by Scott Rickenbach
Sunday, Jul 31, 2022NFC West Division Win Total/Preview for 2022 NFL
West:
Arizona Cardinals – Current odds are 8.5 flat. The Cardinals slumped after a red hot first half of the season last year. This win total seems about right to me because this team still has a potent offense but the defense really lost some key guys and depth in the off-season. Perhaps the best way to look at the Cardinals is to look for overs in their games but do note that WR De’Andre Hopkins is suspended for the first 6 games of the new season.
Los Angeles Rams – Current odds are 10.5 flat. I am generally down on teams coming off a Super Bowl win and, as much as I like the acquisition of LB Bobby Wagner from the Seahawks, the retirement of a key offensive linemen, LT Andrew Whitworth, does hurt the Rams on the other side of the ball. Overall the defense lost some key veteran players too so Wagner can not make up for all of them. I say it will be a challenging year for the Rams and they will struggle to surpass 10 wins.
San Francisco 49ers – Current odds are 10 under. The juice is toward the under on this one and I would have to agree. A bit of a revamped offensive line and the potential that it could be a rookie QB taking the snaps behind it makes me nervous about expecting too much from this Niners team. Good management and coaching plus a still solid defense certainly helps this team but the concern on offense, in my opinion, is absolutely warranted. The key for the 49ers will be how quickly the offense can really start clicking and, to me, that is a big question mark. But with the D they have this could be a team to watch for having plenty of unders in their games.
Seattle Seahawks – Current odds are 5.5 over. Some books you may see 6 posted too because the juice on the over 5.5 is quite steep. I would say 6 wins sounds about right for this Seattle team. They have fallen a long way from the big seasons the fans in Seattle had become spoiled by with about a decade of consistency. Last season was rough but this season will be rougher. Seattle lost QB Russell Wilson to the Broncos. Also, Wagner went to Rams as noted above. Additionally a top offensive lineman, Duane Brown, no longer with Seattle either. The defense really struggled last season in terms of yardage allowed and now, on the other side of the ball, a QB battle between Drew Lock and Geno Smith does not exactly bring back any memories of Russell Wilson’s glory years. Maybe 6 wins are not so attainable after all. Could be a long season in Seattle with 4 or 5 wins being the right call depending on the QB play.
West:
Arizona Cardinals – Current odds are 8.5 flat. The Cardinals slumped after a red hot first half of the season last year. This win total seems about right to me because this team still has a potent offense but the defense really lost some key guys and depth in the off-season. Perhaps the best way to look at the Cardinals is to look for overs in their games but do note that WR De’Andre Hopkins is suspended for the first 6 games of the new season.
Los Angeles Rams – Current odds are 10.5 flat. I am generally down on teams coming off a Super Bowl win and, as much as I like the acquisition of LB Bobby Wagner from the Seahawks, the retirement of a key offensive linemen, LT Andrew Whitworth, does hurt the Rams on the other side of the ball. Overall the defense lost some key veteran players too so Wagner can not make up for all of them. I say it will be a challenging year for the Rams and they will struggle to surpass 10 wins.
San Francisco 49ers – Current odds are 10 under. The juice is toward the under on this one and I would have to agree. A bit of a revamped offensive line and the potential that it could be a rookie QB taking the snaps behind it makes me nervous about expecting too much from this Niners team. Good management and coaching plus a still solid defense certainly helps this team but the concern on offense, in my opinion, is absolutely warranted. The key for the 49ers will be how quickly the offense can really start clicking and, to me, that is a big question mark. But with the D they have this could be a team to watch for having plenty of unders in their games.
Seattle Seahawks – Current odds are 5.5 over. Some books you may see 6 posted too because the juice on the over 5.5 is quite steep. I would say 6 wins sounds about right for this Seattle team. They have fallen a long way from the big seasons the fans in Seattle had become spoiled by with about a decade of consistency. Last season was rough but this season will be rougher. Seattle lost QB Russell Wilson to the Broncos. Also, Wagner went to Rams as noted above. Additionally a top offensive lineman, Duane Brown, no longer with Seattle either. The defense really struggled last season in terms of yardage allowed and now, on the other side of the ball, a QB battle between Drew Lock and Geno Smith does not exactly bring back any memories of Russell Wilson’s glory years. Maybe 6 wins are not so attainable after all. Could be a long season in Seattle with 4 or 5 wins being the right call depending on the QB play.
