Odds-makers have weighed in on the 2011 NFL season. Yesterday, I received a nice long email from the friendly folks in Vegas - because I run a major NFL site, not because I'm a compulsive gambler - with NFL win total odds. The St. Louis Rams have an over/under of 7.5 wins for this season.
Let's compare the Rams over/under of 7.5 wins. New England and Green Bay have the highest over/under with 11.5 wins. Atlanta, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have an over/under of 10.5 wins. Carolina brings up the rear with a 4.5 over/under.
Surely, the Rams, with a gifted young quarterback and a beefed up defense, are tops in the NFC West, right?
Sort of. They're tied for the highest over/under in the division with the San Francisco 49ers. I'm not sure how someone gave the 49ers, a team in transition with Alex Smith penciled in as the starting QB, an over/under of 7.5 wins. And what do the Rams have to do to get some respect...besides, you know, win games? Seattle has an over/under of 6.5 wins, and for my money, I think they're the Rams' only threat within the division. Arizona the same over/under as Seattle. Go figure.
It should be noted that the Rams have better odds of topping 7.5 wins than the 49ers do.