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Colts Odds to Win AFC South Improve to +200 After Beating Titans

Angelo Montilla

by Angelo Montilla in NFL Football

Updated Apr 6, 2020 · 6:45 AM PDT

Jacoby Brissett
With their Week 2 victory, Jacoby Brissett and the Indianapolis Colts improved their odds to win the AFC South. Photo from @LockedOnColts (Twitter).
  • Colts were +370 prior to Week 2 victory over Titans
  • Marlon Mack among NFL leaders in rushing yards
  • Indianapolis averaging a second-best 185 rushing yards per game 

Two weeks into the NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts have gone from being AFC South long shots to legitimate division contenders.

After squeaking out a 19-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, the Andrew Luck-less Colts saw their NFL divisional odds improve from +370 to +200.

It may be early days, but are the Colts worth betting on to win the AFC South this season?

Here’s a breakdown of the odds and best betting options.

AFC South Divisional Odds

Team Odds
Houston Texans +175
Indianapolis Colts +200
Tennessee Titans +250
Jacksonville Jaguars +700

*Odds taken 09/16/19

Jacoby Brissett wasn’t flashy in his second start, but he did throw three TD passes in the Colts’ first win of the season. The defense took it from there, holding Titans star running back Derrick Henry to just 81 yards on 15 carries and sacking QB Marcus Mariota four times in the game.

Indianapolis’ Week 2 victory had a huge impact in the AFC South futures as the Colts went from having the third-best odds to second behind the Houston Texans.

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Mack On A Roll

Colts running back Marlon Mack has been a workhorse through two weeks and sits third in the league with 225 rushing yards. With Indy’s passing game taking a blow at the start of the NFL season, it’s been no secret over the last two weeks that Mack’s role has increased significantly.

After two weeks of action, the Colts sit tied for second overall in rushing yards, averaging 185.0 per game. Only the Baltimore Ravens have more to start the season.

Head coach Frank Reich’s plan to take some pressure of Brissett by pounding the ball on the ground suddenly has bettors believing the Colts can be legitimate contenders in an otherwise watered-down AFC South.

Can Defense Carry the Colts This Season?

While the Colts’ passing game will be in question all season, one area to focus on moving forward is Indianapolis’ defense, which held the Titans to just one third-down conversion on 10 opportunities. Heading into action on Monday, the Colts rank 8th in the AFC in defense, allowing just 677 total yards in two games.

Indianapolis has the potential to start the season with three wins with Week 3 and 4 matchups against the Atlanta Falcons (1-1) and Oakland Raiders (1-1), respectively.

The Texans — despite scoring just one touchdown in its Week 2 win over the Jags — remain the team to beat in the division at +175.

Houston has a stronger defense than any of the other AFC South teams and we have yet to really see the explosive offense from quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Keke Coutee.

Ultimately, Indianapolis’ chances of winning the AFC South will come down to head-to-head divisional matchups — more notably games against the Texans in Weeks 6 and 11. The same can be said for Indianapolis’ second game against the Titans in Week 12.

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While a split against their division rivals would be fine, winning both games could really put the Colts in the driver’s seat in the AFC South.

Outside of AFC South, the Colts do have a favorable 2019 regular season schedule aside from games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints.

The AFC South can be won with a 10 or 11 win season — as proven over the last six years. The last time an AFC South team won the division more than 11 wins was 2012 when the Texans had 12.

The Colts are very capable of reaching that win mark in 2019.

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