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The total PointsBet wins for the NFC West teams have a draw at the top. And not among the teams that finished at the top of the division in 2020.
The Rams and 49ers have numbers over 10.5 in a season of 17 games.
It is surprising on the surface. The Rams won 10 games in 2020 with Jared Goff as a defender. The Rams by all appearances will be better in 2021, especially with Matthew Stafford replacing Goff.
The 49ers are trying to discover its post-Jimmy existence. Will he be the defender in 2021 or will the incumbent be the third overall choice in the draft? After a disappointing 6-10 season in 2020, is there any reason to think that they will win at least five more games in 2021?
One reason for putting both teams on the same winning total is this: the 17-game formula now involves three games that vary according to the placement in the division compared to the previous year. The Rams finished second at NFC West, and the 49ers finished fourth. While the Rams play against the Giants, Buccaneers and Ravens, the 49ers face Eagles, Falcons and Bengals.
For Rams, it is worse to finish second than first, as Seattle’s three matching games are against Washington, New Orleans and Pittsburgh. These three games can be considered, in general, easier than Giants, Bucs, Ravens.
The Seahawks still have a projected victory of just nine, a surprising drop, given last year’s 12-4 result. Perhaps it is premised in part on the possibility that Russell Wilson will be traded, which could cause a free fall in 2021. Or perhaps the creators of chances do not believe in the new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
The Cardinals, the team that played 8-8 a year ago, have the lowest total in the division, with eight. This shows that the betting markets are not impressed with the updates the team has made, through the addition of JJ Watt, AJ Green and Rodney Hudson. (The Cardinals also lost Patrick Peterson, Haason Reddick and perhaps Larry Fitzgerald.)
Again, I don’t bet. For me, the best bet for NFC West from now on seems to be Rams, above 10.5.