To say 2020 was a success for the Indianapolis Colts might depend on who you ask. They were able to secure only their second playoff spot since 2015, but they were beaten by the Bills in the Wild Card round, sending them home earlier than Indy wanted. Now, it’s time to shift focus to the offseason.
The quarterback situation is one to watch in Indianapolis, as Philip Rivers was more of a one-year rental than a longterm fix (Rivers is also rumored to be considering retirement). Other staples to the team like Justin Houston, Denico Autry, and Xavier Rhodes are set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason, leaving the Colts with some picking up to do. Star tackle Anthony Castonzo announced his retirement from the NFL shortly after their season ended.
Plenty of questions surround this team in the offseason. Was 2020 the Colts’ last chance at a playoff run before needing to rebuild? Are they a potential landing spot for beleaguered quarterback Carson Wentz? Once again, Indianapolis finds themselves in an offseason that will be closely followed leaguewide.
Indianapolis Colts odds
Colts futures odds
Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl odds
The Colts managed to secure a Wild Card spot, but were eliminated by the Buffalo Bills.
AFC South odds
The Indianapolis Colts were not able to secure the AFC South in Week 17 despite a win. The Titans were the winners of the division.
Indianapolis Colts 2020 schedule and betting odds
| Week | Date | Time | Opponent | Opening spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 13 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Jacksonville | Colts -6.5 |
| Week 2 | Sunday, Sept. 20 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Minnesota | Colts -2.5 |
| Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 27 | 4:05 p.m. ET | vs. New York Jets | Colts -6 |
| Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Chicago | Bears -1 |
| Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 11 | 4:25 p.m. ET | at Cleveland | Browns -1 |
| Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 18 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Cincinnati | Colts -9.5 |
| Week 7 | BYE | |||
| Week 8 | Sunday, Nov. 1 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Detroit | Colts -3 |
| Week 9 | Sunday, Nov. 8 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Baltimore | Ravens -5 |
| Week 10 | Thursday, Nov. 12 | 8:20 p.m. ET | at Tennessee | Titans -1 |
| Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 22 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Green Bay | Colts -1 |
| Week 12 | Sunday, Nov. 29 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Tennessee | Colts -2.5 |
| Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 6 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Houston | Colts -5 |
| Week 14 | Sunday, Dec. 13 | 4:05 p.m. ET | at Las Vegas | Raiders -0.5 |
| Week 15 | Sunday, Dec. 20 | TBD | vs. Houston | Colts -3.5 |
| Week 16 | Sunday, Dec. 27 | 1:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh | Steelers -2.5 |
| Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 3 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. Jacksonville | N/A |
How to bet on the Colts
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is simply a bet on what team will win a game outright, with margin of victory not factoring into whether the bet is a winner. An example of a moneyline bet would be as follows: Say the Colts and Jaguars are facing off in Indianapolis, and the home squad’s moneyline odds are set at -135, while the visitors’ moneyline odds sit at +110. A bettor placing a wager on a Colts victory will take home $100 for every $135 wagered if Indy wins, while one placing a bet on the Jaguars upset would take in $110 for every $100 risked if Jacksonville prevails.
Spread
A point spread for an NFL game is defined as the predicted minimum margin of victory for the favored team. Therefore, a point spread wager on a favored team is successful when that team wins by more than the point spread at the time the bet was placed. Conversely, a point spread wager on an underdog team is successful when that team either loses by less than the point spread at the time the bet was placed, or when it wins the game outright. As with moneyline bets, a point spread bet has specific payout odds for either outcome.
An example of a point spread bet would be as follows: The Colts are favored over the Texans by a slim 2.5 points, a bet that pays out on odds of -105 if successful. Meanwhile, as underdogs, Houston has odds of +105 of beating that spread. Indianapolis prevails by a late field goal, 24-21. Consequently, bettors who placed a wager on the Colts to cover the spread will notch a narrow betting win and take in $100 for every $105 wagered.
Total
A totals bet is one of the more straightforward wagers available at regulated sportsbooks. In this type of bet, oddsmakers set a number for the total number of points that will be scored by both teams by the end of a game. Bettors then can wager on whether the two teams will either exceed or fall short of that total. As with moneyline and point spread bets, a totals bet has specific payout odds for either outcome, although they’re very often set at -110.
An example of a totals bet would be as follows: The Colts and Titans face off and oddsmakers set a projected total of 51.5 points for the divisional clash. Ultimately, Indianapolis notches a 27-23 victory. Bettors who placed a wager on the Under will win $100 for every $110 risked.
