Colts vs. Broncos: Updated Odds, Stat Predictions for 2015 AFC Divisional Game

Sunday's 2015 NFL playoff divisional-round clash between the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos will end with one moving on and the other going home, but how it all goes down will loom large for a different reason.

Whether it's the point spreads and over/under numbers for bettors or individual statistics for the fantasy geeks, the details inevitably matter. Although only one stat matters to the Colts and Broncos: the win column. A showdown between two of the AFC's best brings plenty to watch for, but doubling down with a bet or playoff fantasy game can up the stakes even more.

Let's go ahead and break down not just who will win but also how it's all going to unfold. 

Spread	Over/Under	Moneyline	Predicted Score
DEN -7	53.5	DEN 51-20, IND 5-14	34-24 Broncos

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, updated as of January 10

Stat Predictions

Indianapolis Colts

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Player	Predicted Stats
QB Andrew Luck	240 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RB Daniel Herron	40 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards
WR T.Y. Hilton	90 receiving yards, TD
WR Reggie Wayne	35 receiving yards
TE Coby Fleener	60 receiving yards, 2 TDs
CB Vontae Davis	2 pass breakups, 4 tackles

For all of you who are hyping up another Andrew Luck vs. Peyton Manning thriller, there's one important aspect to remember.

And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out, although the Stanford grad Luck is known for his intelligence.

"It's not the quarterback-versus-quarterback thing," Luck said, per NFL.com's Conor Orr. "We're not on the field at the same time. I have a lot of respect for him, what he does, what he still does is amazing. He's a stud. I'll worry about the Denver defense. That's what I'll worry about."

He'd be wise to keep his focus on the Broncos' defensive unit. Denver has revamped its defense for a 2014 Super Bowl return trip, and it's paying dividends as the Broncos rank ninth against the pass and second against the rush.

With that said, the Colts offense simply flows too much through Luck and the passing game to be slowed down. He'll get to the 300-yard mark once again versus a Broncos defense that he threw for 370 yards against in Week 1. That would continue a streak as ESPN Stats and Information noted:

Copying that same success on the ground, however, won't be so easy.

Up front is where the Broncos defense makes the most impact, and the Colts rank just 22nd in rushing—some of which is due to Luck's mobility. Daniel "Boom" Herron has been strong between the tackles, but he fumbled late against Cincinnati and rode the pine from there on out.

Herron is great at catching passes out of the backfield and could make an impact there, but the Broncos have enough speed to keep him contained there as well.

As for the Colts defense, it has its hands more than full as well with Peyton Manning and a vaunted Denver passing attack. It's realistic to see stud cornerback Vontae Davis batting down a few balls, but it won't be a turnover-prone game for Manning.

Denver Broncos

USA TODAY Sports

Player	Predicted Stats
QB Peyton Manning	300 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT
RB C.J. Anderson	80 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, 2 TDs
WR Demaryius Thomas	110 receiving yards, TD
WR Wes Welker	75 receiving yards
TE Julius Thomas	75 receiving yards, TD
LB Von Miller	2 sacks, 2 TFL

It's not very often that the Broncos boast a more balanced offense than their opponent, but that's the case entering Sunday's showdown.

Manning's passing attack has Denver consistently airing it out and for good reason considering one of the best gunslingers of all time is under center. Early-season injuries hurt the Broncos' ability to run the ball, but that all changed with the emergence of C.J. Anderson.

Anderson has 849 yards on the season, most of which have come in the second half of 2014. He's rushed for three touchdowns in two different games, and the Broncos won both of those games.

Surprisingly enough, Manning has cooled to finish the regular season with five touchdowns and six interceptions in his final six games. A smash-mouth running game for the first time since Manning has been in Denver could help the Broncos adapt to playoff football, but some aren't so sure, per Denver Post's Patrick Saunders:

"

"That's kind of hard to say, because last year we made it to the Super Bowl," Thomas said. "We got to the Super Bowl, but what we were doing didn't work out the way we thought it would. Now, we're doing well so far, but we'll never know until we make it to that situation."

"

Running the ball down the middle might not be such a wise idea against teams like New England, Baltimore or Seattle that the Broncos could play in the near future. But against the Colts, it should work just fine.

Indianapolis is above average against the pass but just 18th in the league against the run. Even with the Colts holding a lead over Cincinnati virtually all game in the Wild Card Round, the Bengals rushed for five yards per carry.

That will leave Anderson open to make the biggest impact of the game, rushing for a couple of scores to take the pressure off Manning. 

Don't get me wrong, though. The Broncos quarterback will air it out with great success against the Colts secondary, he just won't need to be his typical self to win this one.