Football Preview on Blogged
Tag Archives: Indianapolis Colts
Manning Undergoes Surgery
Peyton Manning underwent surgery yesterday for a pinched nerve that has been bothering him for the last four years ESPN is reporting.
The procedure was a minor one, but the Indianapolis Colts quarterback stayed overnight in the hospital after the procedure.
The Colts’ medical staff insist that it didn’t affect his playing, but thought it best to perform the procedure now.
Odds-makers don’t seem to be too concerned either. The Colts have the best odds to win Super Bowl XLV at +700.
New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts – Super Bowl Preview
Super Bowl 44
The New Orleans Saints face the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, February 7, 2010.
The Saints are the sentimental favorites making the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history while serving as a symbol of rebirth to a city ravaged by hurricane Katrina.
But we’re not interested in sentiment. The Colts are 5-point Super Bowl betting favorites and the over/under is 56.5.
We have the two top seeds from the regular season squaring off in a Super Bowl since 1993.
Effect of Dwight Freeney’s Injury Status on Super Bowl Odds
Dwight Freeney Suffered a Third-Degree Ankle Tear
The biggest Super Bowl betting variable in this weekend’s game is the injury status of Dwight Freeney.
The Super Bowl odds have moved a fair bit this week with the Patriots opening as 4.5-point favorites, plus or minus half a point depending on where you looked, before going to 6-point favorites and then back down to 4-points before settling at the current 5-point spread.
A lot of the movement is no doubt accounted for by money going to one side or another and moving the line, but Freeney’s status also has an effect.
Wanted: Super Bowl Champions, Special Teams Need Not Apply
One of the strange quirks of Super Bowl XLIV is that it features two teams with sub-par special teams. There are some highlights, like the Colts veteran kickers, but in some cases, like kickoff return coverage, both teams are downright awful.
Super Bowl Punting
Pat McAfee is handling punting duties for the Colts while Thomas Morstead punts for the Saints. Both punters have been above their career averages in the playoffs and look to be in fine form when their teams need them most.
McAfee is averaging 46.0 yards per punt while Morstead is averaging 48.2 which is well above his regular season average of 43.6.
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts – AFC Championship Preview
The rested and confident Indianapolis Colts team hosts a New York Jets team that has scrapped and clawed its way through the playoffs on Saturday, January 24, 2010 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Colts (-350) are 7.5-point AFC championship odds favorites over the Jets (+275) and the over/under is 39.5.
The Colts are very similar to the Chargers, so the Jets clearly have a chance in this one. Both teams are passing teams with poor running games who also have a hard time stopping the run.
Colts as Vulnerable to Jets as Chargers
Right now everyone is saying that the Colts pulled off the upset of the playoffs when they beat the Chargers after laughing at Rex Ryan for calling his Jets the team to beat.
Yes, it was an upset, but no it didn’t surprise a lot of people. Many of the pundits predicted that the Jets would win or at least keep it close enough to cover the spread largely because the Chargers had a below-average run defense and the Jets’ top-ranked defense allowed them the luxury of sticking with the run.
NFL Divisional Playoffs Wrap Up
That was a good weekend of football. We saw some really good, close games and some thoroughly dominating offensive and defensive performances leaving us with one Cinderella team, the Jets, one Cinderella story, Favre and the Vikings, and two teams that delivered after promising regular seasons.
NFC Divisional Games
The Saints made the Cardinals look bad. I felt this game had blow-out potential, I just wasn’t sure which way it would go and the Saints poor play down the stretch had me leaning away from the Saints.
Way to prove me wrong.
Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts – NFL Playoffs Preview
The Indianapolis Colts play their first meaningful game in a month as they host the run-happy Baltimore Ravens.
The Colts (-270) are 6-point NFL playoff odds favorites over the Ravens (+225) and the over/under is 44.
Come playoff time there’s always a favorite that rested starters late in the season and then lost because they weren’t in sync when games started to matter again. Sports betting fans have to wonder if the Colts are that team.
The Colts started resting their starters in Week 16 and got two losses to show for it.