NFL Football Betting Online – NFC West Preview
The theme of the NFC West Division is all about change. Other than San Francisco, change is abundant in the division. The Cardinals are without Kurt Warner. Seattle brings in new head coach Pete Carroll. The Rams employ number one draft pick Sam Bradford. So much change can sometimes be hard to handicap, but I believe I have this one all figured out.
NFL Football Betting Online: NFC West Division Preview
Online Betting odds: San Francisco 49ers (-110), Arizona Cardinals (+240), Seattle Seahawks (+400), St. Louis Rams (+1800)
San Francisco (-110): Stability is the key and is the reason the 49ers are a small favorite to take a wide open division. The team responded to coach Mike Singletary well, but was unable to overtake Arizona. They may be able to accomplish so this year. Vernon Davis has developed into an elite option at tight end. Alex Smith, a former number one, has grown as a quarterback. And the defense, led by Patrick Willis, was one of the NFL’s most underrated. San Francisco should live up to the favorite.
Arizona (+240): There is no denying that the Cardinals are going to miss Kurt Warner, a man who became the face of the franchise. They drafted Matt Leinart to replace him, and he gets his second go around. Leinart will have to do it without Anquan Boldin, off to Baltimore. The run game of Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower underachieved last season, and will have to produce. The defense was up and down and needs to find more consistency.
Seattle (+400): Pete Carroll is hoping this go around into the NFL goes a lot better than previous efforts. He will have to rebuild a Seahawk team that does have some parts in place. They need Matt Hasselbeck to return to MVP form, first and foremost. They have options at wide receiver, drafting Golden Tate to complement T.J. Houshmanzadeh. The running game, however, is a big question mark. Carroll’s teams have been known for offense, so it will be interesting to see if they can make up for the defense.
St. Louis(+1800): The drafting of Sam Bradford as their franchise quarterback was a good move. He is expected to start from day one, which may lead to some growing pains for the Rams this year. It is not because Bradford is not an elite talent, because he is. It is also not because there is no run game in place, as Steven Jackson is a top-five NFL running back. What they lack, is an offensive line to keep Bradford protected, and any elite options to throw to. They have a solid nucleus, along with Chris Long at defensive end, in place. They just need to shore up the line and get Bradford some weapons in the years to come. Until then, they remain at the bottom.
NFC Football Betting Online Pick: San Francisco. The 49ers are the favorite, and the lack of chalk, as they are only -110, means the risk is worth the reward. They are solid enough to take home this division, and each of the other teams have serious problems to be addressed. The 49ers are the most complete team, and considering the price, may be the safest division pick in all of the NFL.
Value Pick: Seattle Seahawks. A handsome price at four to one odds, the Seahawks could be a surprise pick. It depends how they adjust to Carroll, but they do have a former MVP candidate, as well as one of the best home field advantages in the NFL. The division itself is one of the NFL’s weakest, so any of the other three teams could make some noise.
