Colts vs. Broncos: What Are the Experts Saying About Denver's Chances?
The Denver Broncos kick off the 2014 regular season with a game against the Indianapolis Colts. These teams feature two of the best quarterbacks in the game today. A Peyton Manning vs. Andrew Luck contest is always going to be a ratings bonanza.
This is a rematch of a game we saw last year during the regular season. The Colts beat the Broncos 39-33 in Week 7 last year, but the game was held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis instead of Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. The Broncos' home-field advantage could make all the difference this time around.
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During the regular season, analysts from various media outlets make their picks for the week. The film study is done, the injury report is updated, and now the predictions will be made.
It’s time to take a look at picks for the Colts vs. Broncos game from some of the top analysts on the Internet. Here’s what the experts are saying about the Broncos' regular-season opener.
| Expert | Affiliation | Pick |
| Pete Prisco | CBS Sports | Broncos |
| Jason LaCanfora | CBS Sports | Broncos |
| Will Brinson | CBS Sports | Broncos |
| Gregg Rosenthal | NFL Network | Broncos |
| Marc Sessler | NFL Network | Broncos |
| Chris Wesseling | NFL Network | Broncos |
| Mike Garafolo | Fox Sports | Broncos |
| Alex Marvez | Fox Sports | Broncos |
| Brendon Ayanbadejo | Fox Sports | Colts |
| Vinnie Iyer | Sporting News | Colts |
| Bleacher Report Experts | Bleacher Report | Broncos |
| Adam Schefter | ESPN | Broncos |
| Mark Schlereth | ESPN | Broncos |
| Chris Mortensen | ESPN | Broncos |
| Ron Jaworski | ESPN | Broncos |
| Mike Florio | Pro Football Talk | Broncos |
The majority rules in these picks, and the Broncos are favored by almost all the experts featured here. Other than Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer and Fox News' Brendon Ayanbadejo, every analyst believes the Broncos will come out on top.
Iyer calls the Broncos vs. Colts matchup the “Game of the Week” but doesn’t give a clear reason why he feels the Colts will be victorious. He mentions the Colts' victory over the Broncos last year and says the Colts need to unleash Luck for their best chance to win on the road. Iyer sums up his analysis by saying the Colts are the better team (for now), and he (wisely) predicts a high-scoring game. Colts 44, Broncos 31.
Where the Colts are the better team remains a mystery. The Broncos have the better quarterback, the better running back, a better group of wide receivers (even with Wes Welker suspended) and a much better offensive line. With the Colts' Robert Mathis suspended this week, the Broncos clearly have the better group of pass-rushers. Their linebackers and secondary are also better than what Indy has to offer.
There’s a possibility this game comes down to the wire (Brandon McManus game-winning kick anyone?), but the Broncos would have to play a mistake-filled game for that to happen.
If Denver plays up to its potential—with a few speed bumps along the way—it should be able to easily take care of business at home.
The Colts offensive line should have trouble stopping the pass rush of the Broncos. The Denver offense should be able to fire on all cylinders, as the Colts will struggle to get much pressure on Manning. The Broncos want to prove they’re the best team in football. Hammering a good (not great) team such as the Colts could help emphasize their point.
As the season goes on, experts are going to get much more divided, and these picks will start to vary wildly (just wait until Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks). This week, most analysts believe the Broncos will come out on top.
You can find all the picks from the table at the links below:
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