NFL Futures: 2022 NFC West Betting Preview, Computer Picks and Analysis

The Los Angeles Rams are the defending Super Bowl champions and absolutely feel they have what it takes to repeat. Only eight teams have won back-to-back Super Bowls, which shows you how hard it is to do it twice in a row. And Los Angeles is going to have a lot of very good football teams coming for the crown, with two of them — the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals — being in its division. 

Make sure you continue reading for our NFC West betting preview, picks and analysis, as we're here to tell you where the betting value lies. And if you're a new customer, you might want to grab this DraftKings offer to bet $5 on the NFL and get $200 FREE ➡️ here ⬅️. Free bets are perfect for betting on futures, as you can cash in big without having to risk anything. 

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NFC West Betting Preview, Computer Picks and Analysis

Los Angeles Rams 

NFL Week 1 2022: Bills vs. Rams

The Rams were the best team in football a year ago and they only got better in the offseason. Los Angeles added wideout Allen Robinson, a former Pro Bowler and co-leader in receiving touchdowns in 2015, on a three-year contract. He's going to make this offense even more difficult to cover, as if that was something opposing defenses needed to worry about.

Los Angeles already had Cooper Kupp, one of the game's best wide receivers, and this passing attack was just fine with Matthew Stafford looking his way nearly every possession. 

Los Angeles also signed linebacker Bobby Wagner to a two-year deal that pays him up to $23.5 million. He'll make the defense even more dangerous, as it's another player with a knack for getting to the football. With superstar Aaron Donald stealing the attention of nearly everyone on the opposing sideline, the other Rams defensive players have a lot of freedom to make plays. 

While this Los Angeles team might be better than it was last season, that doesn't exactly mean it's a lock to win the division and go on to make a deep postseason run. The Rams had some luck on their side on their way to winning it all last year, and a lot of other teams in the league made significant improvements themselves. 

Verdict: The Rams are one of the best teams in the league, so getting them at plus-money to win their own division might seem like a smart play. But our model only gives Los Angeles a 46.0% chance of winning the division, which isn't nearly as high as some other Super Bowl contenders. 

San Francisco 49ers

NFL Week 1 2022: 49ers vs. Bears

Last year, the 49ers nearly rode Deebo Samuel to a Super Bowl appearance, as they ended up losing by three points to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. San Francisco did that despite starting Jimmy Garropolo at quarterback. Garropolo is probably good enough to be a starting quarterback in this league somewhere, but he just didn't have any upside.

And he even made some rough decisions for a guy labeled as a game manager. With Trey Lance now set to be the team's starter, it wouldn't be surprising if San Francisco was a lot more dangerous on offense. Lance has a cannon for an arm and the ability to run the football. His dynamic skill set will open things up for this offense in a big way. 

On defense, the 49ers have one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL, with Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead being the staples of that group. Meanwhile, Fred Warner is an excellent linebacker behind those guys, and the team added cornerback Charvarius Ward from the Kansas City Chiefs to bolster their secondary. All in all, this should be a good defense this year and the sky is the limit for San Francisco. 

Verdict: If we're just talking value, it's hard not to see the 49ers as the best team to bet in the NFC West. You'll get a better payout on San Francisco to win than Los Angeles, and Kyle Shanahan's team is going to be hungry to go out there and win the division this year. The 49ers will also have the luxury of having some fresh blood at quarterback, and Lance's dual-threat ability will make this team hard to figure out in the regular season. 

Arizona Cardinals

NFL Week 1 2022: Chiefs vs. Cardinals

It took a little longer than people might have expected, but the Cardinals finally inked Kyler Murray to a massive contract extension. Now, Arizona needs to hope that Murray can start making some better decisions with the football, as there might not be a single quarterback in the league that possesses his natural ability.

Murray is one of the fastest quarterbacks in the NFL and he also has a remarkable arm. But he often throws untimely interceptions and needs to fix that in order for the Cardinals to take things to the next level.

This team has a good running game with James Conner being a guy that can bully his way forward for extra yards. Arizona also has some weapons in the passing game, with DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore making up a great wide receiver trio — although Hopkins is suspended the first six games of the year. Zach Ertz is another good weapon as a pass catcher, even if he is a bit past his prime at this point. 

On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals are simply hoping that a full season of a healthy J.J. Watt can help them improve as a unit. Arizona was ranked the 17th-best defense in football last year by Pro Football Focus. This group will need to be close to Top 10 if it wants to be a true contender. 

Verdict: While it might not seem like the Cardinals are far away from contention, our model only gives them an 18.0% chance to win this division and a 2.5% chance to win the Super Bowl. That shows you that this group isn't anything special at the moment, and it's best to avoid betting on Arizona. 

Seattle Seahawks

NFL Week 1 2022: Broncos vs. Seahawks

There's still some talent in place in Seattle after the team's decision to trade Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, but there's just no upside for this team with Geno Smith and Drew Lock as the two best players in the quarterback room. Smith has proven to be nothing but a career backup at this point, while Lock never took advantage of his opportunities in Denver.

Until the Seahawks get that position sorted out, they'll be wasting the talent of guys like D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and even running backs Ken Walker III and Rashaad Penny. 

The Seattle defense is also something of a mess, with the team having lost a lot of key contributors over the years. This group could struggle to get big stops, especially against some of the offensive juggernauts in the NFC West.

It just wouldn't be surprising if this is an awful year for Seattle, which could result in a change of leadership during the offseason. With Wilson gone, it's probably time for some sweeping changes for the Seahawks. 

Verdict: It's not worth betting any of your hard-earned money on this Seattle team. The Seahawks will almost certainly be picking near the top of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

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