Colts Broncos Betting – Denver needs to run the ball to slow down Manning, Colts
The Indianapolis Colts were gashed by a dominant running back in week one. The Denver Broncos need to find a running game in week three if they want to upend the defending AFC champions.
NFL Betting: Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos
Why To Bet On The Colts
This perennial playoff team ensured that after getting blasted in week one by the Houston Texans, it would not slide into mediocrity. The Colts calmed fears among their fans by demolishing the New York Giants this past Sunday night. Indianapolis rolled to a 31-7 lead after three quarters and easily won the latest matchup of the Manning brothers. Peyton Manning was his usual efficient self, and his defense shut out brother Eli for the game’s first 34 minutes. The smooth and clinical performance should restore the Colts’ confidence and enable them to flourish in week three.
One other big key in the Colts’ favor on Sunday online betting is the fact that Denver running back Knowshon Moreno gained only 51 yards on 24 carries in week two against Seattle. The Broncos didn’t come close to 100 rushing yards, and that’s great news for an Indianapolis defense that is susceptible to the run. In week one, Arian Foster of the Houston Texans overwhelmed the Colts for 231 rushing yards, in one of the NFL’s greatest single-game performances by a running back. Indianapolis is missing run-supporting safety Bob Sanders, which means that a great running back can do damage against the Colts. It doesn’t appear that Denver has the ground game which can counter Indy’s most glaring deficiency.
Why To Bet On The Broncos
While Denver doesn’t have the elite running attack that can scare the Colts, the Broncos do have the secondary that could make life difficult for Peyton Manning. Corners Perrish Cox and Champ Bailey both recorded interceptions last weekend against an above-average quarterback, Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck. Safety Brian Dawkins also joined in on the ball-hawking fun, as Denver turned away three Seattle drives deep in its own territory. If Denver can play a bend-but-don’t-break style of defense and get turnovers against Manning in the red zone, the Broncos will frustrate the Colts and turn long Indianapolis drives into wasted opportunities for the Colts. Denver can’t expect to win a shootout in this game, but the Broncos could very easily prevail if they can finish plus-two in the turnover column and can find the ability to gash the Colts’ suspect run defense.
How The Game Will Play Out
The Broncos will be highly motivated in this game. They’ll be confident after a week-two victory and, like other teams in the AFC, they’ll want to play their very best against the Colts, who have been the most consistent team in the conference over the past four seasons. Denver will treat this game like a Super Bowl, and for that reason, this game will be close. However, the Broncos don’t have the running attack that can hurt Indianapolis at its weakest point. The Colts will contain Denver’s offense and, though not at their best, will grind out a hard-earned road win in the Mile High City.
