49ers’ NFC West Odds Continue Worsening Ahead of Minicamp

• The San Francisco 49ers’ odds to win the NFC have dipped from +450 to +550
• Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was sacked 13 times in less than three games last season
• The 49ers have a slew of players returning from major season-ending surgeries

The San Francisco 49ers’ odds to win the NFC West were at +450 on May 1st but have since tumbled down to +550. Is there a good reason for the drop, or are they worth a flier to win now that there’s more value on the board? Let’s take a closer look.

2019 NFC West Odds

*Odds taken 06/05/19

Why the Drop in Odds to Win the NFC West?

There really isn’t a good reason for it in terms of the news. Not much has changed for the 49ers in the last month. The Los Angeles Rams have held steady in that span while the Seattle Seahawks’ NFL divisional odds have shortened slightly. However, that’s not news related. The only thing we can surmise is that some sharp money has come in on Seattle.

49ers Offense Has a Lot to Prove

It’s a big year for Kyle Shanahan and his 49ers as – up and down the roster – they have plenty to prove. It starts with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who is coming off a gruesome knee injury last year. However, you might recall that the 49ers looked lousy in their first three games under him, so it’s not exactly as if he was lighting the world on fire like he did when he took over in 2017.

Some of the sights and sounds of #49ers practice Wednesday during their second week of organized team activities. pic.twitter.com/42ejfj2dvD

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) May 30, 2019

Garoppolo will have pressure to prove that he was worth the trade and worth the money. He has plenty of help around him – much more than he did in 2017 – so he has to deliver.

Speaking of the help, there’s tight end George Kittle, who had a record-setting year last season. Can he duplicate that? There are running backs Jerrick McKinnon, who is coming off a torn ACL, Matt Breida, who has a slightly torn pectoral muscle, and there’s Tevin Coleman, who was signed. Is any a true no. 1?

And can the offensive line, which allowed Garoppolo to be sacked 13 times in less than three full games last season, be any better?

#49ers' George Kittle is the best TE in the league after the catch. pic.twitter.com/qfj63V3DOk

— Dylan DeSimone (@DylanADeSimone) June 2, 2019

Those were all questions that we didn’t know the answers to a month ago and still don’t know now. If you liked the 49ers before, you should still like them now that you’re getting a better payday.

Can the Defense Deliver?

The 49ers defense looks just like the offense: there’s so much upside that it wouldn’t be a surprise if this team made the playoffs. At the same time, they have a slew of players coming off of injuries and there is plenty of change. Can it all come together?

Cornerback Jason Verrett and linebacker Kwon Alexander were quality signings, but both are coming off season-ending injuries from last year.

Cornerback Jason Verrett and linebacker Kwon Alexander were quality signings, but both are coming off season-ending injuries from last year. Richard Sherman is also fresh off a significant injury. Beyond that, how big of an impact will linebacker Nick Bosa have as a rookie, and what will Dee Ford, who was acquired from Kansas City, bring to the table?

The defense is also switching from the 3-4 to the 4-3, which often takes a year to make a successful transition. It just adds to the question marks on this roster.

Bet the Seahawks

At the end of the day, the Los Angeles Rams are the safest bet in this division. However, if you’re looking to take a flier on the next-best team, it looks like it would be the Seahawks. Yes, Doug Baldwin does look like his career is coming to an end but the Seahawks did draft DK Metcalf and two other wideouts.

This is a team that is far more proven than San Francisco. Could the 49ers win the division? Absolutely. They have the talent to really make some noise in the NFC. Are they a good bet before we’ve seen them come together in OTA’s, training camp or preseason games? Absolutely not.

The Seahawks are the safer bet here as the alternative to the Rams.