Are the Indianapolis Colts a Good Super Bowl Bet With Carson Wentz?

The Indianapolis Colts hold +2200 to win the Super Bowl, according to BetUS, and you may think that’s a good bang for the bet. Especially since the Colts may have found a long-term answer at quarterback in Carson Wentz. Sure, you may scoff at the Wentz trade, claiming he regressed in recent seasons.

And you’re right. Wentz has regressed. However, you must remember who his offensive coordinator was during what could have been an MVP season back in 2017 if it wasn’t for a torn ACL. Yes, it was none other than Frank Reich.

Add a strong running game along with one of the league’s most talented defenses, and the Indianapolis Colts look poised for a Super Bowl run.

But does that mean they’re worth the +2200 bet?

Keep reading for more information. 

Indianapolis Colts Offseason

Of course, Carson Wentz served as the grand prize over the offseason. And yes, Wentz was terrible during his final season in Philadelphia. But we know how well he plays under Reich, so the potential is here for Wentz to once again retain MVP status.

Plus, he has a much more talented team than the Eagles, with that three-headed running attack and potential in the receiving unit. They also gave Wentz help on the offensive line, with tackles Julien Davenport and Eric Fisher.

Tevi will probably start over Fisher and Davenport since the former is still recovering from an Achilles injury and Davenport fares best as a part-time starter. They also signed guard Chris Reed, who also started 14 games.

They did little to add to the defense, outside of signing tackles Antwaun Woods, Andrew Brown, and safety Sean Davis. But expect them to provide depth. However, you can expect Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo to start at edge rusher sometime in 2021.

They were two of the Colts’ top draft picks, and they have already sent fans into flashbacks of Dwight Freeny and Robert Mathis from back in the day. Given their draft status and prototypical size, they can easily transform into Freeny-Mathis 2.0.

Indianapolis Colts Offense

One reason why Wentz can succeed is that the team is not counting on him to carry the offense on his shoulders. While it may become the case at times, the trio of Marlon Mack, Jonathan Taylor, and Nyheim Hines will provide the offense’s centerpieces.

• Taylor is the ultimate between-the-tackles running back. He scored 11 touchdowns in 2020 and rushed for 5.0 yards a carry. Mack missed the entire season, but he’s a former 1,000-yard rusher who provides an excellent complement to Taylor.
• Hines led the team with 63 receptions in 2020, and he paired 4 receiving touchdowns along with 3 rushing touchdowns. The hybrid back also averaged 4.3 yards a carry on the ground, showing he’s capable of running the ball when called upon.

The receiving unit is where things get iffy. Not a single receiver or tight end on the roster will strike concern in any opponent.

As mentioned, Hines led the team in receptions, and if vets T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle cannot get it together, someone needs to step up.

However, they have potential, with Parris Campbell looking to prove the injury bug won’t make him a draft bust. Ditto for Michael Pittman Jr., who had just 40 catches and 1 touchdown after the Colts drafted him in the second round back in 2020.

The offensive line reinforces the claim that the Colts will win games on the ground. Yeah, they lost Anthony Castonzo to retirement. But they replaced him with 3 capable tackles. Plus, they have Ryan Kelly, Quenton Nelson, and Braden Smith, and the 3 may be the best center/guard/tackle trio in football.

Mike Glowinski is the projected starter at the other guard position. But look for someone to push him. It will probably be Chris Reed, who started 14 games in 2020. Or even Fisher, who as he heads into the latter stages of his career can kick inside to play guard. 

Indianapolis Colts Defense

The Indianapolis Colts had one of the best defenses in 2020. Defenses win championships, and now that they have another season under their belts, it’s why you may strongly consider them to be your Super Bowl bet in the AFC South.

They finished 8th in total defense in 2020 and they logged 40 sacks, good for 12th in the league. Of course, much that came from the heroics of DeForest Buckner, who led the team with 9.5 sacks. The problem is for 2021, he lost his two henchmen in Justin Houston (8 sacks), and Denico Autry (7.5 sacks).

Say it with us:

⭐️ Superstar DeForest Buckner ⭐️@DeForestBuckner | @NFLTotalAccess pic.twitter.com/MuI8rHbMs1

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 18, 2021

So yeah, it’s imperative they get Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo up to par. However, they also have Tyquan Lewis, a former second-round pick from 2018 that they can add to the rotation.

If nose tackle Grover Stewart has a repeat performance that ended with a contract extension, the Colts will have a tough defensive line.

Zaire Franklin is an outside linebacker who the Colts drafted in the seventh round back in 2018. And while he’s the obvious weak link in the unit, he has played in all 48 possible regular seasons games in his career. Now, he has an opportunity to make The Leap as he heads into Year 4.

Darius Leonard was drafted that same season in the second round, and forget about Pro Bowls; Leonard has been voted an All-Pro in each of his first three seasons. So far, he has 416 tackles, 15 sacks, and 7 interceptions. That averages out to 139 tackles per season, 5 sacks, and just over 2 picks.

Bobby Okereke was yet another draft pick but in 2019. He has not lit up the stat sheet, but he started 8 games in 2020 and looks ready to make the jump from part-time to a full-time starter. Matthew Adams is another name to watch as he will probably rotate in often, along with Jordan Glasgow.

Xavier Rhodes had a tough time getting going in 2020 at cornerback after coming over from the Minnesota Vikings. However, he settled in and is entrenched as the team’s CB1 while Rock Ya-Sin has settled in as the CB2. Ya-Sin can become an elite cornerback if he cuts down on the penalties.

Kenny Moore III is the league’s best nickelback, having recorded 4 interceptions in 2020. He has CB1 potential, but his small size forces him into the nickel and dime back roles.

We know Rodrigo Blankenship more for his thick sports glasses than anything else. But he had a solid season at kicker by making 32 of 37 field goals, good for an 86.4 percent conversion percentage. All 5 of his misses during the regular season came off the uprights, so he was a steal in 2020.

Punter Rigoberto Sanchez had a cancer scare in 2020; however, he missed just 2 games because of the required surgery and had a career outing.  

Are the Colts a Good Super Bowl Bet?

The Indianapolis Colts are one of the league’s most complete teams and they play in the weak AFC South division, which may explain why they’ve fallen to +2200 at winning the Super Bowl. They built this smashmouth team to run the football and to win games on defense, and that can lead them to the big game.

However, the Colts are still less talented than the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens, the three top teams in the conference. They’re also about on-par with the division rival, the Tennessee Titans, and the AFC North’s Cleveland Browns.

It’s not a great idea to bet a high wager on the Colts because they just haven’t proven themselves to be a top-tier NFL team. However, they have the potential and if you believe Wentz can return to MVP form under Reich, they’re an even better bet.

The bottom line?

The Colts are a smart bet, because they will probably make the playoffs. But they will need to overcome more talented football teams to make and win the Super Bowl. 

Place Your Bets Now!

Conclusion

The Indianapolis Colts overachieved in 2020 with Philip Rivers as their starting quarterback. Here in 2021, the Colts are better off with Carson Wentz because of his connection to Frank Reich. And along with good defense and a good running game, this team can go a long way.

So don’t be surprised if the Colts sneak into the big game and reward their bettors. But you shouldn’t be surprised if they fall short again in 2021.

What are your thoughts on the Indianapolis Colts? Would you wager them to win the Super Bowl in 2021? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.