Indianapolis Colts Betting – Colts Win Another Division Title, But Fall Short In Postseason Again
You know Indianapolis’ sports betting odds are going to be good every year, but you get the feeling they should have a couple more Super Bowl wins after being, arguably, the most consistent team in the NFL over the last decade. Expect another rgreat regular season from the Colts, but a lack of defense and balance on offense will keep them from winning the big one.
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell
Offensive Coordinator: Clyde Christensen
Defensive Coordinator: Larry Coyer
Owner: James Irsay
Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
Capacity: 63,000
Super Bowl Wins: 2
Offense
The Peyton Manning era will continue in Indianapolis for the 14th season, even though last year was his lowest passer rating since 2003, you have to consider that the Colts had the 29th-ranked rushing game in the league, while tight end Dallas Clark played in just six games because of a wrist injury, while receiver Austin Collie was out with concussion issues. Reggie Wayne faced constant double teams, while players like Jacob Tamme filled in for Clark and did an admirable job. No one knows how Anthony Gonzalez is going to play after missing most of last year with a bum knee, but Blair White stepped up, and Pierre Garcon is still in town. The Colts drafted a pair of offensive linemen, Anthony Costonzo and Ben Ijalana to keep the hogs up front fresh, which in turn will keep Manning on his feet.
Running back Joseph Addai is a free agent, and it’s uncertain whether the Colts will be bringing him back after an injury-prone season as they have Donald Brown. Outside of center Jeff Saturday, the line needs work, but they’re helped by the Colts’ quick passing game and Manning’s release. The No.1 thing, above all, that the Colts need is to stay healthy because their receiving corps was a revolving door last year. Manning and the system is predicated on trust and timing, and he had to work last year with all the injury problems. Lineman Charlie Johnson is a free agent, along with Addai.
Grade: A-
Defense
Indianapolis’ defense finished 20th in the league during the regular season, and they were awful against the run, coming in 25th in the NFL. Again, injuries played a major factor in that as linebackers Gary Brackett and Clint Session both missed time, although that allowed rookie Pat Angerer to step in and prove he was a great pick. Session is a free agent, along with tackles Antonio Johnson and Daniel Muir, so those are questions that need to be asked. The ends are fine with Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, although both have received some knocks over the past couple of years. Safety Antoine Bethea did well to marshall a secondary that had its own injury problems with Melvin Bullitt missing most of the season, but at least Bob Sanders is gone after a plethora of health woes (and a Defensive Player of the Year award when the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2006). The Colts are in good shape at the corners with Kelvin Hayden and Jacob Lacey, and they traded for Justin Tryon last season to add some depth. They’re not flashy, but the defensive backs stay within the system.
The Colts’ NFL betting odds will depend heavily on how they handle their free agents on both sides of the ball, they have a few notable players on defense that could test the market. Session, Bullitt and linebacker Tyjuan Hagler are all players that should fit into the team’s plans, but no one knows what the financial system will be post-lockout. Indianapolis also needs to stay healthy in the front seven to improve their run defense, especially in a division with Tennessee’s Chris Johnson, Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew and Houston’s Arian Foster, who led the league on the ground.
Grade: C-
Special Teams
Kicker Adam Vinatieri bounced back from injury problems in 2009 to hit 92.9% from his field goals, which was second in the league. He even showed in the playoffs that he still had some distance left at 38 years old, hitting a 50-yard field goal against the New York Jets, so look for the Colts to offer the veteran free agent a contract. The Colts may have to look for a new punter as Pat McAfee ranked near the bottom of the league in both average and net punting, as that hurt their ability to cover punts.
The Colts went through a number of players to improve their return game, but nothing seemed to work as Indianapolis was 28th in punt returns and 29th in kickoff returns. It would make life a lot easier if the Colts could get some field goal position for Manning, which would also allow the Colts to do some things with the running game.
Grade: C
Prediction
The Colts are monster -200 favorites to win the AFC South, and a respectable +1500 to win the Super Bowl, which is a fair evaluation of their chances after their health woes from last year, and a suspect defense. The division shouldn’t be an issue as they’ve won seven of the last eight South crowns, and unless something drastic happens with the other teams, they should make it eight out of nine. But the Colts usually run into something in the postseason, and it’s not like they’re getting blown out; in their last four playoff losses, the Colts have fallen by an average of 6.2 points. Throw in a tough schedule that is tied for third in the league in terms of difficulty, and it will a tough season in Indianapolis.
They should make the playoffs again, and their odds are worth throwing a little on, but until they get a running game and their defense shores up, Indianapolis is a risky bet to win it all in your online betting picks.
2011 Schedule
Week 1 – at Houston (1:00 PM ET)
Week 2 – vs. Cleveland (1:00 PM ET)
Week 3 – vs. Pittsburgh (Sunday, 8:20 PM ET)
Week 4 – at Tampa Bay (Monday, 8:30 PM ET)
Week 5 – vs. Kansas City (1:00 PM ET)
Week 6 – at Cincinnati (1:00 PM ET)
Week 7 – at New Orleans (Sunday, 8:20 PM ET)
Week 8 – at Tennessee (1:00 PM ET)
Week 9 – vs. Atlanta (1:00 PM ET)
Week 10 – vs. Jacksonville (1:00 PM ET)
Week 12 – vs. Carolina (1:00 PM ET)
Week 13 – at New England (Sunday, 8:20 PM ET)
Week 14 – at Baltimore (1:00 PM ET)
Week 15 – vs. Tennessee (1:00 PM ET)
Week 16 – vs. Houston (Thursday, 8:20 PM ET)
Week 17 – at Jacksonville (1:00 PM ET)
