Indianapolis Colts 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

With the NFL Football season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 32 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NFL Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NFL in our recommened sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2009 NFL Season Previews here.

Indianapolis Colts 2008 NFL Record: 12-4 | Indianapolis Colts ATS (Against The Spread): 7-9

The Indianapolis Colts had a miraculous turnaround during the 2008 season. The team struggled out of the gate and towards a 3-4 record. Peyton Manning didn’t look fully recovered from off season surgery and injuries were popping up all over the place. Then the team went on an amazing tear winning their last nine games to finish 12-4. The Colts struggled all season to produce a consistent running game, finishing second to last in the league in rushing yards. This was due in part to injuries to Joseph Addai as well as a ravaged offensive line. The passing game led by Manning was still firing on all cylinders however. The Colts also shined defensively against the pass, finishing 6th in pass yards allowed and 7 th in points allowed. Unfortunately for them they were in the same division as the Tennessee Titans and 12-4 was only good enough for a Wild Card spot. The team met the San Diego Chargers, a squad who has presented all sorts of match up problems for the Colts. Once again the Chargers find a way to beat the Colts, this time in a crushing overtime defeat and the late season comeback for the team was all for naught.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 2009 PREVIEW

Expectations coming into the 2009 Indianapolis Colts Season Preview are no less than 2008 despite not having their beloved coach Tony Dungy. Dungy had an excellent tenure at Indianapolis for seven years. He helped make Peyton Manning the quarterback he is today. The team had to also cut ties with long time great receiver Marvin Harrison, but the team thinks they have receivers that are young and talented to fill the void at the position. Jim Caldwell has taken over the head coaching job, Caldwell has been working under Dungy since 2001 at Tampa, so Caldwell should not be changing that much with the team on either side of the ball. Hopefully Bob Sanders and the rest of the Colts can stay healthy to make Caldwell first head coaching season go by a lot easier. They used their first draft picks to help out the running game which saw quite a few injuries. Donald Brown was a back who could do everything that was asked of him. They still have Peyton Manning and a receiving core that will not shy away from the ball. If they can see similar results on offense, and improvement on defense, the 2009 Indianapolis Colts could be Super Bowl contenders.

2009 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS OFFENSE:

The biggest concern for the offense of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts has to be the collective health of the team. They drafted running back Donald Brown from Connecticut to back up and share carries with Joseph Addai. However Addai is a key member of the team and needs to be at full capacity for the offense to be as dynamic as it can be. The offensive line also needs to stay together as a unit. Peyton Manning will bring to the table what he does every year, great intelligence, leadership and play making ability. Marvin Harrison is gone, but Reggie Wayne had already taken over the number 1 spot on the team. Anthony Gonzalez will also see more balls thrown in his direction, and should be a very solid number 2 option. Additionally, Dallas Clark is coming off a fantastic season and will continue to have a prominent role in the passing game, maintaining his status as Manning’s safety valve.

2009 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS DEFENSE:

The biggest concern for the defense for the Colts also will be injuries. Perennially injured Bob Sanders needs to find a way to stay on the field for a full season. His break neck, aggressive style is what makes him so effective but it also leaves him on the disabled list far too often. The tandem of Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney will continue to provide great pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but the club needs help against the run, particularly (and inevitably) when Sanders is out of the lineup. Their linebackers are quick but undersized. Led by Freddy Keiaho they are an overachieving bunch that is effective as a unit but can use some additional help. The club tried to address this problem by drafting defensive tackle Fili Moala out of USC.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 2009 SEASON PREDICTIONS

We predict that the Indianapolis Colts will finish 1st in the AFC South, with a record of 12-4.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS BETTING

Super Bowl Odds: +1200

AFC Conference Odds: +600

AFC South Odds: +140

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