Indianapolis Colts Betting Preview 2021

The Indianapolis Colts are consistently one of the top teams in the AFC South and in the entire conference. The 2020 season went well for the Colts, and there were some big expectations of this team in 2021.

There were some big moves made this offseason by this front office. Playing in the AFC South Division will be a challenge this year, at least when it comes to the Tennessee Titans.

This is a team that many projected to be a Super Bowl contender, but now with the loss of their quarterback Carson Wentz, for as long as 12 weeks, their odds certainly have fallen back. Wentz injured his left foot in early August and required surgery.

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Indianapolis Colts 2021 Schedule

The Indianapolis Colts have a relatively easy schedule as their opponents had a winning percentage of just 47 percent a season ago. It helps playing in the AFC South Division as there are two teams that are expected to really struggle.

Indianapolis might have a relatively easy overall schedule in 2021, but things don’t start off that way. The Colts begin the season by playing host to the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams before going on the road to take on the Titans in Tennessee.

A Week 5 trip to Baltimore to face the Ravens and a Week 8 matchup at home against the Titans highlight the first part of the schedule. The Colts will need to find a way to survive the early portion of the schedule before things get tougher in the second half of the season.

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Indianapolis Colts 2020 Summary

The 2020 season for the Indianapolis Colts ended with an overall record of 11-5, and that was good enough for a second-place finish in the AFC South. Unfortunately, the Colts weren’t able to find much success in the postseason as they were eliminated by the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.

Indianapolis was once again a tough team to deal with in the AFC, but it wasn’t able to translate that into much postseason success. The Colts had six players named to the All-Pro team a season ago, and three players were named to the Pro Bowl.

Indianapolis Colts Key Players

The most important player on the Indianapolis Colts roster Carson Wentz as he was brought in to run the show. Wentz had a miserable 2020 season with the Philadelphia Eagles and it is unclear when he will be ready to return from injury. Despite the ugliness of last season, head coach Frank Reich had big plans for the signal caller. Jacob Eason, Sam Ehlinger, Jalen Morton and Brett Hundley are some of the candidates to be quarterback Week 1 unless another move is made.

Second-year running back Jonathan Taylor will also be a huge key for the Colts as they will have to run the football to take pressure off of the new quarterback. This offense will have to find a way to be as productive as the defense if the Colts want to make a deep playoff run.

Indianapolis Colts New Additions

We’ve already discussed the trade to bring in Wentz in what was easily the biggest move made by the Colts this offseason. That certainly does not bode well to see their top offseason move sidelined.

Offensive tackle Eric Fisher was also signed after a great career with the Kansas City Chiefs and he will be tasked with keeping his QB upright and healthy. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive tackle Antwaun Woods should provide some depth at that position.

The Colts have continued to find players to fit into the mold of Reich, but these big additions will need to produce for this team to be successful.

Indianapolis Colts Key Subtractions

The Colts might enter 2021 with plenty of optimism, but this roster has also been decimated by retirement and players moving to other teams. Indianapolis has done a good job of filling in the holes, but there will still be some notable players missing this season.

The retirement of quarterback Philip Rivers is the biggest blow as he was solid in his one season with the Colts. Offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo has also retired and that leaves a massive hole on the offensive line.

Defensive ends Justin Houston and Denico Autry have also moved on, and that leaves a significant hole on the defensive line. Both players can be replaced, but this defense will look much different than what it has in the past.

Divisional Outlook

Winning the AFC South is always the first goal for the Indianapolis Colts, and that could be a challenge this season. It is shaping up to be a two-team race, but surprises always happen in the NFL.

Before the injury to Wentz, the Colts were listed at +105 favorites to win the diviion. That was just ahead of Tennessee at +110, and way ahead of Jacksonville at +900 and Houston at +1800. Those odds are all courtesy of BetUS.

After the injury, here is a look at the current odds to win the AFC South Division as provided by BetUS Sportsbook:

• Tennessee Titans -125
• Indianapolis Colts +140
• Jacksonville Jaguars +650
• Houston Texans +2000

The Colts are now second in line to win the division behind the Titans.  When Tennessee acquired Julio Jones in a trade this offseason, those odds tightened up considerably.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans are not expected to factor into the AFC South race.

Indianapolis Colts Offense

The Colts are going to look much different on offense this season. With the uncertainty at quarterback, expect Indianapolis to lean more on the ground game.

The Colts averaged over 123 rushing yards per game last season and that will need to continue. Indianapolis has a terrific defense, but running the football will give that unit some much needed rest.

There are now big-time question marks around the offense, but the team is hoping they do not have to be an elite offensive team and can right the ship while Wentz is sidelined.

Indianapolis Colts Defense

The Colts allowed 22.6 points per game a season ago, but the other statistics were actually better than that. This is a team that wants to win games on that side of the ball, and stopping the run will be a huge key in the AFC South.

Linebacker Darius Leonard is one of the best players in football, and he is consistently near the top of the list in terms of total tackles. The Colts will have to stop big plays from happening against them, but the defense should remain the best part of the team.

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