And just like that…
Preseason is almost over.
College Football kicks off with Week Zero on Saturday.
Chugging along, getting closer. To the NFC West we go!
*To avoid being repetitive - the NFC West was gifted with easy schedules across the board. Playing the two worst divisions in the NFL*
NFC West:
Divisions played: AFC South and NFC South
Odds to win division:
49ers +155
Rams +200
Cardinals +380
Seahawks +550
Arizona Cardinals
2024 Record: 8-9
2025 Win Total: 8.5
SB Odds: +4000
For years gamblers pointed the finger at (former coach) Kliff Kingberry as the reason for the Cardinals fall off late in the year.
Over the last five years the Cardinals have the following splits:
Weeks 1-10: 26-20-1
Week 11 on: 10-25 (Sharp)
Kliff is gone, but the problem persists. Arizona finished the season at 2-5 in 2023 and 2024. So who’s to blame if not Kliff? What if it’s on…dare we say…Kyler.
The schedule makers have set the stage for another collapse. They play the 49ers and Packers before their Week 8 BYE and will be favored in all the other games.
The last ten weeks of the season they’re underdogs EIGHT times.
Long winded way of saying it, but the Cardinals have consistently been a buy early/fade late type team, and this year the schedule is doing them no favors.
Now let’s talk shop…
This team has one glaring weakness going into 2025. Nearly every unit ranks in the top half of the league except the Front 7, which is near the bottom. But they made some moves. Big moves. Josh Sweat (EDGE) was brought in with a few other vets in free agency.
Led by 1st rounder Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss) they drafted defensive guys in 6 of 7 rounds. Not to mention 2023 1st rounder Darius Robinson (DE, Missouri) missed most of last season, and he will be returning healthy for 2025.
Know the problem - Check
Recognize the problem - Check
Solve the problem - TBD
I’m (Greg) a big Jonathan Gannon guy. He’s making improvements. I played their win total last year and it hit with ease, but now they have real expectations. +120 to make the playoffs is respect. This team won FOUR games in 2023.
Kyler has all the surrounding talent he could ask for. Marvin Harrison Jr. underperformed, but the expectations were sky high.
Trey McBride is becoming one of the best TE’s in the league. James Conner is as steady as they come.
He’s worth a follow and I’m tailing Clevta. The guy has been a COY mastermind. Hitting Daboll at +2000 in 2022 and Kevin O’Connell at +2800 last year. This year he’s on Gannon and I’m tailing. Hopefully the late season struggles are a thing of the past.
The Picks:
Jonathan Gannon Coach of the Year +2000 (Greg)
Over 8.5 Wins -120 (Steak)
Marcin Harrison Jr. OVER 975.5 Receiving Yards -115 (Steak & Degen)
Kyler MVP +5000 (Steak)
Los Angeles Rams
2024 Record: 10-7
2025 Win Total: 9.5 Wins
SB Odds: +2000
You don’t get any awards, but the Rams were by far the closest team to beating the Eagles in their 2024 Super Bowl run.
LA fumbled TWICE in the fourth quarter.
They gave up 3 TD’s.
Jalen Hurts 44 yard rush. Saquon Barkley 62 yard rush. Saquon Barkely 78 yard rush.
If you want to get fired up about football season, go back and watch this run. It appeared to be the dagger, but yet again the Rams clawed back and got inside the Red Zone with a minute left, only to come up short.
Now, they gave up the big plays and didn’t deserve to win the game. But LA showed they can absolutely hang with the best the NFL has to offer - even on the road and in the snow.
After a 1-4 start everyone had this team written off, but they battled back and went 9-3.
The Rams have grit. McVay can coach his ass off. Stafford is always banged up, but as long as he’s physically capable of taking the field - he’s going to fight like hell.
Speaking of physically capable…
In other bad news, although the Rams have a strong O-line, it’s also very thin. A few injuries and they’re in trouble. If they can’t protect him, Stafford is only a play away from being done for the season. At least the front office went out and signed a competent backup in Jimmy Garoppolo (kinda).
Stafford lost his beloved Cooper Kupp in the offseason. Puka Nacua is the new girl in town and they added Davante Adams. Kyren Williams continues to thrive.
The only real question for the Rams on offense is Stafford’s health.
LA appears to have nailed the 2024 Draft with Jared Verse and Brandon Fiske in the early rounds. Last year’s defense needed help and these guys led the way. They didn’t have a 1st rounder in 2025 but added Josiah Stewart (DE, Michigan) in the 3rd. Along with signing Poona Ford (DL) to boost the Front 7. Great moves, but the seconday remains a concern.
McVay enters his 9th year. The schedule is stacked against them early, and they could find themselves in another hole. In the first seven weeks they’ll play the Eagles and Ravens on the road along with the 49ers and Texans. After that it opens up, and it could set up for another strong effort down the stretch.
I (Greg) think this defense is better than people give them credit for, and the offense can keep up with anyone in the league. Need a piece of them going into the season.
The Picks:
Rams to make the Playoffs -150 (Greg)
Jared Verse Defensive Player of the Year +1500 (Greg)
Puka Nucua Offensive Player of the Year +1600 (Degen)
San Francisco 49ers
2024 Record: 6-11
2025 Win Total: 10.5 win total
SB Odds: +1900
Define mass exodous…
The Niners went all-in in 2023 for the Super Bowl and now it’s time for some new faces. Certainly not saying this team is due for regression. Hell, they have one of the highest win totals in the league! But this is a lot of talent/experence to lose.
