Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

2023 NFC West Predictions with Betting Odds and Expert Analysis

by Joey House - 7/28/2023

NFC West predictions Trey Lance San Francisco 49ers

The NFC West looks like it will be a two-team race again between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. However, if the Los Angeles Rams or Arizona Cardinals can bounce back from the crippling injuries to their QBs from last year, it could be a much more competitive campaign. Trust that Docs will guide you every step through the 2023 NFL season and point you in the direction of the winners.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

San Francisco 49ers

NFC West: -175

NFC Conference: +400

Super Bowl: +1000

Win Totals (O/U): 10.5

2022: 13-4 SU, 11-6 ATS, 9-8 O/U

San Francisco tried to replace Jimmy Garoppolo with Trey Lance last year, but Lance's season-ending injury in the second game led to Garoppolo resuming the starting role. He went 7-3 SU and 4-6 ATS until his injury in week 13. Enter Brock Purdy, who finished the regular season 5-0 SU (4-1 ATS) and won two playoff games before his own injury in the NFC Championship. Now, the preseason camp raises the question of the week 1 starting quarterback between Lance, the 3rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, following Garoppolo's departure to Las Vegas. The Niners were solid on each side of the ball, averaging 26.5 PPG (6th in the NFL), and led the league in points against with 16.3 PPG allowed. San Francisco was an impressive 12-3 ATS last year (including playoffs), for an 80% cover percentage. One key matchup to watch is their rivalry with the LA Rams. The 49ers are 9-4 SU but 10-3 ATS (they play each other in weeks 2 and 18). The division odds are too long with the uncertainty of the QB position. However, once that gets settled out, it will be very difficult to dislodge San Francisco from the division crown. The overall strength of the team makes the OVER 10.5 seasonal win total the best futures bet in the Niners' market.

Seattle Seahawks

NFC West: +210

NFC Conference: +1400

Super Bowl: +3000

Win Totals (O/U): 8.5

2022: 9-8 SU, 7-10 ATS, 8-9 O/U

After exceeding expectations last year, sailing over their 6.5-win total, and making the playoffs, the Seahawks look to take the next step and compete for the NFC West crown. The offensive nucleus that was 9th in the league in scoring returns largely intact, losing only backup running back Rashaad Penny. However, no significant upgrades were made, either, although when you have a 1,000-yard rusher (Kenneth Walker 1,050) and two 1,000-yard receivers (D.K. Metcalf-1,048 and Tyler Lockett-1,033), maybe significant upgrades aren't needed. They did draft WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State, so that could beef up an already strong receiving corps. They lose defensive tackle/end Quinton Jefferson (5.5 sacks) but replace him with LB Bobby Wagner (6 sacks, 2 interceptions, 10 tackles for loss). Even though the Seahawks made the playoffs as a wild card, they were poor as a favorite last season, going 3-3 SU but only 1-5 ATS. Seattle is widely known for having a decided home-field advantage, which seems evident in the 3-6 O/U record at home and a 6-2 O/U record on the road. I think they take a big step forward, not only going over their total but mounting a serious threat to San Francisco's divisional dominance.

Los Angeles Rams

NFC West: +1000

NFC Conference: +4500

Super Bowl: +8000

Win Totals (O/U): 6.5

2022: 5-12 SU 6-9-2 ATS 6-11 O/U

It's difficult to remember that this team is only one season removed from winning the Super Bowl. Losing QB Matt Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp during the season was a blow, but they were only 3-6 when Stafford went down and had only beaten the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, and Carolina Panthers. In those nine games he started, Stafford threw for 300 yards only once, 308 yards in a losing effort against Dallas. The offense was dead last in total yards gained, 27th in each of the three categories: points scored, passing yards, and rushing yards gained. They didn't gain much help but certainly lost a lot: their top two sack leaders, their interception leader, and their backup QB. With an offense so inept, it makes sense why they UNDER cashed in 11 of the 17 games they played in, especially the 1-7 O/U mark away from Sofi Field. With Stafford coming off of a major injury at the ripe, old age of 35, this season does not look promising at all for the Rams. There are a handful of teams with a 6.5-win total this season, but the LA Rams are the weakest of that group. Luckily, they have their division mate Arizona Cardinals to stay above in the cellar.

Arizona Cardinals

NFC West: +2700

NFC Conference: +10000

Super Bowl: +20000

Win Totals (O/U): 4.5

2022: 4-13 SU, 8-9-0 ATS, 9-7-1 O/U

Once the darling pick of the football "pundits", the Arizona Cardinals fell to the bottom of the heap quickly and don't look to be rising anytime soon. They fired Kliff Kingsbury and replaced him with the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The biggest question is if QB Kyler Murray will be able to play at all this season following his grade 3 ACL tear last December. Regardless if it's Colt McCoy, Clayton Tune, or some other QB, they will not be throwing to DeAndre Hopkins, who left for Tennessee. While their offense was particularly good last year, their defense was worse. Arizona ranked second-to-last in total points allowed, 29th in first downs allowed, and dead last in average starting field position allowed (their own 31.3-yard line). Even though the Cardinals had a respectable ATS mark in 2022, the one area they struggled in was divisional games, going 1-5 ATS against their fellow NFC West brethren. There are so many holes in this team that this 4.5-win total actually seems high. The key to profiting off of the Cardinals this season will be looking for individual games.

Best Bets and NFC West Predictions

Best Bets

Seattle Seahawks OVER 8.5 total wins

Los Angeles Rams UNDER 6.5 total wins

Arizona Cardinals UNDER 4.5 total wins

Divisional Winner

Seattle Seahawks +210

Get NFL picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bet premium picks by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

 

Most Recent NFL Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers