Last Updated on July 28, 2010 11:30 pm by Anthony Rome
Colts Season Odds
After coming up short in last year’s Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts look to regroup in 2010 and make another championship run.
As usual, the Colts decided not to pursue high-priced free agents in the offseason. Instead, they focused on the draft and re-signing their own players such as linebacker Gary Brackett and cornerback Melvin Bullitt. Indy did lose defensive back Marlin Jackson (Eagles) and linebacker Freddy Keiaho (Jaguars) to other teams this offseason.
Heading into April’s draft, the Colts’ biggest needs were arguably offensive line, cornerback and defensive line. So they drafted defensive end Jerry Hughes from TCU in the first round, linebacker Pat Angerer from Iowa in the second and cornerback Kevin Thomas of USC in the third. They added depth to their offensive line in the fourth with the selection of Tennessee guard Jacques McClendon.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made the Colts 17/2 to win the 2011 Super Bowl and 9/2 to repeat as AFC champions. They’re also –160 on the moneyline to win the AFC South and have an over/under regular season win total of 11 games this year.
As long as Peyton Manning continues to line up under center in Indianapolis, then the Colts are going to have a chance to compete – and not just for a postseason appearance, but for Super Bowls. Virtually the same roster that led Indy to the playoffs last year returns, including Manning, receiver Reggie Wayne, running back Joseph Addai, tight end Dallas Clark, defensive end Dwight Freeney and safeties Bullitt and Antoine Bethea.
The key is whether or not the Saints exposed the Colts in last year’s Super Bowl. The NFL is a copycat league and teams spend entire offseasons trying to figure out how to stop opponents – especially the elite ones. But as previously mentioned, with Manning under center Indy is going to challenge for a Super Bowl. That hasn’t changed and we expect the Colts to make a deep postseason run again this year.
2011 Super Bowl Odds: Indianapolis Colts 17/2
Odds to win AFC: Indianapolis Colts 9/2
Odds to win AFC South: Indianapolis Colts –160
2010 NFL Season Win Totals: Indianapolis Colts O/U 11
Posted: 7/28/10 11:30PM ET