Indianapolis Colts 2022 NFL Season Betting Preview (Matt Ryan Set to Thrive in First Season Away from Atlanta)

The 2021 Indianapolis Colts experiment at quarterback with Carson Wentz looked like it would be a successful one, but one brutal loss in the final week of the season blew it all to smithereens.

After an 0-3 start, the Colts went 9-3 over their next 12 games, putting themselves in position for a Wild Card spot with the Tennessee Titans running away with the AFC South. A tough 3-point home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17 hurt, but a 2-win Jacksonville Jaguars squad was waiting in the final week of the season. A win as a 14.5-point favorite, and the Colts would be back in the playoffs.

It never happened.

Indy got demolished by one of the worst teams in football 26-11 as Wentz played his way out of Indy and back in the NFC East; acquired by the Washington Commanders for 2022. Meanwhile, the Colts went back to the drawing board; acquiring former MVP Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons in hopes that a new team, improved offensive line and weapons around him would be beneficial for both sides.

Can Ryan be the missing piece to take the Colts back to the postseason and get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2009 with Peyton Manning at the helm?

Here's everything bettors need to know for 2022 about this Indianapolis team, including all of its upcoming odds, as well as how to approach its respective betting markets.

Be sure to check out BetSided's full list of team previews here. We'll be releasing one each day until all 32 NFL teams are covered.

Indianapolis Colts 2022 Offseason Moves and Signings

• Replaced former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus (hired by Chicago Bears as HC) with Gus Bradley
• Traded QB Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders for draft picks
• Acquired QB Matt Ryan from Atlanta Falcons for 2022 3rd Round Pick
• Acquired DE Yannick Ngakoue from Las Vegas Raiders for CB Rock Ya-Sin
• Re-Signed LT Matt Pryor
• Signed CB Stephon Gilmore and FS Rodney McLeod
• Signed RB Phillip Lindsay
• Drafted Cincinnati WR Alex Piece, Virginia TE Jelani Woods, Central Michigan OT Bernhard Raimann and Maryland S Nick Cross on Day 2 of 2022 NFL Draft
• Signed Nick Foles to back up Matt Ryan
• Extended LB Shaquille (Darius) Leonard, making him the highest-paid OLB in the league

Indianapolis Colts 2022 Schedule

Indianapolis has the third-easiest schedule in the NFL this season according to the metrics at Sharp Football Analysis. This is a sizable improvement from their 2021 ranking of the 11th-easiest schedule.

The Colts take on the Houston Texans to begin the year, which should bode well for Frank Reich's awful record in season openers. Reich is 0-4 in his time in Indy, but the Texans project for the fewest wins at consensus sportsbooks this year.

Indy has four prime time matchups on the calendar this year: Week 5 at the Denver Broncos, Week 12 at home vs. the Indianapolis Colts, Week 13 at the Dallas Cowboys, and in Week 16 against the L.A Chargers.

Indy's bye week doesn't come until Week 14, but the Colts wrap up the month of December with road games against the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, as well as home matchups vs. the L.A. Chargers and Houston Texans to round out the season.

Indianapolis Colts 2022 Win Total Prediction

• OVER 10 (-105)
• UNDER 10 (-115)

The Colts' opened up at most books following the acquisition of Matt Ryan at 9.5 wins. Since then, they've slowly bet bet up the board and now find themselves at 10, with slightly more action to the under.

While there was value to be had when the number was set at 9.5, I still think 10 is a fair spot to put the Colts. Their schedule is a breeze, the quarterback position is significantly upgraded with Ryan over Wentz, their offensive line ranks in the top 10 via the latest Pro Football Focus rankings, and they added significant playmakers in Stephon Gilmore, Yannick Ngakoue, and Rodney McLeod to the defense.

With the Titans moving on from A.J. Brown, Derrick Henry's health a key question mark this year, and still an unknown situation in Jacksonville with new head coach Doug Pederson and second-year QB Trevor Lawrence, this is clearly the Colts' division to lose.

Oh, and did I mention they have the league's leading rusher in Jonathan Taylor. The second-year back topped an excellent rookie season in 2020 with 1,811 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns to lead the league.

I project the Colts for 11 wins this year, so I'll take the value on the over at just -105.

PICK: OVER 10 wins (-105)

Indianapolis Colts 2022 Odds to Win AFC South, AFC, and Super Bowl

• Make Playoffs: -190
• Odds to Win AFC South: -130
• Odds to Win NFC: +1200
• Odds to Win Super Bowl: +2500

Here's the reality of how to bet the first two on the board. If you don't believe the Colts are winning the AFC South division, it likely is an indicator that something has gone horribly wrong, leaving their shot at making the playoffs in serious jeopardy.

The AFC is STACKED this season. The AFC West has three legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the Kansas City Chiefs, L.A. Chargers and Denver Broncos. In the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills are THE Super Bowl favorite out of the AFC, and in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns all have realistic shots at the postseason in another competitive division. The AFC South is the cakewalk of them all, as Tennessee is projected to take a step backwards both offensively and defensively, and the Texans are expected to finish with the worst record in the NFL this year.

Even if Jacksonville takes a massive leap with Doug Pederson replacing Urban Meyer; elevating Trevor Lawrence's game to a top-12-15 level, they still don't have the depth, or experience on this Colts roster to knock them off the perch.

The Colts at -130 might be one of my favorite division picks of the entire futures market, while I also don't mind a sprinkle on them at +1200 to win the AFC; considering their road to the postseason should be the easiest amongst the rest of their competition.

Here's how to best wager on every NFL team heading into the season!

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