AAA's *Colts/Bills* Opening Sunday BLOCKBUSTER!
(NFL) Indianapolis vs. Buffalo, 09/13/2015 9:00 AM, Score: 14 - 27
Point Spread: -2.50 | -120.00 Indianapolis (Away)
Result: Loss
This is an 8* BLOCKBUSTER on the Indianapolis Colts.

We chose the Colts to win the AFC as a futures wager. Here is that analysis:

With contract talks coming up in the near future, it's in Andrew Luck's best interest to finally get the Colts over the hump in the AFC. And this could be the year he does it. Tom Brady is neck deep in Deflategate and aging Peyton Manning has only slightly more movement and less arm strength than an Easter Island statue, so Luck and the Colts – who were one game away from a Super Bowl last season – could finally be playing a game in February this coming season. Indy's 45-7 loss to the Patriots in the Deflategate AFC Championship game was a bit embarrassing, but the fact remains that last year's Colts have seven Pro Bowl players. The schedule will be difficult, but the two toughest games on the menu (New England and Denver) are both at home. Plus, it's difficult to see anyone in the AFC South giving Indy much trouble – the Colts ran the table at 6-0 in the division last year and could do so again. To that mix throw in nice (+325) odds, and Indy is a guaranteed money-maker in our opinion.

And that quest begins on Sunday against a Buffalo Bills team which is also expected to make some noise this year under the direction of new head coach Rex Ryan and starting QB Tyrod Taylor. Luck, who already had plenty of weapons, also now has veteran Andre Johnson and Frank Gore to lean on. Note that the Colts averaged 406 YPG and 28.6 PPG last season. Indy's biggest issues last year were clearly on the defensive side of the ball, the team wasn't horrible, finishing 11th in yards allowed per game on the ground and 19th in points allowed and while the unit will be a weak point again this season, it should have no issues in handling the Bills suspect offensive unit. One thing that the Colts were excellent at last season was rushing the passer, they ranked ninth in adjusted sack rate and they'll have plenty of opportunity to put the pressure on Taylor and a Buffalo offensive line which has some serious question marks surrounding it. Note that Indianapolis is 11-9 ATS in its last 20 away from friendly confines and 6-3 its last nine as a road favorite. Taylor looked good enough to win the starting QB battle, but note that he threw just 35 passes in four seasons in Baltimore, completing 19 for 199 yards, zero TD's and two picks in the process. We have a hard time seeing Taylor making a major impact on an offense which averaged just 21.4 PPG last year and which finished 26th in offensive DVOA. What Buffalo does have going for it though is a big play defense which allowed only 18.1 PPG game last season, and just 16 at home. But, the defense can only do so much, we simply can't see the home side hanging with Luck and the high-flying Colts' offense, we're laying the short-points on INDIANAPOLIS.

AAA Sports