ODDS TO WIN THE DIVISION (Bovada sportsbook)
Los Angeles Rams -180
Seattle Seahawks +275
San Francisco 49ers +550
Arizona Cardinals +2500

The Los Angeles Rams not only won the NFC West but represented the conference in the Super Bowl in 2018. They’re the favorites to repeat as division champions and most oddsmakers believe they’ll do so with relative ease. It’s reasonable to believe that the Rams will repeat but history has shown us teams that lose in the Super Bowl often collapse the following year. While parity may not be the exact adjective for this division, you can safely say that it should be much more competitive this go around. The Seahawks always believe they have a chance and San Francisco is eager to show what they can do with a healthy Jimmy Garappalo at quarterback. Meanwhile in Arizona, the Cardinals are looking to start a new era with what they hope is their new franchise quarterback.

San Francisco 49ers

2018 Record – 4-12
2018 Record Against the Spread – 5-11

The potential of this San Francisco 49ers team is through the roof. Coming off of a 4 win campaign the expectations for them are a lot more realistic and manageable. The Niners were never able to get out of neutral in 2018 as you might expect when you lose your starting quarterback to injury for the season. Jimmy Garappalo is set to return and it’s possible that it could elevate the 49ers to a playoff berth if some things fall into place. The offensive line is a quality group that should be able to protect and run block well enough to be effective. The running back platoon is deep, if not magnificent. Tevin Coleman is a nice addition and the return of Jerick McKinnon from injury along with Matt Breida offers them the depth needed to get through a game and a season. They’re also one of the few teams that still utilizes a fullback and does it well with Pro Bowler Kyle Juszczyk. The wide receiver group isn’t striking fear in defenses but rookie Deebo Samuel is a player who could see the field and be a contributor. Jordan Matthews is buried on the depth chart but is another guy that could have an impact during the season. The real weapon on offense is tight end George Kittle. If you didn’t get to see this guy play a year ago do yourself a favor and make sure you tune in to watch him. All due respect to Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz but for our money George Kittle is the most talented tight end in the league. If he can duplicate his 2018 campaign he’ll get some traction as a leader at the position and the 49ers should see some additional wins.

As exciting as this offense is it’s the defense that could really thrive under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The Niners added 3 potentially big-time players on a defense that already had a base of talent. Dee Ford and Nick Bosa lining up off of the edges is a sight that 49er fans will enjoy seeing. Kwon Alexander adds a strong presence in the linebacker group and should help in both the run and against the pass. Richard Sherman will again anchor the secondary that needs to play better than it did last season. We started this breakdown of the team with the word potential, and that’s exactly what this team has. If they can live up to that potential they could really do some damage in the division.

2019 Strength of Schedule – 11th (.510)
Team Win Total Odds – 8 Wins (over -105, under -115)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 10-6
We might be drinking the 49er Kool-Aid a little too much but we’re all in on this group. Expecting a team to go from 4 wins to 10 is pretty lofty, but it’s done more frequently these days than it was decades ago. This team added some great pieces and gets it’s quarterback and leader back on the field. How the Niners do against their division rivals will be key in their overall record but it’s very possible this team could go 4-2 in the division.

Possible to Wagers To Play – Against the Spread
San Francisco was one of the worst teams against the spread in 2018. The oddsmakers never fully adjusted to their injuries and the team never regained it’s footing. This team should be good in all three phases of the game and will compete against even the best in the league. Look for value with their lines and don’t be afraid to take some chances with them.

Fantasy Players To Watch – George Kittle (TE), 49ers (DST)
You probably noticed our obsession with George Kittle earlier and we’re not backing off it for fantasy purposes. Draft Kittle early and you won’t be disappointed. You also probably picked up on the fact we like the additions of Dee Ford, Nick Bosa and Kwon Alexander on the defense. This group should be one of the more consistent and dependable units in the league. They’ll also have some nice matchups against Arizona and Seattle.

