Fresh Colts tipped to advance

The Indianapolis Colts face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night in what promises to be a bruising encounter as the race to the Superbowl continues with the divisional play-offs. At this stage of the season, the importance of a bye week usually becomes clear in the divisional play-off games, and in this case, it's the Colts who have enjoyed the rest and should be fresh for the challenge, while the Steelers will be relying on momentum to get them through.

The key to success for the Steelers will be to put as much pressure as possible on Colts quarter-back Peyton Manning, but that won't be easy as the Colts offensive line is vastly improved this season. When Manning has time, he is devastating, with Marvin Harrison, as always, his preferred receiver. The fact that every defence knows the ball will be going to Harrison is virtually irrelevant because he is so good and almost never drops the passes that arrive in his hands with perfection from Manning.

Until November, the Steelers had the Indian sign over the Colts with seven consecutive wins in their series, but the way Indianapolis dismantled their game with a 26-7 win, yielding less than 200 yards of offence, was a real eye-opener and an indication that after several near-misses, maybe the Colts really are ready to win the Superbowl.

The Steelers will do what they do best, attempt to stifle the opposition with their bruising form of defence, but if the Colts' offensive line holds up, then it's hard to see anything other than a home win. As always, home advantage is massive at this time of year and the Colts have it so if they don't get the job done it will be their fault and theirs alone.

bet365 make them 10-11 to come through giving up 9.5 points and while that is quite tough - after all, they only have to win by one point - they should be fresh and hungry to rack up a stack of points, so should be able to cover the handicap.