INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

There’s a mystery behind these Indianapolis Colts that won’t be solved until the actual games have kicked off. Newly-acquired quarterback Carson Wentz was one of the best in the league just two seasons ago. The bottom fell out in 2020 and his welcome was suddenly worn out with the Philadelphia Eagles.

I’m a firm believer that QBs are given up on way too soon in the NFL, so I’m glad to see Wentz get another real shot. Unfortunately, realistically, it’s rare for a guy to bounce back after the horrid season the former No. 2 overall pick had in his last campaign. If there’s a chance, it would have to be in Indy with Frank Reich, the guy that nearly had Wentz claim an NFL MVP in 2017 before he went down with a knee injury late in the year.

As for the rest of the team, the Wild Card squad that nearly claimed the AFC North last season remains.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Last season: 11-5, 2^nd place, AFC South, AFC Wild Card team

2021 odds: under 10 wins -140, over 10 wins +110

2021 NFL Draft: Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan – Round 1, Dayo Odeyingbo, DE, Vanderbilt – Round 2, Kylen Granson, TE, SMU – Round 4, Shawn Davis, Safety, Florida – Round 5, Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas – Round 6, Mike Strachan, WR, Charleston WV) – Round 7, Will Fries, OT, Penn State – Round 7

UDFAs: Tarick Black, WR – Texas, Anthony Butler, LB – Liberty, Deon Jackson, RB – Duke, Isaia Kaufusi, LB – BYU, Tyler Vaughns, WR – USC

Acquisitions: Carson Wentz, QB – Trade, Eric Fisher, LT – Free Agent, Chris Reed, LG – Free Agent, Sean Davis, Safety – Free Agent, Isaac Rochell, DL – Free Agent, Andrew Brown, LD – Free Agent, Andrew Brown, DL – Free Agent, Tremon Smith, CB – Free Agent, Malik Jefferson, LB – Free Agent, Antwaun Woods, DL – Free Agent, Julie’n Davenport, LT – Free Agent, Sam Tevi, LT – Free Agent, Eddy Peneiro, K – Free Agent

Key Losses: Philip Rivers – QB , Jacoby Brissett – QB, Justin Houston – Edge, Denico Autry – Edge, Malik Hooker – Safety, Le’Raven Clark – RT, Tavon Wilson – Safety, Chaz Green – RT, Trey Burton – TE, Tremon Smith – CB, Anthony Walker Jr. – LB

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Carson Wentz

RB: Jonathan Taylor

WR: T.Y. Hilton

WR: Michael Pittman Jr.

WR: Parris Campbell

TE: Jack Doyle

LT: Eric Fisher

LG: Quenton Nelson

C: Ryan Kelly

RG: Mark Glowinski

RT: Braden Smith

LDE: Kwity Paye

LDT: DeForest Buckner

RDT: Grover Stewart

RDE: Al-Quadin Muhammad

OLB: Darius Leonard

MLB: Bobby Okereke

OLB: Zaire Fanklin

CB: Kenny Moore II

CB: Xavier Rhodes

SS: Khari Williams

FS: Julian Blackmon

K: Rodrigo Blankenship

P: Rigoberto Sanchez

FORECAST

We’ll know exactly what the Colts have early with a killer front loaded schedule. Indy plays four 2020 playoff teams in its first five games and the team they play that didn’t make the postseason, the Miami Dolphins, won 10 games. With the NFC West on the docket, it gets no easier and their “17^th” game just so happens to be against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this season.

Their only reprieve, and it’s what could propel them to the playoffs, is an “easier, but not easy” final five games and a late bye where they play the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders.

This was an elite team in 2020 with one of the league’s best defenses. They also boast one of its best head coaches so it all comes down to how you think Wentz is going to do. I’m going with the push.

Final Record Prediction: 10-7, possible AFC Wild Card

The NFL season begins on Thursday, Sep. 9 and the Week 1 Schedule is already up and taking bets at BetOnline.AG.

Follow our BetOnline Twitter account for the latest sports news and betting odds, and stay tuned on the Instagram feed for more good information too.