Arizona Cardinals

2018 Record – 3-13
2018 Record Against the Spread – 7-8-1

There is a buzz around the Arizona Cardinals that began with new head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s selection of quarterback Kyler Murray with the overall number one pick in the draft. Murray brings a sense of excitement and talent to a team that was woefully inept on offense a year ago. Recent history has shown us that rookie quarterbacks can absolutely have an impact right out of the gate and Murray will look to do just that. Murray has a couple of really nice things working in his favor as he adapts to the pace of the game in the NFL. Future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald is back for another season offering the rookie not only a great target out wide, but more importantly, a mentor that will undoubtedly guide him through the ups and downs of his rookie season. What might be even more helpful for Murray is the Cardinals made a strong effort to repair what was arguably the worst offensive line in the league. J.R. Sweezy and Marcus Gilbert both join and should at least give a moderate boost to a group that struggled in both run and pass blocking in 2018. The other player who can benefit from these additions is former phenom running back David Johnson who was bottled up and hit at or behind the line of scrimmage more than any other running back in the league. How much Kyler Murray can do will be the difference between a small improvement or a big increase in the win column.

All things considered the Cardinals defense wasn’t awful last season. They were on the field a lot, and the offense put them in some really terrible spots. The strength of this year’s unit is in it’s linebacker group with Jordan Hicks and Terrell Suggs joining Chandler Jones and Haason Reddick to form what might be a powerful arsenal. It will only be powerful though if Suggs can fight off father-time for a little longer and Hicks can rebound from injuries. The defensive line looks thin which could cause issues for those linebackers if they can’t win down in the trenches. The secondary initially looked pretty solid before the six game suspension of Pro Bowl mainstay Patrick Peterson for violating the league PED rules. Although Peterson may not be quite the force he was early in his career he’s still a high caliber player and will be missed during that stretch. How many W’s this team can get still rests on Murray, but one thing should be certain and that’s that this team will bring more excitement and energy than it did during a long and frustrating 2018 season.

2019 Strength of Schedule – Tied 12th (.508)
Team Win Total Odds – 5 Wins (over -110, under -110)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 5-11
Kyler Murray has a lot of pressure on him as the new face of the franchise and how well the team does in 2019 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. This team may be able to fight it’s way to some unexpected wins if Murray can be the spark and leader they hope he can.

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), David Johnson (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 Patrick Mahomes at least in the sense of the excitement and ability to put points on the board? David Johnson’s stock dropped a lot after a lackluster season and rightly so. With a revamped offensive line and some defensive focus moved toward his new quarterback he could have a bounce-back year, especially in a PPR format that might help you if you can get him late for some value.

Los Angeles Rams

2018 Record – 13-3
2018 Record Against the Spread – 7-8-1

Watching the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII was at best slightly painful, and at worst as exciting as watching paint dry. The Rams cruised through the regular season lighting up scoreboards en route to a 13-3 mark and a matchup with New England which in theory was going to be an interesting battle. That didn’t really happen, unless you’re into defensive football in which case you got your wish. We all know about the Super Bowl losing teams and how they more often than not have a disastrous following year campaign. The league’s darling coach, Sean McVay has a big job this year in getting this team re-focused and keeping a collapse from happening. If ever there were a Super Bowl losing team that is poised to come back stronger it would be this Rams team. The offense comes back in tact and should resemble the group that was scoring with ease and not the one we all witnessed against the Patriots. There are two obvious reasons. The first is at the running back position where Todd Gurley should re-appear as an MVP type candidate who is the driver of this offense. Passing comes to mind when you think of the Rams, however it’s Gurley’s ability to keep defenses off balanced that makes this offense tough to defend. The second factor that should lead to the Rams rebound is the return of WR Cooper Kupp. Brandin Cooks has the flash speed and Robert Woods is a ridiculously good and unappreciated receiver, but it’s Kupp who may be the most valuable of this group. Take a look at quarterback Jared Goff’s numbers with Cooper Kupp in the lineup and without. It’s the difference between Pro Bowl statistics and middle of the pack type numbers. Most teams can figure out how to defend two receivers, however matching up with three is often the breaking point, particularly with a skilled number three like Kupp. There is one other piece of the offensive puzzle worth watching and that’s the offensive line. Roger Saffold left via free agency and Andrew Whitworth is another year older. Can the big guys upfront give Gurley the running lanes he needs and Goff the time to throw downfield?

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 one of the fun defensive things to watch in the league. The secondary is deep and talented even though they can sometimes be a little too aggressive. The linebackers have the ability to get after the quarterback and make splash plays. So all is well with L.A.’s defense? Maybe. You have to be a little concerned with the departure of Ndamukong Suh next to Donald on the line. Donald should still enjoy a Pro-Bowl type season because he’s just that good, but you can’t downplay the positive impact having Suh lined up next to him had. We mentioned the familiar names on this team and wonder out loud if guys like Clay Matthews and Eric Weddle can still provide the type of play needed at this late stage in their career? All things considered this Los Angeles Ram’s team is too talented to completely melt down in 2019. Look for the Rams to be in the thick of things in December even if they do take a slight step backwards.

