ODDS TO WIN THE DIVISION (Bovada sportsbook)
San Francisco 49ers +105
Seattle Seahawks +205
Los Angeles Rams +600
Arizona Cardinals +600
Let’s go on record and get it out of the way in stating the NFC West will be the best division in football in the upcoming season. Although the Rams and Cardinals both have long odds to capture the title, each are potentially good teams that could easily vie for the top spot in many of the other divisions, and can’t be counted out in their own. The Seahawks even have some value at +205 as they look to fully dethrone last year’s NFC Champions and near Super Bowl winners in San Francisco.
San Francisco 49ers
2019 Record – 13-3
2019 Record Against the Spread – 9-6-1
We don’t like to start off with bragging (who are we kidding, we love it), as the BetCrushers had the 49ers winning double digit games and into the playoffs last season. As we suspected, a strong running game, solid play from the quarterback and a ferocious defense keyed their ascension in the NFC. The team even leaped our lofty expectations and came within a few key plays of capturing the Lombardi Trophy. The question that we ask every Super Bowl losing team the following year is will they avoid a hangover and be a force again, or will there be substantial falloff?
Breaking down the 49er offense it doesn’t necessarily wow you when you go position by position. The area where the Niners have an advantage is they’re position groups are interchangeable and there really isn’t any obvious weaknesses. That is assuming you don’t consider quarterback Jimmy Garropolo a weakness as the leader at the most important position. Jimmy G may not be the best QB in the league but he definitely proved enough to us to not overly question his abilities. The team replaced retired Joe Staley with Trent Williams so this offensive line shouldn’t skip a beat. It’s not hyperbole to say that any running back in the NFL could find success in this offense so certainly no issues there. Receiver could be a little thin as they’ve had a couple of early losses including last year’s impressive rookie Deebo Samuel who will miss at least a couple of weeks. The organization made a really nice depth signing bringing in oft-injured Jordan Reed to back up all world George Kittle at TE. Reed is always one hit away from his career being over, except in this offense he’ll likely just have to pinch hit on occasion, and his skill set and ability certainly isn’t the concern on him. Lastly, let’s not forget this team runs a great scheme on both side of the ball which generally gives them an edge in their matchups.
Speaking of a great scheme on defense, this 49ers were downright dominating on many occasions. The team’s big loss of DeForest Buckner at DT was replaced with super talented rookie Javon Kinlaw so they hope there won’t be a big falloff on the interior. It certainly helps when the edge rushers are Pro Bowl caliber and you have guys in your rotation that don’t even start like Dee Ford and Solomon Thomas. The secondary is good and although they lack depth, the linebackers are more than capable and can even be hidden a bit by the front four and back four.
2020 Strength of Schedule – 4th (.527)
Team Win Total Odds – 10.5 Wins (over -110, under -110)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 10-6
It certainly won’t be surprising if this team wins 12+ games and makes another deep run in the playoffs. They’re balanced, well-coached and have elite talent at some key positions. Can they avoid the post-Super Bowl jinx that so many before them have fallen victim to, particularly in a tough division? We’re playing the fence here and projecting a moderate regression, without a total collapse, having them fighting for the division or at the very least a wild card berth.
Possible to Wagers To Play – Teasers
When you check the box scores at the end of this season there is a strong possibility the Niners will have played in a lot of close games, both in wins and losses. Look for opportunities to tease them under a FG as a favorite or over a touchdown getting points and you should find some good success.
Fantasy Players To Watch – 49ers (DST)
George Kittle will of course provide points from the tight end positions, however it’s kind of tough to read the rest of the offense. There is a lot of “committee” work in the running game and the wide receiver corp. Be wary of taking Raheem Mostert too early as this team likes to run with the hot hand at running back. The real play is with this defense which can create turnovers and generate sacks with the best of them.
Arizona Cardinals
2019 Record – 5-10-1
2019 Record Against the Spread – 9-5-2
The Cardinals are a somewhat of a hot pick to make a big leap in 2020 based on both the development of quarterback Kyler Murray and some very talented additions in the offseason. On the other hand, they’re not getting a ton of respect among the oddsmakers as referenced by their 6-1 divisional odds and a sub .500 win total. Put us in the category of having some high expectations in the desert.
