Seattle Seahawks Odds - Glimmer of hope in the weak NFC West
Last season, if you asked your NFL betting buddies about Seattle Seahawks odds, the response probably would’ve been “Dude, get a bucket!” Yes, the Seahawks were vomit-inducingly bad. It’s safe to say whatever possibly could go wrong did go wrong last season. Seattle is unlikely to catch as many bad breaks in 2009, as any team has a chance in the lowly NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks odds: +4000 to win Super Bowl XLIV
- Hasselbeck expected to start 2009 healthy
- “Housh” Seattle’s best WR since Joey Galloway
- Great draft should boost offensive and defensive lines
A big reason why online betting odds are so exciting is consistently strong league parity. In what other sport could three teams that won five games or less in 2007 all make the playoffs in 2008 (Dolphins, Ravens, Falcons)? For that reason, it’s perfectly fair for those betting NFL games to expect a major rebound for Seattle.
Offensively, (hopefully) better health and a few new toys should help a unit that ranked in NFL’s bottom third in points, passing and rushing last season. The Seahawks still believe Matt Hasselbeck, who turns 34 in September, can be one of the league’s better quarterbacks. A chronic back injury cut his 2008 season to seven games but he’s reportedly healthy for 2009.
Hasselbeck is certainly set up for better success, as offseason acquisition T.J. Houshmandzadeh may be the best receiver he’s ever had. Housh won’t win any footraces any time soon, but he’s a massive target with sticky hands. If possession receiver Bobby Engram could catch 90-plus passes in this offense two years ago, there’s no telling what Housh can do. Another reason things are looking up for Hasselbeck: Seattle drafted center Max Unger with its second 2009 pick. While he may not be ready for prime time, he should help protect Hasselbeck soon.
Running back Julius Jones didn’t exactly make every NFL betting fan a sportsbook believer with his 698 yards on 158 carries in ’08, but the Seahawks are sticking with him as their starter anyway. He has to be better to take pressure off the passing game.
Seattle’s defense was as bad as the offense last season, if not worse, as they were the dead last in the NFL against the pass. Thankfully for Seahawks fans, help—a lot of help—is on the way. Fourth-overall draft pick Aaron Curry brings elite playmaking skill immediately to outside linebacker and will more than fill the void left by Julian Peterson’s departure. Cory Redding, acquired from the Lions in the Peterson deal, should boost the run defense while Ken Lucas returns to the secondary and will at least help in a nickelback role.
In the run ‘n’ gun NFC West anything can happen, and the Seahawks’ improvements on both sides of the ball set them up for an eight or nine-win season in 2009 NFL betting. We all know that’s probably good enough to seriously contend for the division title. The Seahawks arne’t perfect—their rushing offense and passing defense should struggle again—but they already look worlds better than the four-win team of a year ago.
For future sports betting lines and more NFL betting analysis, visit the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com.
Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