2019 Strength of Schedule – Tied 27th (.473)
Team Win Total Odds – 10.5 Wins (over +100, under -120)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 10-6
Don’t let the Rams strength of schedule fool you into thinking they have an easy road map to the playoffs. Their division is improved and it could take them a bit of time on the defensive side of the ball to come together as a unit. Historical trends tell us we’re being a little too generous with our appraisal of this team, however we just can’t see this team falling apart with the loaded roster that they have.

Possible to Wagers To Play – Totals – Over / Prop Bets
In a what have you done for me lately league, images of Gurley on the sideline and the Rams struggling to move the ball are dancing in everyone’s head. With a healthy Gurley back in the fold this team should have no problem lighting up scoreboards with regularity. Speaking of Gurley, look for him to get out of the gate quickly and bet him while oddsmakers are still envisioning Super Bowl Gurley rather than weeks 1-12 Gurley.

Fantasy Players To Watch – Todd Gurley (RB), Robert Woods (WR), Cooper Kupp (WR)
Having Todd Gurley on this list is simply to remind you that he’s still elite and should be a top pick. If you need a guy on your roster that you know you can count on to get you at least a handful of points in any given week look to Robert Woods. Since arriving in L.A. Woods has been about as consistent of a receiver in the league and you can count on him for 5 or 6 catches each week. Cooper Kupp is mildly risky in the sense that you never can know for sure what you have in a player coming off of a serious injury but he’s definitely worth watching. Goff and Kupp have great chemistry and Kupp seems to be able to get open in the end zone with regularity.

Seattle Seahawks

2018 Record – 10-6
2018 Record Against the Spread – 9-5-2

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. But before we get into that we might as well state the obvious in comparing Carroll at USC to Carroll in Seattle. He’s always been able to lean on a quarterback to lead the team. Russell Wilson seems to be a polarizing quarterback in the league that fans either love or hate. No matter which side of the fence you’re on in that discussion you cannot deny the impact he’s had on not only this team but the league as a whole. The Seahawks have certainly had some quality talent during his years with the team, but he seems to be able to do more with less than maybe any other QB in the league. This year will be no exception to that rule as Wilson will be responsible for getting this team into the win column as usual. The biggest difference between this team and previous year’s versions is the offensive line. The O-line is big, strong and experienced and should be able to give Wilson the time he needs to play the position more like a QB and less like a backyard football hero. We’re going to assume that’s a good thing although who knows for sure if that will help Wilson’s game or hurt it? That offensive line should be able to get the ground game rolling with Chris Carson and last year’s draft pick Rashaad Penney being the benefactors. Doug Baldwin’s retirement is no small loss at the wide receiver spot even if he did miss a chunk of last season. Tyler Lockett stepped up and will need to continue his development along with some young talent if the Hawks are going to be able to throw the ball effectively.

The defense also resembles a typical Pete Carroll grouping as there are a lot of players competing and battling for playing time. Bobby Wagner leads the strength of the defense which in its linebacker corp and Ziggy Ansah should at least somewhat soften the blow of losing Frank Clark to the Chiefs. The secondary is athletic but young and unproven. How quickly and well they can develop as a unit will be a key to how well this defense plays overall. In summary, a lot of the same with the Seahawks in the upcoming year. The best homefield advantage in the game and Russell Wilson leading the rest of the group in overachieving in their quest for the playoffs.

2019 Strength of Schedule – 25th (.479)
Team Win Total Odds – 8.5 Wins (over -120, under +100)
BetCrushers Projected Record – 9-7
The Seahawks will probably be a better team this year but their record may not show that simply due to their more difficult divisional matchups. This team will be battling the Rams for supremacy in the division as well as potential wild card teams in Dallas/Philly, Chicago/Minnesota/GB, Carolina/Atlanta, and San Francisco. Can the Hawks get to 10 wins again this year and will 10 be enough to get them into the dance?

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. We’re not too thrilled with their offensive players although their running backs should find success. The problem is it’s not a guarantee of which running back will be the leader as Carroll often likes to go with the hot hand in a committee.