It took the Indianapolis Colts just three years to rebuild and return as AFC South champions after replacing Peyton Manning with Andrew Luck as the team’s starting quarterback and face of the franchise.
AFC South odds: Colts favored to repeat, Houston threat to bounce back in 2014
The Colts should own the AFC South, but beware the Houston Texans, according to odds makers.
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The Colts won seven division titles in eight years with Manning and could be starting a similar run with Luck as the 1/2 favorites to repeat as AFC South champs in 2014.
Indianapolis (O/U 9.5 wins) took advantage of the rapid downfall of the Houston Texans (3/1 to win the division) a year ago. Luck looked like a future NFL MVP at times, especially in leading his team back from a 38-10 deficit to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 45-44 in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
The Colts gave their star QB a few more weapons in the offseason, signing free agent wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and selecting rookie Donte Moncrief in the third round of the NFL Draft. Veteran WR Reggie Wayne will also be back after missing nine games last season due to a torn ACL in his right knee. They open as big road underdogs at Denver.
The Texans (O/U 7.5 wins) dropped their last 14 games to close out the 2013 campaign, costing former head coach Gary Kubiak his job. Quarterback Matt Schaub also performed so poorly that he is now looking to revive his career with the Oakland Raiders.
New head coach Bill O’Brien must figure out who will lead the offense now with Schaub gone with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick the favorite. Houston’s defense should be stronger than ever though, led by star defensive end J.J. Watt (and his nine-figure contract) and rookie Jadeveon Clowney, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. They host Washington Sunday as small home chalk.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (O/U 5 wins) may be 14/1 to win the AFC South, but they surprisingly appear to be a more stable franchise at this point and might actually be a better bet than the Tennessee Titans (O/U 7 wins) at 7/1.
The Jaguars will once again look to veteran QB Chad Henne to lead the offense before rookie Blake Bortles is ready to take over, and they will have a new bell cow in the backfield in RB Toby Gerhart, who previously backed up Adrian Peterson with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Titans will likely be replacing their former 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson with rookie Bishop Sankey while veterans Shonn Greene, Dexter McCluster and Jackie Battle could all help fill in as well.
Tennessee has a new head coach in former San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, and he will need to find a way to keep starting QB Jake Locker healthy after missing 14 games combined over the past two years. Fading the Titans is one of the first bets for the Odds Shark super computer as it takes part in the prestigious LVH SuperContest this year.
