Indianapolis Colts NFL Betting Odds

2010 Season

After coming excruciatingly close to snatching Super Bowl XLIV two years ago, for much of last season the Indianapolis Colts looked like they would not let the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy slip through their fingers twice in two years. But despite making it to the playoffs as expected, their Super Bowl XLV hopes were ended early on by a single point, when they were beaten 17-16 by the New York Jets.

Off Season

Going into last year's NFL season, the general consensus was that the Indianapolis Colts needed very little tweaked during the off season considering their superb form that got them to the Super Bowl. However, the same cannot be said for the team going into the 2011/12 season, as their early playoff loss indicated. Which is why the Colts took full advantage of the 2011 NFL Draft, bolstering their offense with LT Anthony Castonzo and LG Ben Ijalana, and defense with DT Drake Nevis, amongst others. Whether these additions will pay off, however, remains to be seen.

2011 Preview

Offensively, the Colts struggled last season because of a higher than average number of injuries, an occurrence they'll obviously be hoping to avoid this season. That said, C Jeff Saturday and RT Ryan Diem return to the lineup this season, while LF Charlie Johnson will not. He has been replaced by talented new rookie Anthony Castonzo. Meanwhile, Jacques McClendon, Jamey Richard and Ben Ijalana could feature in the guard positions if last year's starters Kyle DeVan and Mike Pollak don't pull their weight. Defensively, RB Donald Brown and DE Jerry Hughes need to come to the fore this year after two lackluster seasons. Brown has struggled with consistency in the past, but really needs to improve his protection of QB Payton Manning this season. Hughes also struggled to find his rhythm last season, and needs to focus hard this season if he doesn't want to become a professional bench warmer.

2011 Prediction

Despite the problems the Indianapolis Colts had to endure last season - most notably a spate of injuries - the team still managed to dig deep and make it to the playoffs, which is no mean feat. In fact, the Colts chalked up some impressive stats last season, like how they racked up their ninth consecutive season with 10 or more wins, and secured their seventh divisional championship and ninth straight place in the playoffs. The point is the Indianapolis Colts are made of the "Right Stuff", so don't be surprised to see them rise to the occasion yet again this season.

**Our Pick

The NFL just wouldn't be the same if the Indianapolis Colts didn't secure a spot in the playoffs like they've done for almost a decade. The big NFL betting question is whether the Colts can conquer Super Bowl XLVI? Assuming Payton Manning recovers from his neck injury and injuries are kept to a minimum as a whole, the Colts could well earn themselves championship rings this season, and NFL betting fans smart enough to back them a big payday.