NFL Betting – Seattle Seahawks Slipping In NFC West
Offshore sportsbook odds – Seattle Seahawks
- Who is healthy at wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks?
- Can Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett save the running game?
- What will Mike Holmgren's final season produce?
Online betting sharps have been focused in on the Seattle Seahawks for many years. After all, they have won the division for five straight years. They are the odds-on favorite to win it again even though their regular season win total is set at 8.5 (with -170 NFL betting lines on the over).
The Seahawks haven't been stagnant during the offseason but it is unclear whether they are better.
The running game figures to be significantly improved after the franchise's all-time leading rushing, Shaun Alexander, had been cut and replaced by younger and faster options like Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett. The Seahawks also snapped up free agent guard Mike Wahle to upgrade an offensive line that has been lacking since the departure of Steve Hutchinson.
Typically, head coach Mike Holmgren likes to pass 60% of the time but that might have to change. Top wideout Deion Branch tore his ACL in the playoff game against the Green Bay Packers last year and will be out for the firwst six weeks, Bobby Engram broke a bone in his shoulder and will also miss at least a couple of games and D.J. Hackett departed via free agency. Nate Burleson and Courtney Taylor are currently slated to start.
Holmgren is retiring at the end of the season and although he'll leave the Seahawks with an excellent foundation, its unclear how good they can be this year. If the receivers were healthy, with upgrades to the offensive line and running game, they should be better than last year's unit. Without them, they are worse.
There is less speculation about the defense because all 11 starters return. This could be the strength of the team while the offense works the kinks out.
Defensive end Lawrence Jackson was added in the draft and he looks like he's ready to start from Week 1. Worst case scenario, he'll add some depth, which is something that the Seahawks need more of at every level.
The Seahawks defense is good, but online betting aficionados know that they have been more finesse than physical. For the Seahawks to make a real run at the Super Bowl, their passing game has to click like it did last year, the running game must resurface and the defense has to become dominant.
The division looks tougher but the Seahawks are still a nine-win team. This team hasn't finished with less than nine wins since 2002 and with the core returning, a similar result should be expected.
Stan Simmons' Pick: Over 8.5
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