By: Field Level Media
NFL Over Under Wins: NFC West Over Under Wins Edition
Arizona Cardinals Over Under Wins:
In a rough and tumble division, the Cardinals are the upstarts and capable of getting to nine wins if everything breaks perfectly. That’s a huge jump after losing 10 games in 2019 with one tie. We aren’t yet sold on a rebuilt defense or the ability of the offensive line to consistently win in the fourth quarter.
Arizona Cardinals 2020 schedule
Sept. 13 at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Sept. 20 vs. Washington Redskins, 4:05 p.m. ET
Sept. 27 vs. Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET
Oct. 4 at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Oct. 11 at New York Jets, 1:00 p.m. ET
Oct. 19 at Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Oct. 25 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET
BYE
Nov. 8 vs. Miami Dolphins, 4:25 p.m. ET
Nov. 15 vs. Buffalo Bills, 4:05 p.m. ET
Nov. 19 at Seattle Seahawks, 8:25 p.m. ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon)
Nov. 29 at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET
Dec. 6 vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET
Dec. 13 at New York Giants, 1:00 p.m. ET
Dec. 20 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:05 p.m. ET
Week 16 vs. San Francisco 49ers, TBD
Jan. 3 at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET
2019 record: 5-10-1
Last playoff appearance: 2015
PointsBet over-under for Cardinals wins: 7
FLM projects: 6 wins
Upset watch: Arizona is not an easy place to visit, and defending the Kliff Kingsbury offense comes with many caveats. The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t have enough pass rush or quality cornerback play last season to shut down the league’s best passing games, and the Cardinals are shaping up to be a threat for teams that can’t put the QB on the ground.
Longshot wager: Kingsbury is +2200 to be NFL Coach of the Year, right in line with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Pete Carroll of the Seahawks, and 12th from the top (Patriots coach Bill Belichick is +1000). To get that award, it’ll likely take more than nine wins and big noise in the playoffs. KK could cash if he hits 11 wins and his offense realizes its prolific potential.
Los Angeles Rams Over Under Wins
The Rams’ subtractions in the offseason go beyond the system. A defense anchored by perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aaron Donald helps, but mediocre will not float in the NFC West.
Los Angeles Rams 2020 schedule
Sept. 13 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4 p.m. ET
Sept. 20 at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET
Sept. 27 at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
Oct. 4 vs. New York Giants, 4:05 p.m. ET
Oct. 11 at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
Oct. 18 at San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Oct. 26 vs. Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Nov. 1 at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
BYE
Nov. 15 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET
Nov. 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Nov. 29 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET
Dec. 6 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET
Dec. 10 vs. New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m. ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon)
Week 15 vs. New York Jets, TBD
Dec. 27 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET
Jan. 3 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
2019 record: 9-7
Last playoff appearance: 2018
PointsBet over-under for Rams wins: 8.5
FLM projects: 7 wins
Upset watch: Drawing the Cowboys in Los Angeles sets up nicely for the Rams if the plan to ball-control their way to victories pans out. Others to watch in the Rams’ favor are the pair of duels with the San Francisco 49ers. Their 34-31 shootout in December 2019 was an epic battle of offensive brainpower, with the 49ers winning on Robbie Gould’s late FG.
Longshot wager: The Rams are +450 — third of four teams — to win the NFC West behind the heavily favored 49ers (-110) and Seattle Seahawks (+225). But beating the 49ers and holding their own against Seattle (4-1 in the past five meetings) makes L.A. a reasonable investment to take the division again.
San Francisco 49ers Over Under Wins
The Super Bowl runner-up hangover is a real trend. But scratching out potential results, it’s easy to envision 10 wins for this roster. If the 49ers avoid injuries, 12 isn’t that big of a stretch.
San Francisco 49ers 2020 schedule
Sept. 13 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
Sept. 20 at New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET
Sept. 27 at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
Oct. 4 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Oct. 11 vs. Miami Dolphins, 4:05 p.m. ET
Oct. 18 vs. Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Oct. 25 at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. ET
Nov. 1 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET
Nov. 5 vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon)
Nov. 15 at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m. ET
BYE
Nov. 29 at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET
Dec. 7 vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Dec. 13 vs. Washington Redskins, 4:25 p.m. ET
Dec. 20 at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Week 16 at Arizona Cardinals, TBD
Jan. 3 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET
2019 record: 13-3
Last playoff appearance: 2019
PointsBet over-under for 49ers wins: 10.5
FLM projects: 11 wins
Upset watch: Going to New Orleans is no stroll even for San Francisco, and the 49ers are all too familiar with the idea after last year’s 48-46 shootout. These are the kinds of losses that live in the mind and on the bulletin board of Saints quarterback Drew Brees and head coach Sean Payton.
Longshot wager: Many would rather buy quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at +7000, but tight end George Kittle (+8000) has the makings of an MVP in this system. If he gets to 110 catches and clears 15 touchdowns as he plays for a long-term contract, Kittle would get a ton of attention to go along with a schedule loaded with national TV exposure.
Seattle Seahawks Over Under Wins
Not many saw the Seahawks’ 10-2 start coming in 2019, and if not for a litany of injuries that contributed to a 1-3 finish, a 13-3 season was feasible. Yes, the division is stronger, but crossover games with the NFC East and AFC East set up Seattle to hit 10 victories for the seventh time in eight seasons.
Seattle Seahawks 2020 schedule
Sept. 13 at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
Sept 20 vs. New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sept. 27 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET
Oct. 4 at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
Oct. 11 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
BYE
Oct. 25 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET
Nov. 1 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Nov. 8 at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
Nov. 15 at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET
Nov. 19 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 8:20 p.m. ET (FOX/NFL Network/Amazon)
Nov. 30 at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Dec. 6 vs. New York Giants, 4:05 p.m. ET
Dec. 13 vs. New York Jets, 4:05 p.m. ET
Dec. 20 at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
Dec. 27 vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET
Jan. 3 at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET
2019 record: 11-5
Last playoff appearance: 2019
PointsBet over-under for Seahawks wins: 9.5
FLM projects: 11 wins
Upset watch: The road trip to Washington and the recently reloaded defensive line of the Redskins could be perilous, but we’d also raise the caution flag on the long leg from Seattle to Miami, which comes with pratfalls beyond jetlag. The Dolphins were dangerous in a nothing-to-lose sense last season and will likely be massive underdogs in this one.
Longshot wager: Linebacker Bobby Wagner is +3300 to win Defensive Player of the Year. Bet $2 to win $66? Sure, we like that return. Wagner turns 30 in June and has relatively high miles, but we believe coach Pete Carroll and Lofa Tatupu when they say Wagner has plenty of good years left. If the defensive line comes together, one more great year isn’t out of the question.
–Field Level Media