Props
A prop bet is one that’s based on a statistical benchmark that’s been set by oddsmakers, on either a team or individual player level. As with totals wagers, bettors can put their money on either the Over or Under hitting. As with other types of wagers already discussed, a prop bet has specific payout odds for either outcome, although they’re very often set at -110.
An example of a player-based prop bet would be as follows: Oddsmakers set the projected amount of 2020 receiving yards by Michael Pittman Jr. at 750. Both the Over and Under wagers carry odds of -110. Pittman then finishes his rookie campaign with 685 receiving yards. Bettors who placed a wager on the Under will win $100 for every $110 risked.
Futures
Futures bets are those placed on events or contingencies that do not yet have a final outcome/result. For the NFL, futures bets are available throughout the offseason, and those that can only be settled at or past the conclusion of the regular season are typically available on an in-season basis as well.
There are a wide variety of futures wagers available at any given time. During the offseason, wagers centered on team outcomes – such as Super Bowl winner, conference winner and division winner – are particularly prevalent. Futures on projected regular-season team win totals are also popular. Player-level prop bets can fall under the umbrella of futures wagers as well when placed in the offseason or preseason.
Teasers
Teaser wagers are a slightly more sophisticated type of bet, as they allow the bettor to manipulate the point spread a certain amount in either direction. Teaser bets involve two or more sporting events, and each sporting event in the teaser must have a successful outcome for the teaser bet to pay off. Teaser bets can be based on both point spread and totals. In an NFL teaser, a bettor can manipulate a spread in either direction by between four and 10 points, and a projected total by 6, 6.5 or 7 points. Odds vary depending on the amount of the movement.
Colts 2019 season in review
Indianapolis Colts: 7-9
2019 Regular-Season ATS: 7-7-2 (50.0 percent)
2019 Over/Under: 9-7 (56.2 percent)
2019 Season In Review: Years of building shrewdly through the draft appeared poised to pay off for the Colts going into the 2019 season, and then a seismic development occurred just weeks before the regular season – franchise quarterback Andrew Luck unexpectedly announced he was walking away from the NFL about a month before his 30th birthday. While that naturally threatened to completely derail Indy’s Super Bowl aspirations, coach Frank Reich met a potentially untenable situation head on and saw his team compete throughout the season despite also seeing star receiver T.Y. Hilton miss six games, most due to a serious calf injury.
Jacoby Brissett, called on to start for the second time in three seasons, displayed notable improvement from his initial stint under center back in 2017. The 2016 third-round pick threw for 2,942 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding four more on the ground alongside 228 rushing yards. Running back Marlon Mack also managed his best season by far, gaining 1,091 rushing yards and recording eight rushing scores. However, Indy ran out of gas at a critical time of the year, dropping themselves out of any postseason contention with seven losses in their last nine games.
One of the more disappointing aspects of the second-half swoon was that Indianapolis was swept by its division mates in their second game against each. By the time a 38-20 Week 17 loss to the lowly Jaguars unfolded, the Colts had gotten Hilton back into the lineup but had already seen their playoff hopes evaporate.
Colts 2020 off-season moves
Key trades (acquisitions): DeForest Bucker, DT (from SF)
Key re-signings: Anthony Castonzo, OT (two years, $33 million); Le’Raven Clark, OT (terms undisclosed)
Key free agent losses: Joe Haeg, OG (to TB); Eric Ebron, TE (to PIT); Pierre Desir, CB (released, subsequently signed by NYJ); Devin Funchess, WR (to GB)
Key free agent signings: Philip Rivers, QB (from LAC); Sheldon Day, DT (from SF); Xavier Rhodes, CB (released by MIN); Roosevelt Nix, FB (released by PIT); Trey Burton, TE (released by CHI)
Key draft picks: Michael Pittman, Jr. (1st round); Jonathan Taylor, RB (2nd round); Jacob Eason, QB (4th round)
2020 off-season moves analysis: The Colts have been transparent in their Super-Bowl-or-bust mission this offseason, with the inking of Rivers to a massive $25 million contract for one year the clearest indication of such. Then, Indy made no qualms about picking up a pair of discarded but talented veterans in Rhodes and Nix, who have something to prove from a performance and health standpoint, respectively. The same could certainly be said for Burton, who’ll have a chance to make up an injury-shortened 2019 in Chicago by sliding into the 1-A tight end role previously manned by Eric Ebron. The Colts may have well hit a home run with their early draft picks as well. Taylor was a first round talent that’s one of the more prolific college running backs in recent memory, Pittman addresses the team’s clear need for a No. 2 wideout and Eason could ultimately prove to be the quarterback of the future.