Luckly, they are still loaded, and they brought in a thicc draft class led by Mykel Williams (DE, UGA) and Alfred Collins (Texas, DT). In all they added 11 guys in April.
Every skill player on the roster missed time in 2024. They went 2-6 in one score games. They were -10 in turnover margin. Nearly everything went wrong.
But this is a new year. And no one is looking forward to the clean slate more than San Francisco. They have THE EASIEST schedule in the NFL and are favored in 15 games. The Rams, Bucs and Texans are the only 2024 Playoff opponents on the schedule and those games come in the earlier part of the season.
Brock Purdy got a big contract and he’ll be looking to prove he’s worth every penny.
Aiyuk will likely miss the first six weeks of the season, but they still have plenty of players for Purdy to distribute to.
Making his return to San Franciso is DC Robert Saleh. After a brief/disguisting tenure as Jets HC, hes teaming up with Shanahan again. He’s proven to be a great DC and you can’t blame him for everything that went wrong in NY. The anchors to the D are still there with Fred Warner and Nick Bosa.
It’s a stong roster, but it’s top heavy. A few injuries could have a major impact and year-over-year SF is one of the most injured teams. Surprisingly, Shanahan has only had a winning record in 4 of his 8 season as a head coach.
The Super Bowl is a stretch even though they have one of the highest win totals, but this team is boom or bust given the injury history and lack of overall depth.
The schedule makes this win total feel a bit too easy…
The Picks:
Mykel Williams Defensive Rookie of the Year +800 (Degen & Greg)
Seattle Seahawks
2024 Record: 10-7
2025 Win Total: 7.5
SB Odds: +5500
There are offensive makeovers, and then there’s the Seattle Seahawks.
Geno - Gone. DK - Gone. Hell, even Tyler Lockett is gone. And they brought in Klint Kubiak to lead the offense.
Sam Darnold got a 3 yr/ $100M contract after his performace with the Vikings.
Quick trip down memory lane… remember when the Seahwaks gave Matt Flynn a big contact in 2012 after coming off the Packers bench the year before? This feels kind of like that. Buying a guy at the top of the market.
Yes, he was amazing in Minnesota, but his six years prior suggest otherwise. It’s tough to say if Darnold is truly an upgrade to Geno. At best it feels like a lateral move with more downside.
With DK and Lockett leaving, the big question is if JSN can be the premier guy. To date he’s spent his career in the slot with deep threats on the outside. Yes, they brought in Cooper Kupp but his stats have been declining since the 2021 season and he’s struggled to stay healthy.
Not saying Darnold will fall flat, but his time before the Vikings is a bit of a red flag. The bigger concern is the difference in protection. Minnesota had a strong O-line and elite wide receivers - Darnold cashed in on it. Things could get ugly if opponents can frequently get pressure.
It’s not often that a RB has a career year in his 8th season, but that’s exactly what Kubiak did with Alvin Kamara. K9 or Charbonett could be primed for a massive year based on this alone. Kubiak might get a bad rap for the performace with the Saints last year, but when Carr was healthy his offense could score. His experience with Taysum Hill suggest he could get creative with Jalen Milroe on the bench.
The biggest benefit in signing Kubiak is letting 2nd year HC Mike Macdonald focus on the defense. It’s where he thrived in Baltimore and he certainly has the pieces to keep them performing as a upper tier unit.
So, let’s recap. Lateral move at QB, upgrade at OC, potential for improvement on defense. The schedule is relatively easy.
So why is a team that won 10 games last year sitting at a 7.5 win total?
Of their 10 wins last year, how many were against winning teams? TWO!
Bo Nix on the road in his first career start
Rams in Week 18, resting starters
We talked about the Cardinals late season fall off. Last year both games agasinst Arizona came after Week 11, this year they both come before Week 10. The Niners should be a much better team. Unless Stafford gets hurt, the Rams will be strong contenders as well.
I’m (Greg) a believer in Kubiak, but I also think wins will be tough to come by for this squad. They are a bit trendy, and I think their 2024 record is giving them more credit than they deserve.
Bit of a mixed bag on how we want to bet on this team at Degenerate HQ.
The Picks:
Seahawks UNDER 7.5 Wins +115 (Greg)
Seahawks to finish 4th in division +145 (Greg)
Seahawks UNDER 8.5 Wins -145 (Steak)
RECAP
NFC West Bets
Jonathan Gannon Coach of the Year +2000 (Greg)
Over 8.5 Wins -120 (Steak)
Marcin Harrison Jr. OVER 975.5 Receiving Yards -115 (Steak & Degen)
Kyler MVP +5000 (Steak)
Mykel Williams Defensive Rookie of the Year +800 (Degen & Greg)
Rams to make the Playoffs -150 (Greg)
Jared Verse Defensive Player of the Year +1500 (Greg)
Puka Nucua Offensive Player of the Year +1600 (Degen)
Seahawks UNDER 7.5 Wins +115 (Greg)
Seahawks to finish 4th in division +145 (Greg)
Seahawks UNDER 8.5 Wins -145 (Steak)