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AFC Playoff Betting: Can Colts, Ravens Shake Up Race?

· Dec 11 - 4 minutes read

The Colts are +1000 in NFL odds to steal the AFC South out from under the Texans (-2500)
The Indianapolis Colts have the third-easiest strength of schedule in the final four weeks.
BetUS sportsbook has all the odds for teams to make the playoffs.

As we head into Week 15 of the NFL season, the playoff picture in the AFC is beginning to take shape. So much so that we’ve already got two teams that have clinched division titles after Week 14: The Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West and the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.

AFC Playoff Betting: Can Colts, Ravens Shake Up Race? — Anthony Richardson #5 of the Indianapolis Colts | Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images/AFP

It should come as no surprise that the pair are also among the league leaders in NFL futures odds to win the Super Bowl. The Chiefs are +450, while the Bills are +600.

While two clinched teams take away those divisions from our potential betting futures, we can still cash in on the AFC North and AFC South races, with several teams still in the hunt for a title.

Which Divisions Will Impact AFC Playoff Race?

AFC South: 2-Team Race

If we’re talking about teams that make the playoffs out of each division, the AFC South is relatively easy to make NFL predictions on. Two teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, have already been eliminated with 3-10 records. That leaves the Houston Texans (-2500) and Indianapolis Colts (+1000).

If you look at the odds, you might think that the Texans are a shoo-in to take the title and that the Colts, with just four games left, are not worth a bet online. But I disagree. You see, the Colts have, statistically speaking, the third easiest schedule over the last four weeks of the season. Only the Falcons and Jags have it easier.

Colts fans when they hear Peyton Manning predict HIS Broncos going to the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/Vjfl0TPofA

— Mike Carmellini (@Mike_Carmellini) December 10, 2024

The only tough game the Colts have is against the Broncos this weekend. But after that, Indy has a cakewalk in the final three weeks with the Titans, New York Giants, and Jaguars. Per NFL betting trends, those three teams have a combined record of 8-31.

Houston, meanwhile, has to face the Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins in the final four weeks. They also get a gimme game with the Titans, but the Texans could conceivably go 1-3 to end the season and leave the door open for Indy to make a run at the AFC South.

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AFC North: Can Steelers be Caught?

Moving to the AFC North, things get a bit trickier to predict. The Bengals are out of the division race but still have a shot at making the playoffs as a Wild-Card team. Meanwhile, the Ravens (+160) and Pittsburgh Steelers (-200) will dominate the NFL news over the next few weeks as they battle for the AFC North crown.

Again, I like the underdog value this race presents based on each team’s strength of schedule over the final four weeks.

AFC North Hard Knocks is legit good.

Oh, and Russ’ moon ball is even better in slow motion with dramatic music! #HereWeGo #Steelers pic.twitter.com/iHbD857aEU

— Chad Tyson (@chadtyson) December 4, 2024

The Steelers will have a rough go down the stretch with the second-toughest SOS in the NFL behind the Bears. With the Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Ravens and Bengals to get through, the Steelers aren’t going to walk into the winner’s circle despite having a two-game lead over the Ravens in the division race.

On the flip side, the Ravens’ final four opponents have an average winning percentage of .442. They do have to face the Steelers and a solid Texans team. But the other two games will be a cakewalk with the Giants and Cleveland Browns on the schedule.

With the talent they have, and at +160 on the NFL odds board, I’m going to take my chances with NFL picks on the Ravens to soar in the final few weeks and take over the lead from Pittsburgh en route to a playoff run.