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Indianapolis Colts Game-by-Game Predictions
Can Division Favorites Gallop to AFC South Title?
The Indianapolis Colts top the AFC South betting board at BetUS. They’re the odds-on favorites to win the AFC South title, despite not winning the title since 2014. They’re also projected to win more than 9½ games as the over is juiced to -160 and the under is tipped at +130 in regular season win totals betting.
Does the market have it right? Will the Colts dethrone the two-time reigning title holders Tennessee Titans to win their first division crown in eight seasons?
If you’re a forward-thinking NFL bettor as we are, then read on for our way too early game-by-game predictions for the Indianapolis Colts. We dive into their NFL schedule, examine the NFL odds, and take into consideration the latest NFL lines, trades, injury reports, and more before delivering our Vegas NFL odds.
2022 NFL Futures – Indianapolis Colts
- Super Bowl LVII — +2500
- AFC Conference – +1200
- AFC South – -125
- Regular Season Win Totals O 9½ -160 / U 9½ +130
Colts Fell Flat in 2021
After all the hype and hoopla surrounding the reunion between quarterback Carson Wentz and Frank Reich ahead of the 2021 NFL season, their sojourn together in Indianapolis amounted to a disappointing 9-8-0 record and the Colts missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last seven seasons.
The Colts had seen enough during the 17-game season to know Wentz wasn’t the answer. He wasn’t the guy to take them over the hump. So, he was summarily packed off to the Washington Commanders in the offseason.
A new era is set to dawn at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2022 with the advent of veteran quarterback Matt Ryan. Acquired from the Atlanta Falcons, Ryan is Indy’s third quarterback in the last three seasons. NFL experts have been touting the Colts’ Super Bowl readiness for some time, while bemoaning their lack of an elite signal caller as the main reason behind the club’s inability to fulfil its potential.
Now, the markets seem to think Ryan is that elusive missing link, as they set up the Colts as the team to beat in the AFC South betting online markets. Keep in mind they felt the same way about Wentz. Look what happened there.
So, is Ryan the missing link? We attempt to answer this question in this way too early game-by-game preview of the Colts’ NFL schedule. These are early NFL picks, not gospel. So, take them with a pinch of salt – or two.
Indianapolis Colts Game-by-Game Predictions
Week 1 at Houston Texans – Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET
Ryan couldn’t have gotten a better matchup in his first game as a Colt. The Texans were one of the worst teams in the league last season and they’re expected to be even worse this year, even though new head coach Lovie Smith is widely respected. Color the world shocked if the Colts don’t win this game. (Wentz and the Colts crushed the Texans 31-0 at the NRG Stadium last season.)
Prediction: Win
Record: 1-0
Week 2 at Jacksonville Jaguars – Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET
Back-to-back road games is a tough way to start the season, especially when you’re a new quarterback learning a new playbook. However, as far as matchups go, the NFL schedulers took it easy on Ryan and the Colts, setting them up against last season’s basement dwellers. The Jaguars finished last in the division and league with a 3-14-0 record. Having said that, the Jaguars stunned the Colts in Week 18, beating them 26-11 in Jacksonville. The Colts can’t take anything for granted as the Jaguars are expected to be marginally better under Super- Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson.
Prediction: Win
Record 2-0
Week 3 vs Kansas City Chiefs – Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET
After a couple of winnable games to start the season, the level of competition skyrockets in Week 3. It doesn’t get any tougher than getting tested by the Kansas City Chiefs, an AFC powerhouse, in your Colts debut at home. The Chiefs will have a long week to prepare for this game after a Week 2 Thursday night football clash with the Los Angeles Chargers. On paper, these are two very good teams. But the Chiefs are the better team and Mahomes is the better quarterback, too. That’s just a fact.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 2-1
Week 4 vs Tennessee Titans – Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET
Fun fact: the Colts haven’t beaten the Titans in Indy since 2018. That’s a shocking statistic and it doesn’t bode well for Ryan and the Colts. If the Colts are to be taken seriously as AFC South contenders, this is going to be a must-win game. We’ll give the Colts the “W” here only because streaks (losing or winning) eventually end, but it could easily result in another disappointing defeat.
Prediction: Win
Record: 3-1
Week 5 at Denver Broncos – Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 – 8:15 p.m. ET
It’s a quick turnaround as the Colts descend on Mile High for their first prime-time game of the season. The short week puts the Colts at the disadvantage, never mind the matchup itself. The Denver Broncos are considered legitimate contenders thanks to acquiring Russell Wilson. If the Broncos are everything everyone expects they’re going to be, this will be a tough out.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 3-2
Week 6 vs Jacksonville Jaguars – Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET
The Jaguars and Colts split the series last season, but one can’t put any stock in that result at all. Fact is, it was a must-win game in Week 18 with the season hanging in the balance, but Wentz and the Colts blinked. Indeed, that epic collapse sealed Wentz’s fate with Indianapolis. There’s none of that kind of pressure in this Week 6 meeting. Besides, the Jaguars are rebuilding under Pederson after a turbulent year with former head coach Urban Meyer. So, there are bound to be growing pains with sophomore Trevor Lawrence and Co. this early in the season.
