NFL NFC West Division: 2022/23 Betting Preview and Predictions
The NFC West is one of only two divisions in the NFL in which all four head coaches will return, which shows how consistent the Rams, Cardinals, 49ers and Seahawks have been over the last few years. Can the Rams repeat as Super Bowl champions? Is Kyler Murray ready to lead the Cardinals to the next level? Will Trey Lance emerge as a star for the 49ers? And how will the Seahawks survive without Russell Wilson under centre for the first time in a decade?
Los Angeles (+110) and San Francisco (+170) are as the early favourites to win the NFC West. Arizona (+360) lags a little further behind, while Seattle (+1600) is a massive long shot.
Los Angeles Rams 2022/23 Betting Predictions
The Rams won the NFC West last season with a 12-5 record in the regular season. They went on to beat Arizona, Tampa Bay and San Francisco in the playoffs before defeating Cincinnati in the Super Bowl in their home stadium. Matthew Stafford returns at quarterback after passing for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns in his first season in L.A., although he led the NFL with 17 interceptions. Key offseason additions include CB Troy Hill (trade), LB Bobby Wagner (free agency) and WR Allen Robinson (free agency). There were some big losses such as LT Andrew Whitworth (retired), OLB Von Miller (free agency) and WR Robert Woods (free agency).
Los Angeles is +736 to win the Super Bowl and +393 third-favourites to win the NFC. They’re also +110 favourites to repeat as NFC West champions, which is where I would take them. The Seahawks are going to take a big step back and Murray and Lance haven’t proven they can carry Arizona and San Francisco all season. Ironically the Rams’ favoured stage of elimination is to miss the playoffs at +201. That leaves healthy value to take them to make the wild card or divisional rounds, which are both +302. Their win total is set at 10.5 and despite having the toughest strength of schedule in the NFL, you should be comfortable taking the Over at -104. L.A. is -260 to make the playoffs and +190 to miss. Any team is one injury away from a blown season, but the value isn’t high enough for me at +190 to miss the playoffs.
Arizona Cardinals 2022/23 Betting Predictions
The Cardinals cruised through the early part of last season, but lost steam in the second half and finished second in the NFC West with an 11-6 record before losing to the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs. There are a lot of questions about Kyler Murray’s maturity and attitude, but this is still the quarterback who led the team to a 7-0 start last season before an injury affected the rest of his year. Rookie TE Trey McBride is expected to make an immediate impact. Other additions include RB Darrel Williams (free agency) and WR Marquise Brown (trade). DE Chandler Jones is arguably the biggest loss in free agency.
Arizona is +2302 to win the Super Bowl and +1315 to win the NFC. They’re favoured to finish third in the NFC West at +167, but this is a “prove it” year for Murray, so I like them to finish second again at +236. I don’t see them reaching the NFC championship game, but they’re great value at +545 to reach the divisional round. The Cardinals’ win total is 8.5, which makes sense given they have the second toughest strength of schedule. I still like the Over at -120. At +110 to make the playoffs and -145 to miss, it’s an easy choice to bank on postseason football for Arizona.
San Francisco 49ers 2022/23 Betting Predictions
The Niners had a strong year last year. They finished third in the division with a 10-7 record, but they made it all the way to the NFC championship game where they lost to the Rams. Trey Lance will be the starting quarterback this year, but Jimmy Garoppolo is sticking around for one more year as a nice insurance policy. Rookie DE Drake Jackson and rookie WR Danny Gray will both be valuable backups. RB Raheem Mostert, G Laken Tomlinson, DL D.J. Jones and CB K’Waun Williams all left in free agency.
San Francisco has the second-best odds of NFC West teams to win the Super Bowl at +1025 and they’re +603 to win the NFC. Their favoured place to finish in the division is first at +165, but there’s better value with second at +185 or even third at +270. The 49ers are +605 to reach the NFC championship game again, which is a tempting pick. With a regular season win total of 9.5, I like the Under at +120. They’re -230 to make the playoffs which isn’t much value, but +170 odds to miss isn’t worth taking for me.
Seattle Seahawks 2022/23 Betting Predictions
Seattle finished last in the division last year and missed the playoffs with a 7-10 record. And it’s only going to get tougher. Subtract Russell Wilson at quarterback from the equation and add Geno Smith and Drew Lock. Yikes. Regardless of which QB is able to take the reigns, the Seahawks are in for a big rebuild. LB Bobby Wagner, who signed with division rival L.A., is another huge loss. TE Noah Fant and DL Shelby Harris, along with Smith, were added from Denver as part of the Wilson trade. Rookie LT Charles Cross has earned a starting job as has rookie LB Boye Mafe and possibly rookie RB Kenneth Walker.
The Seahawks have some of the longest Super Bowl odds in the NFL at +8370 and they are +4766 to win the NFC. They’re favoured to finish last in the division at -210 and I just can’t see the Rams, Cardinals or 49ers finishing with a worse record than Seattle. At -675 to miss the playoffs, it might be worth taking a flyer and hoping for a miracle wild card appearance at +410. The Seahawks win total is set at 5.5, which makes sense given they have the 11th toughest strength of schedule, but I still like the Over at -145. It’s a layup that Seattle misses the playoffs, which is -720, but maybe you’re braver than me and take them to make the postseason at +420?
NFC West Division Standings Prediction
Rams – 11-6
Cardinals – 10-7
49ers – 9-8
Seahawks – 7-10