NFC West Futures Odds Preview
The defending NFC West and Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams are favored to repeat as division champs in 2022 but not by as much as you might think.
On the latest NFC West futures odds at Bovada Sportsbook, the Rams are favored at +125 but that puts them barely ahead of the San Francisco 49ers at +150.
Super Bowl champs favored to win NFC West title
The unstoppable duo of quarterback Matt Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp returns for the Rams, but there have been a few notable losses from their Super Bowl-winning roster.
Gone are wide receivers Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. and linebacker Von Miller. To replace Woods, the Rams signed Allen Robinson and expect holdover Van Jefferson to continue to increase his targets.
To fill the gap on defense left by Miller’s departure, the Rams snagged veteran Bobby Wagner. Surrounding him with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey looks like the recipe for another solid Los Angeles defense this season.
49ers putting their faith in young signal-caller Lance
The oddsmakers are very high on San Francisco even with unproven Trey Lance taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. Garoppolo remains on the roster but is expected to be traded if San Francisco can find a taker. Lance will be expected to hit the ground running after appearing in only six games in his rookie season.
Lance’s supporting cast will include running back Elijah Mitchell, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle. The 49ers and Samuel looked like they were headed for a messy divorce after he requested a trade in the offseason, but it appears they worked things out after he signed an extension late last month.
The other legitimate contender for the NFC West crown is the Arizona Cardinals. At Bovada, they’re +400 underdogs on the NFC West futures.
Cards’ star receiver suspended for first six games
Arizona started last season red-hot with seven straight wins. However, the Cardinals cooled considerably later on and lost four of their last five to finish 11-6, one game behind the 12-5 Rams.
The Cards may have trouble repeating last season’s start with wide receiver De’Andre Hopkins suspended for the first six games due to a failed drug test. A few of their matchups in those games include the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, the Rams and Philadelphia Eagles.
Quarterback Kyler Murray will have to find a way to win without Hopkins early on while relying on running back James Conner, wide receivers A.J. Green and Rondale Moore and tight end Zach Ertz.
Seahawks start life without Wilson as big underdog
The long shot in the NFC West is the Seattle Seahawks at +1800. Seattle lost a lot in the offseason with the trade of quarterback Russell Wilson and the retirement of Chris Carson.
Whoever takes over at QB between Drew Lock and Geno Smith will have two top receivers in DK Metcalf and Ty Lockett. Seattle was 7-10 last season and is expected to be worse this year without Wilson.