Cantor Gaming, arguably one of the most respected sportsbooks in Las Vegas, has released its highly anticipated NFL season win totals. According to Cantor the Indianapolis Clts are slated for a decent year, with their win total set at 8.5 wins (Even). Indianapolis is at +2000 Odds to win the AFC Championship and +4500 Odds to win Super Bowl XLVIII.
The season's most inspirational story began on a bluesy note. The Colts' iconic quarterback walked out, plus All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark, Pro Bowl rusher Joseph Addai and stalwart linebacker Gary Brackett had left as well. A 1-2 start -- the first loss a 20-point road blowout to the Bears in Week 1, the second a near victory at home against the Jaguars in Week 3 -- seemed a harbinger of a second straight dismal season to come. Just when things couldn't get any worse, first-year coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia and forced to take an immediate leave of absence.
And then, with one late lunge over the goal line against Green Bay in Week 4, the Colts turned all that hurt into a mighty wellspring of inspiration. A 30-27 victory over the Packers, one powered by Wayne's career-high 212 receiving yards and game-winning TD, announced the Colts as the worst kind of wounded animal -- a dangerous one. With offensive coordinator Bruce Arians calling the shots and Chuckstrong as a rally cry, the Colts were reborn as one of the league's best closers, posting a 9-1 record in games decided by one possession or less.
Leading the charge were rookies Andrew Luck, whose 4,374 passing yards reclaimed the NFL rookie record for Indianapolis from Cam Newton; T.Y. Hilton, who led the team in TD catches (seven) and set a franchise rookie mark for 100-yard receiving games (five); and Vick Ballard, whose 814 yards rushing was the highest by a single Colts rusher in three years. If anything, locals are more excited than ever to hear and see what the team will do for an encore.
The Colts' transition to a 3-4-based defense might have gone smoother had Pagano, a defensive mastermind by reputation with the Ravens, been well enough to oversee it. The net result was a unit that ranked 21st in scoring, 29th against the run and felled opposing passers a pitiful 32 times -- 10 of which came against Green Bay and Jacksonville, two of the league's most inviting offenses. Expect the Colts to improve behind a healthy Pagano and linebacker Pat Angerer, who was beset by a fractured right foot most of '12.
Look for optimism to run slightly higher than it did on the heels of the team's last drastic turnaround, coming off of the 1999 season. The reason being that an updated cast of "triplets" (Luck, Ballard and Hilton) will be backed up by a new and improved defense. An embattled offensive line will finally start to show some fight. The Colts will look, in other words, like a title contender. Whether perception meets reality will depend on how smoothly they make the transition from ultimate underdog to everyday frontrunner.
2013 schedule (All times ET)
Sept. 8: vs. Oakland Raiders, 1 p.m.
Sept. 15: vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Sept. 22: at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m.
Sept. 29: at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Oct. 6: vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m.
Oct. 14: at San Diego Chargers, 8:40 p.m.
Oct. 20: vs. Denver Broncos, 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: Bye
Nov. 3: at Houston Texans, 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 10: vs. St. Louis Rams, 1 p.m.
Nov. 14: at Tennessee Titans, 8:25 p.m.
Nov. 24: at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.
Dec. 1: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Dec. 8: at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Dec. 15: vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Dec. 22: at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m.
Dec. 29: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Pick: Not sure the emotion will be there as much as it was last year and the Triplets could go through a sophomore slump, but this team is improved over last year, especially on defense and they have an excellent shot at getting at least 9 wins this year.
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