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Seahawks Clinch NFC West, See Super Bowl Odds Improve to +1100, Rams’ Odds Fade to +1900

Michael Harrison

by Michael Harrison in NFL Football

Updated Dec 27, 2020 · 5:55 PM PST

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson throwing a pass in a game.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-9. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
  • The Seattle Seahawks have won their first NFC West title since 2016 after defeating the LA Rams 20-9
  • How the Seahawks and Rams Super Bowl odds changed following Seattle’s win
  • Should you wager on either one to win the Lombardi Trophy at their current odds?

It didn’t look pretty throughout the contest but the Seattle Seahawks defeated their arch nemesis LA Rams 20-9 to secure their first division title in four seasons. Wins have been hard to come by for Pete Carroll and co. against Sean McVay, with this just being their second victory in the last seven meetings.

Both offenses sputtered in this one, with each team posting a pair of field goals to head into halftime with a 6-6 deadlock, but Russell Wilson didn’t turn the ball over and ran for a TD in the second half and iced the game with a 13-yard TD strike to Jacob Hollister while Jared Goff battled issues with a sore finger and also had a horrendous interception.

Seattle came into Week 16 with the fifth highest Super Bowl Odds at +1200, and those have improved slightly with this win. The Rams, meanwhile, fell from +1400 to +1900 as they could potentially miss out on the post-season altogether if they end up in a three-way tie at 9-7 along with the Cardinals and Bears.

Are the Seahawks or Rams worth wagering on to win the Lombardi Trophy at their current odds or should you pass on both NFC West foes?

Odds To Win Super Bowl 55

Team Odds
Kansas City Chiefs +175
Green Bay Packers +600
New Orleans Saints +750
Buffalo Bills +1000
Seattle Seahawks +1100
Baltimore Ravens +1300
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +1300
Tennessee Titans +1700
Los Angeles Rams +1900
Pittsburgh Steelers +2100

Odds as of Dec. 27 at DraftKings

Rams Suddenly Feel Broken

Though Jared Goff was able to move down the field and gain valuable first downs on short throws to his trusty receiver Cooper Kupp, he didn’t push the ball down the field at all against Seattle, and has been wildly inconsistent, allowing the Jets to win their first game of the season in week 15.

The Rams have scored over 24 points just twice in the last ten games which doesn’t inspire much confidence which wasn’t helped by a baffling Goff interception in this one.

As mentioned, there isn’t a huge margin for error either, because Arizona could beat the Rams in the final week and if Chicago continues to roll and upset Green Bay, LA will be on the outside look in for the playoffs, making their +1900 odds to win it all not very appealing.

An interesting team worth considering would be the Buccaneers who have won three in a row and sit at +1300. Any team led by Tom Brady will always have a strong chance and they’re getting hot at the perfect time.

Seahawks Defense Could Be Catalyst For Super Bowl Run

Through the first half of the season, the Seahawks abysmal passing defense was on pace to by far shatter historical records for the worst in NFL history, allowing an average of 30.4 points per game. Then in their ninth game, a light switch went off and Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. figured something out against the Rams. In the seven games since, including two versus the Rams, they’ve allowed an average of 15.0 points per contest.

Their ‘D’ has been playing great football just as the offense has taken big steps back. However, they still have Russell Wilson under center and have gotten considerably healthier lately with Rashaad Penny, Greg Olsen and Brandon Shell making their returns which could bode well for an extended playoff run.

Given that they’re starting to be somewhat reminiscent of their “Legion of Boom” days defensively, their +1100 odds to win the Super Bowl are easily digestible to wager on.

They even have an outside shot of being first in the NFC to secure a first round bye, if they beat San Fran in Week 17 and have the Packers lose their final two games to Tennessee and Chicago and if New Orleans falls to the Panthers.

Should they both stick where they are now in playoff seeding, they’d square off in the wild card round in Seattle which would likely be another defensive bloodbath.

Pick: Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl 55 (+1100)

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