The Indianapolis Colts may have posted the best regular season record in the NFL odds this year by running up an impressive 14-2 record. But there has perhaps never been a 14-2 team that invited so much skepticism as the Colts as they played through a relatively weak schedule on their way to the Super Bowl betting odds and much of that skepticism was reserved for the defense.

The knock on the Colts has long been the same: Manning and the offense are great, but the defense is always suspect. It’s one of the smallest defenses in the NFL odds and it’s generally had poor numbers against the run.

The best way for opponents to keep this team out of the Super Bowl betting was to run them over, overpower the smaller D with sheer brute force and end their NFL odds season early. In the past that has been true more often than not, but the Colts also have a Super Bowl betting victory to their credit and much of that is due this small, but quick defense. And just like when the Colts won the Super Bowl betting the defense, and especially the run defense is stepping up. Take for example the team’s most recent NFL odds victory in the AFC Championship.

The team held the NY Jets (the NFL odds leading rushing team with 172.1 ypg) were held to just 86 yards on the ground and the Colts easily won the game. Also, this unit is giving up just 10 ppg in the playoffs including a near shutout against the Ravens where Indy allowed just 3 points. And Indy’s defense measure’s up favorably with the Saints offensive attack. The Saints are the league’s best offense averaging 403 ypg and over 31 ppg. But it’s a finesse offense that kills you with speed and spacing and that’s exactly the type of offense that the Colt’s defense is designed to stop.