2010 NFL NFC West Division Preview
Three of the four teams in the NFC West have found their way to the playoffs quite a bit in recent years.
Will the San Francisco 49ers buck the trends this year and finally get back to the second season?
BetUS preps you for the 2010 NFL betting season with a look at the NFC West odds.
To win the NFC West Division:
|
|
San Francisco 49ers:
|
+200 |
|
Seattle Seahawks:
|
+145
|
|
St. Louis Rams:
|
+225
|
|
Arizona Cardinals:
|
+1200
|
|
San Francisco 49ers (+200) - This is the third straight season in which the Niners are supposed to break through to the playoffs.
However, this is the best all around chance the team has really had since the days of Young, Rice, and Owens being together.
A newly formed offensive line with OG Mike Iupati and OT Anthony Davis should help out QB Alex Smith and his young crop of receivers.
The defense was suitable in '09 as well, and with a similar effort this year, San Fran will be back in the driver's seat in the playoffs.
Seattle Seahawks (+145) - HC Pete Carroll takes over for the departed Jim Mora Jr., and he inherits a team that is really a train wreck right now.
The quarterback position is definitely up in the air with QB Matt Hasselbeck nearing retirement and no real heir apparent to take over. The running game will be boosted with the addition of RB Leon Washington.
If Carroll can get his pass rush going, which was one of the worst in the NFL last year, a second place finish in the NFC West is possible... that's not saying much, though.
Arizona Cardinals (+1200) - The Cards have a totally new looking team now that they are two years removed from the Super Bowl.
QB Kurt Warner, WR Anquan Boldin, LB Karlos Dansby, and SS Antrel Rolle have either retired or fled the desert for greener pastures, and there aren't many equivalents in line to replace them.
Will this be QB Matt Leinart's year to finally shine after sitting in Warner's shadow for so long? We think not!
HC Ken Whisenhunt has his biggest challenge since assuming the head coaching responsibilities.
St. Louis Rams (+250) - If there is a +1500 team out there that could conceivably win their division this year, the Rams would be the team.
However, it's hard to picture that QB Sam Bradford, the #1 overall pick in last year's NFL Draft, could possibly step into this situation from a 1-15 team and make matters that much better.
Still, marked improvement is a possibility, especially if HC Steve Spagnuolo is the real deal like many figured from his years with the Giants.
Bradford will have moments of greatness, just like QB Matt Stafford did last year in Detroit, but just like Stafford's Lions, the ultimate result for the season probably won't be that great.
