Despite losing three games in a row and five of their last six the Seattle Seahawks can still win the NFC West division title if they upset the St. Louis Rams this weekend.
Seattle is currently 6-9 on the season, one game back of the Rams who lead the division at 7-8. Last week the Seahawks dropped their third in a row after getting lit up by Tampa Bay 38-15 as a 5.5-point underdog. Matt Hasselbeck exited early on with a hip injury and was replaced by backup QB Charlie Whitehurst.
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Whitehurst completed 11-of-18 passes for 66 yards with no touchdowns. Hasselbeck hasn't practiced all week and will likely sit in favor of Whitehurst this weekend baring a quick recovery late in the week.
The Rams snapped a short two-game losing streak right on time last week with a 25-17 win over San Francisco as a 2.5-point favorite on the NFL odds. Sam Bradford passed for 292 yards with a touchdown and Steven Jackson rushed for 48 yards and a TD on 24 carries. [ Matchup stats and betting trends ]
In Week 4 the Rams upset the Seahawks 20-3 as a 2-point home underdog. Bradford outdueled Hasselbeck in the upset, passing for 289 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Hasselbeck passed for 191 yards with no touchdowns and a pick.
Before the Week 4 loss the Seahawks had won 10 straight versus the Rams and posted an 8-2 record ATS. Seattle has won five in a row at home against the Rams while going 4-1 ATS and the last time the Rams won in Seattle was the 2004 season.
The NFL odds are expecting that to change this weekend as the Rams are 3-point road favorites at Sportsbook.
The final Wild Card spot is also up for grabs in the NFC this weekend with the Green Bay Packers in the driver's seat. As long as the Packers can beat the Bears at home this weekend they're in.
Last week Green Bay routed the Giants 45-17 as a 3-point favorite in a must-win game. Aaron Rodgers made a huge return from a concussion and passed for 404 yards with four touchdowns.
The Bears got past the Jets 38-34 as a 3-point favorite last week. Jay Cutler threw three touchdown passes and ran in for another score, while Matt Forte rumbled for 113 yards and a TD on 19 carries. [ Best Bears line is +10 at Sportsbook - pocket a tidy $125 bonus as a new player ]
Back in Week 3 the Bears upset the Packers 20-17 as a 3-point home underdog. Green Bay practically beat themselves that night after committing 18 penalties. In this weekend's rematch the Packers are 10-point favorites, as the oddsmakers are covering their bases in case the Bears decide to rest a few starters.
How the Packers do against the Bears this weekend will decide the fate of the Giants and the Buccaneers. If the Bears do upset the Packers the Giants can sneak into the postseason with a win over the Redskins. The Bucs need even move help to get in; they need both the Packers and Giants to lose and they need to upset New Orleans.
The Giants are a 4-point road favorite versus Washington. In Week 13 the Giants crushed the Redskins 31-7 as an 8-point favorite behind four touchdowns from Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. New York has won five straight versus Washington while going 4-0-1 ATS.
The Bucs are 7.5-point road underdogs against the Saints. In Week 6 the Bucs lost to New Orleans 31-6 as a 5.5-point underdog. Most of the betting action is on Tampa Bay.
