Bettors showing faith in Broncos

Opinions vary on Peyton Manning, whether he’s healthy or hurt, and if he still has what it takes to win three playoff games in a row for the Denver Broncos.

At least for today, a majority of voters at the betting windows will be on Manning’s side. The Broncos are 7-point favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in the final game of the NFL’s divisional round, and bookmakers are hoping for some luck.

The Broncos appear to be the far better team, so Andrew Luck will need to be the best quarterback on the field for the Colts to have a good shot at winning or at least covering the number. The line moved to 7½ at a few Las Vegas books Saturday night.

“I’m thinking we probably will need the Colts,” Sunset Station sports book director Chuck Esposito said. “But if the line gets pushed above 7, I could see some value with Indianapolis. It sets up as a great matchup. It’s the perfect game to climax the weekend because you’ve got Luck and Manning.”

Manning has an 11-12 career record in the playoffs. At 38, he is showing signs of fading. He passed for five touchdowns with six interceptions in the last five weeks of the regular season as the Broncos shifted gears to a run-oriented offense down the stretch.

But there are two ways to look at Denver’s change in personality. The defense is stronger than it was last season, and the offense is not totally reliant on Manning’s right arm because he has an improved running attack.

“I think maybe Manning was hurt a little bit toward the end of the season,” said Esposito, adding that a bye week should have helped Manning physically. “I don’t think he has lost it. He could get them back to the big game and win it.”

Ten proposition wagers are posted on the game at the Westgate Las Vegas book, where bettors drove down the total for Manning’s passing yards from 300½ to 291½.

Scott Kellen, who won the $50,000 Friday Football Showdown handicapping contest at the Golden Nugget, singled out the Broncos as his best bet of the weekend. He said Luck lacks the support Manning gets from the ground game and defense.

“The Colts have not looked good against good competition,” said Kellen (Sixthsensesports.com). “I think they will be too one-dimensional, and they are facing a very good Denver defense. I know Manning has not played great lately, but I think this is a good spot for the Broncos.”

Denver ranked No. 3 in total defense, eight spots ahead of Indianapolis.

When the teams met in Week 1, the Broncos raced to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter behind three touchdown passes by Manning. Luck rallied the Colts, completing 35 of 53 throws for 370 yards, but their comeback bid came up short in a 31-24 loss.

Luck led the league with 40 touchdown passes. He threw for 376 yards and one score as Indianapolis covered in a 26-10 wild-card victory over Cincinnati last week.

The Colts are 11-5-1 against the spread, but they went 5-0-1 ATS versus weak opposition in the AFC South.

The Dallas Cowboys, who displayed no weaknesses on the road this season while going 8-0, are 5½- to 6-point underdogs at Green Bay in today’s NFC opener. The total is 52½.

“I really think that’s the marquee game of the weekend because of the popularity of both teams,” Esposito said. “It really is outstanding two-way action.

“It’s a chance for the Cowboys to exorcise a lot of demons. It’s a team that has been unbelievable on the road. For most of the season, the Packers were arguably the best team in football. But they come in a little banged up.”

The Packers, perfect at Lambeau Field this season, come in with concerns about quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ injured calf. Bettors might be wise to take a wait-and-see approach with Rodgers and use live wagering on the game.

“You can get a read on how Rodgers is looking,” Westgate oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said. “If he’s not effective or if he has to leave the game, I would not want to be supporting Green Bay. I would say 90 times out of 100, you can get a better number with in-progress wagering than by betting pregame.”

New England, which closed as a 7-point favorite over Baltimore in Saturday’s first game, fell behind the Ravens 14-0. That set up a better scenario for bettors who kept faith in the Patriots.

It was a thriller that went to the wire, with New England winning 35-31.

“We have a great crowd in the book,” Esposito said. “I’m excited about this weekend.”

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.