Welcome to Indianapolis, home of the Colts … and the league’s superstar quarterback, a guy named Peyton Manning. When he’s not busy starring in commercials for a boatload of sponsors, Manning is on the gridiron - being great.

Yes, he’s arguably the best quarterback of his generation, sorry Tom Brady! and, perhaps, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. For Peyton Manning, it all begins with preparation. He works hard … studies hard … prepares hard. And, on Sunday afternoon, or Sunday night, or Monday night or even Thursday night, Peyton and his Colts are ready for whatever the opposition can throw against them.

After a decade as the Colts’ starting quarterback, there is little that Manning has not seen. He knows how to read - and beat - the stingiest defenses. Of course, it wasn’t always that way. In Manning’s early years, while successful in the regular season, Manning had trouble winning the Big Games - the playoff encounters with other very good teams .Of course, the old saying, “try, try, try again” applied to Peyton and his Colts and after a few years of disappointing failures, Manning started to win in postseason, when the games really counted.

The Colts, under Manning, have always had an incredible offense, a terrific overland passing game, thanks, in large part, to super wide receiver Marvin Harrison. But, age catches up with everyone. Last year, an aging Harrison was jettisoned by the Colts, robbing Peyton Manning of the best receiver he’s ever hit with a pass.
Additionally, Manning had off-season health problems compounded by surgery and got off to a surprisingly slow start in 2008-2009. True, he recovered several games into the season and, like the Peyton of old, started putting up lots of points on the scoreboard. But, the alarm has gone off.

Manning is in his 30s now … not yet over-the-hill, but no longer the young stud QB who demolished defenses from the day he arrived in Indianapolis. The Colts, as a team, may be in transition. Some of their core players have been with them a long time and are getting older. At the same time, Indianapolis is trying to gradually remake the team with a continuous infusion of new blood. Young players on offense and defense are gradually “pushing” the older guys out.
The question is this: will the Colts be a “good bet” in 2009-2010 … or will they be a bad favorite? The question has no answer - yet. But, as every odds maker in Las Vegas knows … and every TV pundit will tell you … as every hardcore fan instinctively recognizes - it won’t take too long to figure out the Colts once the 2009-2010 Season begins.

That’s a fact, After a game or two - or three- in September the real Colts will show themselves to be either a legitimate favorite worthy of a win bet … or a rank underdog masquerading as a “can’t beat” elite team. And once you know that, Peyton’s Colts can become your own personal “money tree.”