The storied history of the Indianapolis Colts as one of the NFL’s most venerated teams is not without controversy, but it is filled with history when you consider the totality of the franchise. Currently based at Lucas Oil Stadium in the city of Indianapolis since 2008, the Colts are currently members of the AFC South Division.
They are one of the most successful franchises in the NFL with three NFL Championships in 1958, 1959 and 1968 along with two Super Bowl appearances in 1968 and 1970, the final one ending in victory while they were in the Baltimore area. However, there subsequent move to Indianapolis in 1983 was filled with controversy in the NFL, but that is now considered a past issue by most fans, especially those in Baltimore with the Ravens franchise having been developed in the area.
Super Bowl Odds (from the our top ranked sportsbook)
The Colts are currently 30/1 to win the Super Bowl. If you like them to win, you should bet them as soon as possible. They’re favored to win their playoff game this weekend, and if they do, their odds to win the Super Bowl will drop quickly.
This weekend Indy is home against the Bengals. The over/under on this game is 49, which is pretty high for an NFL total. That’s because these two teams know how to score. Andrew Luck and the Colts could probably put 49 points by themselves. (They did it against the Redskins earlier this year). The odds for this weekend’s game are below.
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total | Total Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | +4 (-115) | +165 | 49 | (-105)o |
| Indianapolis Colts | -4 (-105) | -190 | (-115)u |
The History of the Colts
The Baltimore Colts were first formed in 1946 in the post-World War II era after moving from Miami. The name “Colts” was selected in a fan contest with the team colors being silver and green. After three years of playing in the AAFC, the organization merged with the NFL starting in 1950 and lasting one year until they were disbanded. Two years and two tries later the Colts were finally established in Baltimore and enjoyed a 3 – 9 season in 1953. It took four years for the team to have a winning season, but by 1958 they had built a powerhouse under head coach Weeb Ewbank. While the defense of the Colts was considered one of the best in the NFL, it was the offense under Johnny Unitas that became legendary and helped change the fortunes of the NFL itself when they met the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship Game.
The game was a defining moment for the NFL which had been growing in popularity over the past 35 years. However, the 1958 Championship Game was seen by over 45 million people on television and went to overtime, the first in NFL history with the Colts prevailing 23 to 17. That moment help solidify the NFL in the hearts of American sports fans and is seen as the beginning of the modern era in football.
The Colts went on to win the 1959 NFL Championship game and remained a formidable force in the 1960s, although most of the era was dominated by the Green Bay Packers. By 1968, the Colts had won their final NFL Championship Game and entered Super Bowl III as prohibitive favorites against the lightly regarded New York Jets of the AFL. The Jets won in another turning point for the league which led to the merger of the NFL and AFL in 1970. The Colts went into Super Bowl V as part of the new American Football Conference in the NFL and defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16 to 13 on a last minute field goal in what was one of the most mistake-filled games in Super Bowl history.
However, the 1970s saw the Colts diminish in standing in the NFL as they struggled just to have winning seasons and only made a few appearances in the post-season. With attendance down, Memorial Stadium aging and franchise losing money, the Colts played their final game in Baltimore in 1983 although no one outside the organization knew that at the time. The Colts owner Robert Irsay could not get the improvements he wanted from Baltimore, so he moved the team literally in the middle of the night to Indianapolis to start anew. The move caught everyone by surprise as the team found new fortune in a city that had just built the RCA Dome to house a new NFL franchise. The resulting controversy lasted for well over a decade as the fans in Baltimore felt cheated out of losing their beloved team.
However, in Indianapolis the team was well accepted and ticket sales for their inaugural season in 1984 went through the roof although it did not improve the results on the field. The Colts had only 12 wins in their first three seasons which included a 0 – 13 start in 1986 which led to the firing of the coaching staff. By the 1987 season their fortune began to turn around with the acquisition of future NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson who led the Colts to a 9 – 6 season that ended in the playoffs with a loss to the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, it took until 1995 before the Colts saw the post-season again and even advanced to the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburg Steelers in 1995 only to lose the contest after a Hail Mary pass fell incomplete.
In 1998, Peyton Manning was drafted by the Colts who helped solidify the franchise and begin a remarkable run that lasted until 2010. Manning’s incredible skills has made him one of the most formidable quarterbacks in NFL history and despite only winning three games in his first season, he posted up numbers impressive enough to be named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. The Colts finished a remarkable 13 – 3 in 1999 only to lose in the division playoffs to the Tennessee Titans.
For the first decade of the 21st century, the Colts continued to be remarkably successful, particularly after hiring Tony Dungy from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dungy quickly improved the defense and helped lead the Colts to successive playoff runs from 2002 up to 2006 where their frustration at not making the Super Bowl was finally ended. The Colts defeated their arch nemesis, the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game and advanced to play the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI where they defeated them 29 – 17 giving the city of Indianapolis their first Super Bowl title.
In 2009, Manning led his team to another Super Bowl appearance only to lose to the New Orleans Saints 31 – 17. By 2011, Manning had suffered a serious injury to his neck which led to him missing the entire 2011 season and eventually leaving the Colts for the Denver Broncos.
Today, the Colts are led by the celebrated Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and today the Colts continue to enjoy success in reaching the playoffs with hopes to reach another Super Bowl.