It’s really easy to see why the league as a whole is enthralled and optimistic about young Kyler Murray. He benefited from a lot of valuable playing time as a rookie and you could literally see the development and strides he made from early in the season up until the end. The team went ahead and added one of the most talented and productive playmakers in the league trading for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. With Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, and Christian Kirk this team has some nice targets for their quarterback. Tight ends Maxx Williams and Dan Arnold were brought in to be hybrid blocking and pass catching players. The running game looks to be solid with last year’s trade acquisition Kenyan Drake looking to follow up his short and extremely effective time with another stat-stuffing season. Chase Edmonds gives them speed and depth at the position as well. The maturity of Murray will be one of the most interesting topics in the entire league to watch during the season and will determine how good this team can be.
The Arizona defense struggled mightily at times in 2019 and the team knows it needs to play better to take some pressure off of the offense. The draft yielded a consensus top player at a need position when they selected linebacker Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson. The draft is never a sure thing, however Simmons has the making of a guy that will be a perennial Pro-Bowl player for several years. He’ll be lining up on the opposite side of last year’s sack machine Chandler Jones, once again making this linebacker group the strength of the defense. Jordan Phillips parlayed a career contract year at DT into a nice payday and can generate a pass rush from the interior which is something that was lacking a year ago. All of this paired with a tough secondary could make things tough on opposing quarterbacks. If there is a concern on this defense it would appear to be in their ability to stop the run. The previously mentioned Phillips was good at getting pressure in the passing game, but was often exposed in run defense.
2019 Strength of Schedule – Tied 8th (.518)
Team Win Total Odds – 7.5 Wins (over -110, under -110)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 9-7
Kyler Murray has a lot of pressure on him as the new face of the franchise and how well the team does in 2020 will rest heavily on his shoulders. The team made some interesting moves in an effort to support him and they’ll need to continue to grow others as well during the season. There is an absolutely huge ceiling with this team.
Possible to Wagers To Play – Total – Over
Truth be told betting on the Cardinals in any capacity should be infrequent until we learn a little better what’s in store for this team. If we had to target something it would be playing the over totals. They’ll most likely be set pretty low for this team and almost by default they’ll score more than they did a year ago.
Fantasy Players To Watch – Kyler Murray (QB), Kenyan Drake (RB)
We’re not suggesting you put your fantasy hopes on Kyler Murray by any stretch, but he’s definitely worth watching. Can he be this year’s version of Lamar Jackson, at least in the sense of the excitement and ability to put points on the board? Kenyan Drake put up some monster stat-lines once he arrived in Arizona and he’s poised to follow up with another strong season.
Los Angeles Rams
2019 Record – 9-7
2019 Record Against the Spread – 10-5-1
The Los Angeles Rams are not a bad football team. Why did we start this review with such an obscure and generic statement? We have them finishing in the cellar of the NFC West despite being just a season removed from playing in the Super Bowl. Despite our dire prediction, this team will win football games and should be competitive in their contests. Allow us to elaborate a little further:
Wonder-coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff saw some of their luster flake away last season as the offense looked very average more often than not. One of the biggest reasons for that was the steep decline in play from the offensive line. When you look at this group now, it’s difficult to expect any marked improvement from them which will ultimately hurt this team’s ability to run the offense McVay creates in the laboratory. Todd Gurley II is now in Atlanta so the running backs are now less proven, although much more youthful at this point. Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods have a new third with 2nd round draft pick Van Jefferson as Brandin Cooks is also no longer around. One of the things to be excited about is the emergence of tight end Tyler Higbee in the latter half of the season when Gerald Everett was banged up. Higbee and Goff had some nice chemistry and having a strong receiving TE will be helpful if the line indeed struggles to block.
