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Indianapolis Colts Betting Odds – NFL Football Futures

Quick article and 2011 nfl prediction by Ian Van Den Hurk detailing the Indianapolis Colts 2011 Season win total odds for over under nfl betting futures…

Indianapolis Colts Betting Odds – NFL Football Futures

The Colts are one of the NFL’s powerhouses thanks to an impressive run of consistency. It shouldn’t be much different in 2011, as most of the same faces are back in place, including Peyton Manning.

Whether or not that will be enough to make a Super Bowl run is another question.

A look at the numbers:

Last season – 10-6
Projection this season – 11-5
Colts Super Bowl XLVI Odds – +1000
Colts 2011-12 AFC Odds – +650
2011 Colts AFC South Lines – -180

The Colts ranked fourth in total yardage last season, including first in passing, but their offense still has room for improvement. Peyton Manning was typically impressive, but he was hamstrung by an absolutely awful running game. Indy employed the league’s fourth-worst rushing attack, averaging just 92.7 yards per game on the ground.

That put an incredible amount of pressure on Manning, who delivered for the most part.

Still, chances are the Colts aren’t Super Bowl bound unless they can get more production out of the running game. The club took several steps to do so in the offseason. Indianapolis re-signed running back Joseph Addai after pleas from Manning, though Addai is much more impressive in the passing game than he is as a ball carrier. Indy wasn’t finished there, though.

The Colts used the draft to bulk up the offensive line, spending its first two picks on tackle Anthony Castonzo and guard Ben Ijanlana (both pencilled in as starters), plus another pick on running back Delone Carter.

The additions to the line should also help out Manning. Though he took just 16 sacks, Manning was harassed on a regular basis last season, and his sack total would have been much higher had it not been for Manning’s ability to get rid of the ball.

The receiving corps remains a major strength. Reggie Wayne enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2011, while youngsters Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and Blair White all showed flashes of talent. Collie is a great player, though he suffered a few concussions last season and may not be the same man.

Manning can also count on Dallas Clark returning from injury after missing 10 games last season. Jacob Tamme (67 catches, 631 yards, four touchdowns) emerged as a valuable player in Clark’s place. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Defensively, the Colts have a lot of work to do after allowing 24.2 points per game last year (23rd in the NFL). Indy relies on an undersized unit with a ton of speed, but that gets dicey against the run. The Colts allowed 127 yards per game on the ground last season.

Typically, Indianapolis is willing to make a few sacrifices against the run in order to pin back its ears, rush the quarterback and crush the past. The plan didn’t work out quite as well as usual in 2010, as the Colts could only muster 30 sacks (23rd in the league).

Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis did their thing, combining for 22 sacks, but a few other players on this “D” need to step up and help—especially with changes coming in the secondary.

Cornerback Kelvin Hayden was released in the offseason, leaving Indy with a relatively young secondary.

HOW IT STANDS NOW:

The Colts will be competitive as long as Manning is at the helm but, as last year showed, he can’t do it alone. And while there’s potential improvement on the line and in the ground game, the defense probably won’t be any better than last season.

Indy is headed for more of the same—double-digit wins but falling short of the Super Bowl.

Season Win total Prediction: 11-5

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By Ian Van Den Hurk

Ian Van Den Hurk has covered amateur and pro sports for years, including a successful run handicapping anything from football to mixed martial arts. Looking for more sports betting tips and expert sports handicapping articles from Ian V? We've got your back...