[Tommy]

Tony Adams continues his NFL betting series examining the contenders. Today he looks over the NFC West. Seattle is head and shoulders above the rest of the division, but watch out for the Cardinals and Rams who hope to make things interesting.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are 10:1 to win the Super Bowl, 9:2 to win the NFC Championship, and 2:5 to win the NFC West at VIP.com.

The Seahawks will have to overcome what is fast becoming known as the “Super Bowl curse” to make the playoffs again this year. In this decade, not a single team has reached the playoffs the season after they lost the Super Bowl.

However, it would take a brave, or foolish, man to write-off this Seahawks unit. They ooze class and have the ability to blow rivals off the field with an offense considered the best in the NFL.

Quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck enjoyed his most productive season last year as the Seahawks compiled a 13-3 regular season record in impressive style, racking up more points than any other NFL team.

Rival coaches won't have to look far to find Hasselbeck's favorite teammate. Running back Shaun Alexander, a player with a reputation for inconsistency in previous seasons, was a revelation last year. He got the crucial first downs when they mattered the most, and his 28 rushing touchdowns was a new NFL record.

Hasselbeck also has many good options at wide receiver. Darrell Jackson and former Viking, Nate Burleson, are both class acts who revel in open space. Burleson struggled last year with Minnesota, but good judges believe he has the ability to turn that around in different colors.

The defense again looks very solid, and after leading the NFL in sacks last year, is primed for another powerhouse season.

The line performed beyond expectations in 2005 and the linebacking unit should be stronger with the addition of Julian Peterson from San Francisco. Lofa Tatapu, after a sensational rookie
season at inside linebacker, should continue to develop. The same can be said for sophomore Leroy Hill, who plays the strong side.

Summing Up: This team is a real threat for both the NFC Championship and the Super Bowl. The Seahawks have few, if any, weaknesses, and a relatively easy schedule is another factor in their favor.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are 35:1 to win the Super Bowl, 18:1 to win the NFC Championship, and 15:4 to win the NFC West at VIP.com.

Rookie quarterback, Matt Leinart has ended his holdout and he is the backup to veteran quarterback Kurt Warner for now. It's been a struggle for Warner in recent seasons and Leinart, although raw, will give Coach Dennis Green plenty of food for thought.

The Cardinals have some potent attacking weapons, notably Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. They are rated by many as the best receiving duo in the game. Despite the problems at quarterback last season, the pair came up with 17 touchdowns between them, a good sign for the coming campaign.

Arizona is also blessed with plenty of other receiving talent, with rookie tight end, Leonard Pope joining the underrated Bryant Johnson.

While the Cardinals had a great passing game last season, they also produced the NFL's worst running stats. However, the acquisition of All-Pro running back, Edgerrin James from the Colts should provide a quick fix in this department.

With the Colts last year, James ran for 11 more touchdowns than the entire Arizona team, a statistic that shows both his ability, and the Cardinals' deficiencies last season.

The defensive line was a problem last season, partly because of injury. Defensive end, Bertrand Berry returns after missing half of last season. Berry had six sacks in eight games, and Chike Okeafor had 7.5 in a full season. Keep those two healthy all year and it is a very potent combination.

The Cardinals also beefed up the defensive tackle position with the addition of Kendrick Clancy from the Giants, and draftees, Gabe Watson and Jonathan Lewis.

Summing Up: If Warner can stay healthy and productive, and the defense continues to improve, then the Cardinals have a chance at the playoffs. A move to a new stadium and some smart signings could see the start of a new era in Arizona.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams are 75:1 to win the Super Bowl, 40:1 to win the NFC Championship, and 8:1 to win the NFC West at VIP.com.

The heat is on the Rams' offensive line to give quarterback Marc Bulger more protection than they did last year. St Louis allowed 46 sacks last season and Bulger finished the year a bruised and battered man.

Injuries restricted Bulger to eight games in 2005 and the Rams suffered as a result. If he stays healthy, they will improve on last year's miserly total of six wins. The 6-10 mark was their worst record since 1998, and it helped send long-serving head coach, Mike Martz packing.

Bulger has a wealth of talent at wide receiver to choose from. Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Shaun McDonald, and Kevin Curtis bagged 18 touchdowns between them last season, and should improve on that tally in 2006.

Add in running back Steven Jackson, a potent, attacking weapon who rushed for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns last year, and things are looking good for the offense.

Defense was a major problem for the Rams last year and new coach Scott Linehan has made improving this aspect of the team a priority.

The Rams were ranked 31st in the NFL in points allowed, and looked brittle in just about every game they played.

Several non-performers from recent seasons have been sent packing and highly-rated newcomers, tackles La'Roi Glover and Claude Wroten, should improve the Rams' poor rating against ground assaults. Another key addition will be outside linebacker, Will Witherspoon.

Defensive ends, Leonard Little and Tony Hargrove came up with 16 sacks between them last season and will again worry opposition quarterbacks on a regular basis. The signing of safety Corey Chavous should make their job a little easier, while rookie cornerback Tye Hill is also one to watch.

Summing Up: This is a team that can step up this season, provided the newcomers on defense play up to their ability. The Rams must also play better on the road, an area that has hampered them in recent years.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are 200:1 to win the Super Bowl, 75:1 to win the NFC Championship, and 20:1 to win the NFC West at VIP.com.

Sadly for the 49ers, the glory days of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice seemed light years away in 2005. It could feel like an even more distant memory in 2006.

Ranked the worst team in the NFL by both the statistics and the critics, the 49ers don't inspire much confidence heading into the new campaign.

However, last week's exhibition win over the Bears, and a strong showing from young quarterback, Alex Smith, have at least given the 49ers a possible ray of sunshine.

Quarterback has been a major headache for the franchise since the heady days of Montana and Steve Young. For the past two seasons, the 49ers have thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, with Smith having a cruel initiation in his rookie season in 2005.

The 22-year-old from the University of Utah produced one touchdown and a worrying 11 interceptions. He also had 11 fumbles to finish with a quarterback rating of just 40.8. Coach, Mike Nolan believes Smith can turn it all around this season, and his start against the Bears was promising enough.

The 49ers have plenty of other question marks as well. The offensive line was awful last year, allowing 48 sacks, while the defense was run-over time and again by eager opponents smelling blood.

Injured left tackle, Jonas Jennings returns to boost the line, while the arrival of reliable Dallas guard, Larry Allen is another positive. High hopes are held for free agent wide receiver, Antonio Bryant.

Running back, Frank Gore ground out over 600 yards last season, a fair effort on a struggling team. Gore should improve those numbers, especially if Smith keeps opposing defenses honest with a passing game.

San Francisco’s defense was a headache last year. Gone from that unit are linebackers Julian Peterson and Andre Carter, and cornerbacks Ahmed Plummer and Mike Rumph. Those departures appear to spell even more trouble.

Nolan has placed his faith in two well-credentialed rookie linebackers, Manny Lawson of North Carolina and Tennessee’s Parys Haralson, to keep rival quarterbacks honest. Defensive ends, Bryant Young and Marques Douglas and nose tackle Anthony Adams were reasonably effective, and they are proving themselves consistent performers in tough situations.

Summing Up: The 49ers won just four games last season, and it's difficult to imagine them improving that total in 2006. The good news is that they were competitive at home, and if they can get some early confidence, they may improve. Don't bank on it though.

Courtesy http://sportsedge.vip.com/