Let’s switch over and look at the defense for a minute. The Rams have no shortage of high profile names, players and egos. Aaron Donald destroying offensive lines is still one of the fun defensive things to watch in the league. Jalen Ramsey remains a top tier cornerback and Leonard Floyd is a nice addition to strong-side linebacker. The glass half-full portion of the defense is there are some youthful prospects at all levels. The half-empty is that the proven veteran production this team has had the past two seasons is no longer there. There isn’t a lot of pressure on the Rams which is a change from a year ago so that may at least help them in a unique season.
2020 Strength of Schedule – Tied 10th (.516)
Team Win Total Odds – 8.5 Wins (over +100, under -130)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 7-9
It’s not impossible this Rams squad could put together a playoff run depending on how things shake out throughout the season. Realistically this team seems to be on the outside looking in with their schedule and matchups.
Possible to Wagers To Play – Against the Spread
You probably noticed we’re not buying the Rams in 2020. For whatever reason the sportsbooks are still showing them some love which is something you can take advantage of. Fade this team early in the season and chances are you’ll come out ahead.
Fantasy Players To Watch – Tyler Higbee (TE), Cooper Kupp (WR)
Cam Akers is an interesting player to watch at running back, but there will likely be 3 backs in the mix so he’s a pass to start the season. Tyler Higbee put up Kittle/Kelce/Ertz type numbers when he took over as a starter at tight end. Even though there is inherent risk with the small sample size, he could end up being a top five producer at the position. Cooper Kupp is poised to have another solid season despite sharing targets on the offense.
Seattle Seahawks
2019 Record – 11-5
2019 Record Against the Spread – 7-8-1
You have to be at least a little bit impressed with what head coach Pete Carroll has been able to do in his time with the Seattle Seahawks. Perhaps it was his experience creating a juggernaut at USC that has allowed him to continue to put together winning football teams despite having to turn over talent regularly. The cliche term of not re-building but re-loading seems to apply yet again to this year’s version of the Hawks.
Sometimes it feels like Russell Wilson has to do everything for the offense for the Seahawks, a feat that he often excels at. The great news for Seattle in 2020 is that he has plenty of help around him. A top four WR unit of Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, Phillip Dorsett and Josh Gordon will be tough for defenses to lock down. Veteran Pro Bowler Greg Olsen will provide Wilson with a target at the position he really likes in the redzone, as will the return of Will Dissly. Chris Carson was having a really nice season before his injury last year and is hungry to bounce back with another big year. Carlos Hyde gives them some depth and security at the position. In a career that has had a lot of really great years, this could be one of Wilson’s best yet.
The unexpected late addition of safety Jamal Adams shores of what now should be one of the top secondary units in the league. Robbing the Lions to get Quandre Diggs last season before the trade deadline, and a pair of strong corners power this defense. Having three veteran linebackers playing in front of them definitely helps. The Achilles heel for this defense is the defensive line which could struggle against both the pass and the run. The back seven can make plays, but they have to have some help to stay clean in front of them.
2020 Strength of Schedule – 13th (.509)
Team Win Total Odds – 9 Wins (over -120, under -110)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 11-5
It’s tough committing to a team in a division that has some questions with their big men on offense, and certainly on defense. If any quarterback in the league can play behind a shaky offensive line it’s Russell Wilson and we’re going all in on him to lead this team back to the playoffs.
Possible to Wagers To Play – Against the Spread / Prop Bets
In Russell Wilson’s career the Seahawks have consistently been one of the top covering teams, a trend that continued last year. They’re dominant at home and Wilson seems to always keep them close on the road. This team could be surprisingly good and Wilson will continue to keep them in games so bet them laying points and getting points in the right situations. Speaking of Russell Wilson, he’s one of the most athletic and electric players in the league. As a result his game rushing totals are usually set pretty high. Particularly in games that “aren’t as important” he’s a lot less likely to take off at this stage in his career. Take the under on his rushing props and you should come out ahead.
Fantasy Players To Watch – Seahawks (DST)
If you are playing daily fantasy or carry two defenses on your roster the Seahawks are a great option to play at home. Their numbers are strong at home in terms of sacks and takeaways as you’d probably guess. Offensively there are plenty of playmaking options, the question is who is going to carry the team each week?
