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Indianapolis Colts Odds to Win 2011 AFC Championship

After all that went wrong for the Indianapolis Colts in 2010, they enter into the AFC playoffs as the No. 3 seed. Sports Interaction has the Colts listed at +800 to win the AFC Championship, the fourth best odds out of the six teams that made it. Indianapolis closed the season with four straight wins to finish 10-6, and will begin their journey for a second straight AFC Championship when they host the New York Jets this Saturday in the first round of the playoffs. Our odds currently have the Colts favored by 3-points over the Jets, who they beat in the AFC Championship game last season

The Colts have had to deal with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball, but the one consistent has been quarterback Peyton Manning, and as long as No. 18 is on the field, you can’t count the Colts out. Manning lost his go to tight end Dallas Clark after just six games, played without a running game for virtually the entire season, and has had to deal with a number of injuries at wide receiver. Still Manning threw for 4,700 yards with 33 touchdowns to 17 interceptions.

Reggie Wayne quietly put together a very solid season, catching 111 passes  for 1,355 yards and six touchdowns. Pierre Garcon caught 67 passes for 784 yards and six scores, and Jacob Tamme came in for Clark and hauled in 67 receptions for 631 yards and four touchdowns. You never know who is going to have a big game for the Colts, as Manning does such a great job of throwing to who is open, and not simply just throwing to a specific receiver.

While the Colts rushing attack ranked 29th in the NFL, averaging just 92.7 yards a game, the Colts ground game could play more of a factor than some might think in the postseason. Indianapolis added Dominic Rhodes late in the year, and got Joseph Addai back from injury. These two help the Colts average 149 yards on the ground over the final three games, and teams better respect the running game, or they could get burned.

Not having home field throughout the playoffs doesn’t figure to be that big of a concern for the Colts offense, but defensively the Colts have been much more efficient when they are playing inside on turf. So even if the Colts are able to win their first round matchup with the Jets, going to Pittsburgh will be a very difficult matchup for the Indianapolis defense.

Unfortunately I think the Colts road to the Super Bowl is just too much for them to overcome this season, and I think they are going to slip up at some point along the way. For the Colts to win the AFC Championship they would more than likely have to beat the Jets at home, win at Pittsburgh, and then win at New England.

Still, I don’t think any team in the AFC wants to see Manning and the Colts, even if they aren’t at the same level as years past. If Manning is on his game, he can lead his team to a victory no matter if its the Jets, Patriots, Steelers, Ravens, or Chiefs. Making the Colts at +800 a pretty enticing bet.