2011 Indianapolis Colts Predictions
Odds to win the Super Bowl: 18-1
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Manning and Colts Need Rushing Attack – and Defense – to Succeed in 2011

Sure, the Indianapolis Colts (10-6 SU, 8-7-1 ATS, 10-5-1 O/U) have arguably the best quarterback in the game today in gunslinger Peyton Manning. They can score the ball with any team in the league and often put up eye-opening totals that leave tread marks on their opponents’ respective backs.

What the Colts do not have is a rushing attack – or a competent defense. So, how far can the Colts go in 2011 without shoring up their weaknesses?

Not very far!

This look at the Colts and their upcoming 2011 campaign will give pro football bettors the knowledge they’ll need in order to cash in on the Colts all season long.

Indianapolis ranked first in passing (288.1 ypg) but had no rushing attack to compliment Peyton Manning as they finished 29th in rushing. Still, the Colts will be shooting for a 10th straight playoff appearance and from there – anything can happen.

Indy will try to reach the Super Bowl this season where it will be held on their home field at Lucas Oil Stadium. No team has ever played a Super Bowl game on its home field.

In order to address their pitiful rushing attack, the Colts drafted a pair of offensive tackles with its first two draft picks in Anthony Castonzo and second-rounder Ben Ijalana.

Peyton Manning is aging, now in his 13th season and running backs Donald Brown and Joseph Addai both look pedestrian at best. Manning threw 33 TD passes last season but also mixed in a costly 17 interceptions. Still, the Colts will rely on Manning and as he goes, so goes the Colts for the most part.

Defensively, Indianapolis ranked 13th against the pass and a dismal 25th against the run. The good news is that the Colts added veteran free agent defensive end Jamaal Anderson, linebacker Ernie Sims and defensive tackle Tommie Harris in free agency, even though the trio are not close to being the players that they once were. The Colts have not ranked higher than 24th against the run in each of the past three seasons.

Outlook
The Colts open their 2011 regular season schedule on the road at Houston (loss) before coming back home to beat the Browns and Steelers to move to 2-1.

I smell a road loss at Tampa Bay before Manning and the Colts come back home to beat Kansas City in Week 5. The Colts then have a trio of road games at Cincinnati (win), New Orleans (loss) and Tennessee (win) that should leave them at 5-3 after eight games.

Home games against Atlanta (loss) and Jacksonville (win) come just before Indy’s Week 11 bye followed by another home matchup against the rebuilding Carolina Panthers (win).

Now sitting at 7-4 after 11 games, I think Indianapolis takes a pair of tough road losses to New England and Baltimore to fall to 7-6 with just three games remaining.

Despite sitting on the brink of not recording double digit victories – and not winning the AFC South, the Colts finish up at home against Tennessee and Houston before closing out the 2011 regular season on the road at Jacksonville. I expect Manning and company to win all three games to finish the 2011 NFL regular season at 10-6.

By the Betting Numbers
The Colts managed to record a winning 8-7-1 ATS record in 2010, but NFL gamblers shouldn’t expect much more than that this coming season as Indy’s mediocre defense just won’t allow them to cash in as consistently as they could. Of course, pro football bettors can almost routinely count the Colts In for 10 Over plays. -Eric Williams

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