NFL Betting: The Top Four NFC Favorites Following Free Agency

Free agency has been a whirlwind and it’s clearly reshuffled the deck in the NFL to a point. But even with all of the changes, the NFL football betting odds don’t look so different in the NFC. The favorites are still pretty much the same teams they were beforehand.

Here’s a look at the top four favorites according to the NFL online betting odds in the NFC right now:

1. Seattle Seahawks

Odds to Win NFC: 7/2

The Seahawks did have to let go of Chris Clemons, Golden Tate, Walter Thurmond, Brandon Browner and others in the past few weeks of free agency but they are still the NFC favorite on the NFL betting odds. When teams win a Super Bowl title, their players become highly valuable and expensive, and that’s why teams can’t hold onto everybody. The Seahawks knew they were going to lose several players and they did.

Yet, this team still has its best defensive players. Michael Bennett was retained. Richard Sherman is still there at cornerback. Kam Chancellor will still be in the safety spot. The same is true for Earl Thomas. This team lost some players, but it is still deep enough to be competitive in a battle with the 49ers for the NFC title. Those who bet on the NFL know that the Seahawks are still going to be one of the top five teams in the league next season.

2. San Francisco 49ers

Odds to Win NFC: 4/1

It hasn’t been the smoothest offseason for the 49ers. They’ve been working to beef up their secondary, which gave up big pass plays and was caught out of position in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks last January, but haven’t had much success. Perrish Cox and Chris Cook are part of the group of reinforcements this organization has brought aboard. That’s probably not enough considering Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown are gone, and holdover Chris Culliver was recently arrested on a felony.

On top of that, it’s well known that the 49ers’ management has endured a confrontational and uneasy relationship with head coach Jim Harbaugh. The relationship does not figure to last for a long period of time, but a lot of problems will go away with a Super Bowl championship this upcoming season. The 49ers still have the core parts of their roster intact and are well positioned to make a run at the title. Anything short of that, though, could lead to some significant changes.

3. Green Bay Packers

Odds to Win NFC: 13/2

The Packers brought Julius Peppers onto their roster to get a pass-rushing stud who can make Green Bay’s defense a lot more threatening. The Packers have been eliminated from the playoffs in each of the past two seasons by the San Francisco 49ers and running quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The Packers know that if they don’t become a quicker team on the edges of their defensive line, they won’t have the kinds of players who can chase down Kaepernick in open space. Peppers might have some miles under his tires, but he’s still a guy who can make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. This can make Green Bay’s defense better in an important way.

Although most of the attention will be on the Seahawks, 49ers and Eagles heading into the season, those looking for shrewd NFL betting tips might want to keep the Packers as a quality sleeper pick.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Odds to Win NFC: 11/1

The Eagles have, like the 49ers, sought to improve their secondary in the offseason. The additions of Nate Allen and Nolan Carroll are marginal moves, though. The NFC features quarterbacks like Russell Wilson, Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers and other quality passers, and they won’t be shying away from throwing at Allen or Carroll.

Those betting on the NFL know that the big news with this team was the sudden release of top receiver DeSean Jackson, who was recently signed by the Washington Redskins. The Eagles may believe they can live without him but we’ll find out just how valuable he was. Don’t expect the Eagles to be among many people’s NFL betting picks until we see how they look without D-Jax.