2009 NFL Win Total Odds by Conference: NFC West

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The Arizona Cardinals shocked the NFL world last season by not only winning the NFC West division title, but going on an amazing run in the playoffs before losing to Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. They had some help in that the three other teams in the west all had losing records so the competition was pretty weak. I fully expect that to change in 2009 as every team has taken steps to reverse their fortunes. Here is a preview of each team’s win total odds for the 2009 season.

Arizona Cardinals: current odds = 8.5 wins

This Cardinal team remains basically unchanged from the one that went all the way to the Super Bowl last season. Veteran QB Kurt Warner is another year older and WR Anquon Boldin is still not happy about his contact, but for the most part all the pieces are still in place for another championship run. Their only major loss on offense was RB Edgerrin James, but they drafted Chris “Beanie” Wells from Ohio State in the first round as a potential replacement. Arizona’s biggest problem will be avoiding a letdown that has plagued teams who lose the Super Bowl. In the past six years only one team that lost the Super Bowl made it to the playoffs the following year. No pun intended, but I think a 7 or 8 win season is “in the cards’ for Arizona

San Francisco 49ers: current odds = 7 wins

Head coach Mike Singletary, who replaced Mike Nolan after week 7 of last season is firmly in control of this team. His hardnosed, no nonsense approach should be able to rub off on a team that has been perceived as weak in the past. To turn things around, he needs to get better production from some of his budding stars such as LB Manny Lawson and TE Vernon Davis. At QB there are question marks as well as he will have to decide between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. Neither has shown the ability to lead a team to the playoffs, so this could be a sore spot all season long. All in all, I think Singletary can inject enough energy into this team to get them at or over the .500 mark this season with 8 or 9 wins.

Seattle Seahawks: current odds = 8 wins

After winning the AFC West four straight seasons, things came unglued for the Seahawks in 2008 falling to a dismal 4-12 on the year. QB Matt Hasselbeck is back from a back injury that plagued him for most of last season and they acquired All- Pro WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh via free agency from Cincinnati which should help this offense get back on track. If RB Julius Jones and WR’s Nate Burleson and Deion Branch play to their ability, Seattle could have one of the best offenses in the NFC. Defensively they have hired Gus Bradley to revamp a squad that was ranked 30^th overall last season. New head coach, Jim Mora has enough talent on this team to not only turn things around, but to win this division. I look for Seattle to easily have a 9 or 10 win season, making the over one of the best picks going.

St. Louis Rams: current odds = 5.5 wins

The Rams have fallen on hard times as of late and are a far cry from the Super Bowl years of the early 2000’s. Last year they hit rock bottom ending up with a 2-14 record. With a new coaching staff led by the Giants’ old defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, they will look to rebuild this team from the ground up. QB Mark Bulger hopes to return to his All-Pro form from a couple of years back and RB Steven Jackson will look to carry the load on the ground. Defensively they need to improve across the board as they were ranked near the bottom in several categories last season. This team will be better than last years, but I do not expect any sudden miracles. 4 or 5 wins would be a major accomplishment for the Rams in 2009.

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