How much you’d win by betting on the Colts to make the playoffs

Not that you care, but a decade ago, I made a nine-team parlay comprised of upsets ranging from mild to wild on the opening day of the NCAA Tournament. If I remember correctly, it was a dollar bet that paid out $8,000. Obviously, the first eight teams won, and the ninth lost a one-possession game in the final minute, because of course. It was tough to swallow, but I never figured I’d even get to that gut punch.

I share that only to offer a modicum of hope to Indianapolis Colts fans hoping to hit a 10-team parlay that would send their team to the playoffs as the AFC South champions and the No. 4 seed. As we laid out in our weekly NFL playoff picture, the Colts (7-8) needed 10 games to go their way after beating the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The first of those things — the Denver Broncos defeating the Cincinatti Bengals — happened against long odds, as Brock Osweiler & Co. stormed back from a two-touchdown deficit.

[Yahoo Daily Fantasy: $10 could win you $20K in our $200K contest for Week 17]

Now, the Colts simply have to beat the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m. on Sunday — far from crazy, since Indianapolis is currently a six-point favorite at home — and then root for these eight things to happen:

— The Jacksonville Jaguars upset the Houston Texans.

— The Baltimore Ravens upset the Bengals.

— The Buffalo Bills upset the New York Jets.

— The Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints.

— The Dolphins upset the New England Patriots.

— The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns.

— The Oakland Raiders upset the Kansas City Chiefs.

— The Broncos beat San Diego Chargers.

The Jaguars, Ravens, Dolphins and Raiders are all at least touchdown underdogs this week. Using VegasInsider.com’s parlay calculator, a $100 bet on those eight scenarios pays $157,178.82 based on current odds at various Las Vegas sportsbooks, so get to Sin City if you’re an Indy fan. If you had the Broncos beating the Bengals and add the Colts beating the Titans, then you’re talking $336,022.14.

But let’s not forget the fact the Colts could be starting either Josh Freeman or Ryan Lindley five days after signing their fourth- and fifth-string quarterbacks, since Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst might all be unable to play due to injury. With my luck, the Colts, Jaguars, Ravens, Bills, Falcons, Dolphins, Steelers and Raiders would all win, and then Osweiler — the same guy who kept this ridiculous 10-team parlay alive — would throw a pick-six to lose to the Chargers in overtime.

Then again, the Colts’ logo is a horseshoe and their franchise quarterback’s name is Luck.

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