Benny Snell and receivers that can not separate is not a good matchup against a pretty decent Colts defense with a more experienced QB.  Colts win 24-16.
 
Titans (4-4) at Panthers (4-3)-Both teams are really banged up, especially Carolina.  But Carolina is coming off an embarrassing loss to the 49ers last week, they are home, have a healthy Christian McCaffrey, and are up against a team nowhere near as good as the 49ers.  Panthers 23 tacks 20.
 
Last Week:  4-0
Overall:  11-16

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