NFC West 2011 Betting Preview
The NFC West was so bad last season that its champion didn't even have a winning record. Can at least one of those four teams avoid a losing result in 2011? Here's a look at how the NFC West stacks up right now.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams finished tied with the Seahawks at 7-9 for first place in the NFC West standings last season but lost out on a playoff berth on the tiebreaker. St. Louis is hoping that starting quarterback Sam Bradford can make some strides this season after he threw for over 3,500 yards with 18 TDs but 15 interceptions in his rookie year.
In a division that looks like a four-team tossup right now the Rams sit at 45/1 odds at Bodog to win the Super Bowl this season, and they're getting 22/1 odds to win the NFC Championship Game. The team's OVER/UNDER on the win props is sitting at 7.5, with Bradford set at 25/1 and RB Steven Jackson at 35/1 on Bodog's MVP board.
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners were only able to pick up six wins last season, but that had them just one game back of first place in the division. Alex Smith has yet to develop into a top quarterback for San Francisco, but he's expected to be under center again to start the year. RB Frank Gore is looking for a new contract and isn't happy with management.
At Bodog the 49ers are right with the Rams at 45/1 on the Super Bowl odds list, and they're at 22/1 odds to win the NFC Championship Game as well. San Francisco's wins OVER/UNDER is at 7.5, with Gore pegged at 35/1 on Bodog's MVP odds chart.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals were just 5-11 last season, but the team now thinks they've found their long-term answer at quarterback – former Eagles pivot Kevin Kolb. Arizona dealt for Kolb after the lockout ended, and he'll get his first extended shot as an NFL starter this season – in the last four years Kolb has thrown for just 2,082 yards with 11 TDs and 14 INTs.
Even with Kolb in the fold, though, the Cardinals are well back at 60/1 on the Super Bowl odds board at Bodog right now, and they're pegged at 28/1 to win the NFC Championship Game. Arizona's wins OVER/UNDER for the season is set at just 6.5.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks erased some of the smell from their sub-.500 division championship last year by knocking off the Saints 41-36 in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs before falling 35-24 to the Bears. Matt Hasselbeck has moved on from Seattle, leaving them with Tarvaris Jackson as their starting quarterback heading into the year.
Despite being the NFC West champs last year the Seahawks are well back at 75/1 odds at Bodog to win the Super Bowl next February, and they're pegged at 40/1 odds to win the NFC Championship Game. Seattle's OVER/UNDER win total sits at 6.5.