Colts vs. Patriots: Latest Odds, Over-Under and Spread Predictions

It's the AFC Championship Game matchup we've long been waiting for. Well, half of it.

The Indianapolis Colts spoiled the potential rematch between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots in Sunday's game for a trip to the Super Bowl, and now Andrew Luck and Co. are crashing the party. Tom Brady stands just 60 minutes away from another chance to add to his championship-laden legacy but threatens to go the way of fellow legend Peyton Manning if he overlooks the red-hot Colts.

Indianapolis shocked Las Vegas experts last weekend by not only beating the odds as sizable underdogs but toppling the heavy favorites by double digits. The Colts are being outed again by Vegas, but is another upset on the cards?

Let's take a look below to find out.

Spread	Over/Under	Moneyline
Patriots -6.5	53.5	IND 49-20 / NE 20-53

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated January 14.

AFC Championship Preview

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

You'd have to think Brady is used to this by now.

When the Patriots step onto the field Sunday, it will be the ninth time in Brady's career that he's laced up for an AFC Championship Game. With a favorable 5-3 record in his first eight trips and the coveted home-field advantage, he enters attempt No. 9 with hopes as high as ever.

His opposing quarterback Sunday hasn't started his career as ridiculous as Brady did way back when, but he's making quite a convincing case in his own right.

Luck has made every stride necessary in his three years in the league, emerging from a promising franchise quarterback to a potential future legend. He's made improvements in the playoffs every season and has already taken a step forward in 2014 regardless of Sunday's result, per Ben Volin of The Boston Globe:

The Colts looked like perhaps the best case for a dark-horse Super Bowl contender out of the AFC entering the playoffs, but they've since made that case. Luck has continued doing what he does, and his defense is stepping up incredibly well to help shoulder the load—it held the Broncos offense to just 4.2 yards per play.

Doing that against Manning and the stout Broncos offense is nothing to scoff at, but doing it against the Patriots is a different story.

No matter what situation New England's offense is pressed into, it finds a way to get it done. The Patriots couldn't run the ball to save their lives in the divisional round against the Ravens with 14 yards on 13 carries, but Brady took matters into his own hands and threw it almost exclusively en route to a comeback win.

There's no doubting the Patriots will do whatever it takes, per Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal:

The Colts were able to make life difficult on Manning by sending various pressure packages and disguising zone schemes, but that will be tougher to implement against New England. 

Against the Ravens, the Patriots adapted to quick passing in order to thwart Baltimore's vaunted pass rush and up-front pressure. It more than paid off, as Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald noted:

The Colts have enough of a pass-rushing presence to try and pressure the Patriots, but it will only backfire, as Brady will do what he did to the Ravens a week ago in the same Gillette Stadium. If Indianapolis instead decides to drop back into heavy coverage, Brady will put the ball in LeGarrette Blount's hands.

Luck will have some success, but he's coming off a two-interception performance against Denver and will continue those struggles against Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. He has enough weapons around him to keep it close, but the Patriots will keep them at bay.

Prediction: Patriots 31, Colts 27