Prediction: Win
Record: 4-2
Week 7 at Tennessee Titans– Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET
The Titans will be coming off a Week 6 bye. So long as they’re sharp and focused for this game, they’ll have the edge over the Colts with rest and home-field advantage to win and split the series with the Colts. Contrary to the NFL odds, the Titans could be a surprisingly better team in 2022 than most are giving them credit.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 4-3
Week 8 vs Washington Commanders – Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022 – 4:25 p.m. ET
Carson Wentz returns to Indianapolis for the first time since he was shown the door. On paper, the Colts are the better team and they’ll be hoping Ryan rises to the occasion. However, Wentz will have an ax to grind. That’s something that’s hard to overlook because winning this game will be personal, more so than it is for Ryan or the Colts as a whole. ( As a side note: the Commanders beat Ryan and the Falcons 34-30 last season.)
Prediction: Loss
Record: 4-4
Week 9 at New England Patriots – Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET
Yes, the Colts stunned the Patriots in 2021, but don’t expect that to happen two years in a row. Second-year quarterback Mac Jones should take a big step forward this year and Belichick will take the lessons of last year’s loss to atone for that disappointment. This time, the Patriots will have the home-field advantage and they’ll make it count. (Oh, and the Patriots beat Ryan and the Falcons 25-0 last season!)
Prediction: Loss
Record: 4-5
Week 10 at Las Vegas Raiders – Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 – 4:05 p.m. ET
The narrow 23-20 loss to the Raiders in Week 17 was the beginning of the end of the Colts’ playoff hopes last season. Thus, there’s an element of revenge here. Frank Reich has to contend with several changes that will make this a different matchup, including new head coach Josh McDaniels and wide receiver Davante Adams. But the Colts could run away with a morale-boosting victory here.
Prediction: Win
Record: 5-5
Week 11 vs Philadelphia Eagles – Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 – 1 p.m. ET
Former Indy offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni is set to descend on his old team for the first time since taking over the head coaching job in Philadelphia. Sirianni’s first year as a head coach was inspired, leading the Eagles to the playoffs. There’s little Sirianni and Reich don’t know about each other, making this a bit of a toss-up. Don’t be surprised if the Eagles deliver an upset here.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 5-6
Week 12 vs Pittsburgh Steelers – Monday, Nov. 28, 2022 – 8:15 p.m. ET
Mike Tomlin hasn’t had a losing season since he became the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007. That’s a decade and a half of winning. There are valid question marks surrounding the Steelers’ offense, including the quarterback battle between Mitch Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett. That said, the Steelers will be a tough nut to crack on Monday Night Football, no matter who is under center. The defense is formidable and that’s a worry for Ryan, whose penchant for crumbling under pressure is legendary.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 5-7
Week 13 at Dallas Cowboys – Sunday, Dec 4, 2022 – 8:20 p.m. ET
The Colts will be under the lights for two weeks in a row. This isn’t a good matchup for Ryan because he comes up against former Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn, who is the defensive coordinator in Dallas. Last season, Quinn humiliated Ryan and the Falcons at the AT&T Stadium 43-3. This could get ugly.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 5-8
Week 14: BYE
Week 15 at Minnesota Vikings –Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 – TBD
The Colts will be well-rested for this game after taking a Week 14 bye. The Vikings have been tough to beat at home in the past, but with all the wholesale changes that took place this offseason in Minnesota, it may not be the case anymore. The jury is out on the Vikings.
Prediction: Win
Record: 6-8
Week 16 vs Los Angeles Chargers – Monday, Dec. 25, 2022 – 8:15 p.m. ET
The Chargers are among the top contenders for Super Bowl 57 and the team that many believe could win the AFC West this season. Thus, ending Kansas City Chiefs’ six-year reign. Third-year quarterback Justin Herbert is a big reason why everyone is so high on the Chargers. And the supporting cast of players, including Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen, Jaylen Guyton … put the frighteners on their rivals. Monday Night Football against the Chargers will be the biggest test for the Colts this late in the season. This is the kind of game that could also see Ryan crumble under defensive pressure.
Prediction: Loss
Record: 6-9
Week 17 at New York Giants – Sunday, Jan.1, 2023 – 1 p.m. ET
The Giants go into 2022 with a new head coach in Brian Daboll and a rash of question marks. By Week 17, it’s likely the G-men will be playing out the string of a disappointing season.
Prediction: Win
Record: 7-9
Week 18 vs Houston Texans – Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 – TBD
The Texans are projected to finish somewhere at the bottom of the league table, if not in last place. It’s a rebuilding year in Houston, after all. Smith will have his team competing – one expects nothing less from the respected coach – but the Texans simply don’t have the personnel or the quarterback to do any significant damage.
Prediction: Win
Record: 8-9
Take a Look at Other 2 Special Articles for This Upcoming NFL Season
Indianapolis Colts Regular Season Win Total Betting Verdict:
Our way too early predictions have the Colts underwhelming. Thus, we’re going against the odds and shading the under 9½ (+130) for our NFL picks. Clearly, we’re not buying what Ryan and the Colts are selling.
