San Francisco 49ers: 2009 (8-8) – San Fran once again comes into the year with high hopes hinged on Alex Smith. Smith After being handed the starting job in week six and given a tandem of targets in Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis he went on to post career bests in Completion percentage at 60.5% and QB rating at 81.5. Despite the sudden retirement of Glenn Coffee the Niners added all purpose back Brian Westbrook to complement Frank Gore in an already above average running attack. The defense returns intact as a unit that ranked 3rd in DVOA according to Football Outsiders and 4th in points allowed. Even the Schedule turns in favor of the Niners as they play the AFC west after goin 1-3 vs the competitive AFC south in 2009. Diamond Sportsbook currently has the the Over/Under set at nine games. With and improving offense added to a stout defense San Fran should see an improvement over last year leading to more than eight wins Over 9 wins -110 at DSI or over 8.5 wins -200 at BetPhoenix both look like solid bets.
Arizona Cardinals: 2009 (10-6) – Arizona went 10-6 seemingly on the strength of the air attack led last year by Kurt Warner. The numbers show that arizona only ranked 12th in passing offense accoring to Football Outsiders DVOA to go along with 13th in rushing. The problem starts with the retirement of Kurt Warner after another top notch passing season. Last years back Matt Leinart seems poised to be shown the door leaving Cleveland cast off Derek Anderson at the starter. Derek Anderson is by most measure a terrible QB, Football Outsiders has him ranked 44th of 46 QB last year and his 42.1 QB rating was the lowest of anyone who threw 100 passes. The defense ranked 11th according to DVOA and 14th in points allowed, but has 5 new starters among the linebacker and secondary. The card went 3-1 vs the tough NFC north last year, but will be hard pressed to repeat that vs and improved NFC south this year. The Card will have to lean heavily on the running attack of Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells, but its been a long time since the cards relied on an effective ground attack. Diamond Sports has the over under listed at 8. Getting under 8 wins at -140 is a good bet. Betphoenix has under 7.5 listed at +105. Under is the way to go on the Cards in 2010.
Seattle Seahawks: 2009 (5-11) – With new coach Pete Carrol the Seahawks look to rebound after a pair of dismal seasons going 9-23 over the last two years. Matt Hasselbeck hopes to remain healthy and improve over over a sub-par season in 2009 where he posted a 75.1 QB rating. He will have a hard time with a thin receiving core consisting of Deion Branch, USC alum Mike Williams and Rookie Golden Tate. The running likewise is up in the air. Julius Jones has had two years as the started and failed to make an impression averaging just 675 yards and 2 TD per season. Second year player Justin Forsett will get more of an optionality after showing promise in a limited role last year, racking up 614 yard on just 114 carries. The defense has ranked low the last two years 30 and 27 according to football outsiders DVOA, and 26th the last two years in terms of point differential. Depite two Solid Line backers in Lofa Tatupu and Arron Curry the addition of rookie Earl Thomas will form the core of the defense, but it looks like it won't be enough to make and vast improvement. The Over/Under is set at 6.5 at Diamond sports., even money for the under seems like the way to go as there doesn't seem to be much improvement to the team. Bet Phoenix has the under listed at 7.5 but tougher -200.
Arizona Cardinals: 2009 (10-6) – Arizona went 10-6 seemingly on the strength of the air attack led last year by Kurt Warner. The numbers show that arizona only ranked 12th in passing offense accoring to Football Outsiders DVOA to go along with 13th in rushing. The problem starts with the retirement of Kurt Warner after another top notch passing season. Last years back Matt Leinart seems poised to be shown the door leaving Cleveland cast off Derek Anderson at the starter. Derek Anderson is by most measure a terrible QB, Football Outsiders has him ranked 44th of 46 QB last year and his 42.1 QB rating was the lowest of anyone who threw 100 passes. The defense ranked 11th according to DVOA and 14th in points allowed, but has 5 new starters among the linebacker and secondary. The card went 3-1 vs the tough NFC north last year, but will be hard pressed to repeat that vs and improved NFC south this year. The Card will have to lean heavily on the running attack of Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells, but its been a long time since the cards relied on an effective ground attack. Diamond Sports has the over under listed at 8. Getting under 8 wins at -140 is a good bet. Betphoenix has under 7.5 listed at +105. Under is the way to go on the Cards in 2010.
Seattle Seahawks: 2009 (5-11) – With new coach Pete Carrol the Seahawks look to rebound after a pair of dismal seasons going 9-23 over the last two years. Matt Hasselbeck hopes to remain healthy and improve over over a sub-par season in 2009 where he posted a 75.1 QB rating. He will have a hard time with a thin receiving core consisting of Deion Branch, USC alum Mike Williams and Rookie Golden Tate. The running likewise is up in the air. Julius Jones has had two years as the started and failed to make an impression averaging just 675 yards and 2 TD per season. Second year player Justin Forsett will get more of an optionality after showing promise in a limited role last year, racking up 614 yard on just 114 carries. The defense has ranked low the last two years 30 and 27 according to football outsiders DVOA, and 26th the last two years in terms of point differential. Depite two Solid Line backers in Lofa Tatupu and Arron Curry the addition of rookie Earl Thomas will form the core of the defense, but it looks like it won't be enough to make and vast improvement. The Over/Under is set at 6.5 at Diamond sports., even money for the under seems like the way to go as there doesn't seem to be much improvement to the team. Bet Phoenix has the under listed at 7.5 but tougher -200.