2025 NFL odds: Back Rams to win NFC West, Steelers win total Under
Now that the 2025 NFL Draft has wrapped up, and all 257 players have been selected, it's time to look ahead to the time when the players actually take the field.
With that being said, let's take a look at three bets I like for the upcoming NFL season.
Los Angeles Rams to win NFC West
In Sean McVay's eight seasons as head coach of the Rams, he has led the team to four division titles, including two out of three seasons with a healthy Matt Stafford at quarterback. The 2024 season was supposed to be a reset for the Rams, as they got younger on defense and did some offensive line shuffling. Instead of losing while being young, the Rams ended up winning the division and, in driving snow, were a play away from taking a late lead against the Eagles in the divisional round.
This Rams team will be a year older and wiser, which will lead to more consistent play all around. It is going to win a bunch of games.
Meanwhile, the Rams' biggest rival for top dog in the division has gotten worse. The 49ers had a dreadful 2024 season with injuries, and while it's fair to assume they will have better injury luck, their roster is not as good this season. San Fran's star players are aging, and the team has not drafted well enough to replace players it lost to free agency.
The Seahawks are going through a transition at quarterback, and the Cardinals aren't good enough to compete in the division.
I like the value on the Rams winning the division now.
PICK: Los Angeles Rams (+185) to win NFC West
Omarion Hampton for Offensive Rookie of the Year
The Chargers drafted Hampton, and I love the potential for a big rookie season in Los Angeles. Hampton will have the opportunity to be a huge part of the offense with his ability to both rush and receive the ball. The Chargers' two running backs last season combined for nearly 300 carries. While the franchise did sign Najee Harris to take some of those carries, he's just not as explosive as Hampton.
As the season progresses, Hampton will become the focal point.
The Chargers run game wears down opponents, and we saw last season that L.A. was able to finish games with long, explosive runs. Those runs will now be carried by Hampton, and those highlight plays will help voters take notice of him.
The biggest competition for this award will be his fellow rookie running back in the division, Ashton Jeanty. He might have flashy plays, but he'll be playing for a losing team.
Hampton being on a winning team should help.
PICK: Omarion Hampton (+1600) to win OROY
Pittsburgh Steelers Under 8.5 wins
Did you know the Steelers have not finished under .500 in a single season under head coach Mike Tomlin? Who knew?
But I think that streak is coming to an end this season, as the Steelers will win just eight games.
Pittsburgh's schedule is difficult, with their division games, plus games against the NFC North and the AFC East. It won't be favored in many of those, plus it plays the Chargers, who are likely to be a 10-win team this season. And yes, I know the Steelers tend to have voodoo magic in these games to keep them close, and maybe I will get burned again this season with their win total Under, but I'm willing to wager on it and see.
The Steelers entered the draft last week needing a starting quarterback and came out still needing one. Despite their current QB room being Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, the organization passed on talent like Shedeur Sanders and instead built up the roster with what they felt were the best players available.
That would be a fine draft strategy … for a team that already has a quarterback.
Maybe the Steelers get Aaron Rodgers to finally agree to play on their squad, but that isn't changing my bet. Rodgers is average at best, and I do not like the design of the Steelers offense. Relying on Rodgers to be the franchise QB isn't smart ball.
So, I'm going to fade the Steelers this year. Maybe I'll finally be right this season.
PICK: Pittsburgh Steelers Under 8.5 wins
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
recommended
Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
42 minutes ago
- USA Today
Saints sign Cam Akers, adding more competition to their backfield
Saints sign Cam Akers, adding more competition to their backfield Akers won a Super Bowl with the Rams but is still looking for the right team fit The New Orleans Saints have officially signed veteran running back Cam Akers. This was initially reported by Nick Underhill of before being confirmed on the NFL transaction wire. After reportedly showing interest in running back Nick Chubb before being signed by the Houston Texans, the Saints brought in Akers for a tryout at minicamp this week. Akers, who turns just 26 on June 22, will be with his fourth team in the last three years. After a 2nd Team All-ACC selection with the Florida State Seminoles, Akers was selected in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Despite missing four games and sharing backfield snaps as a rookie, Akers led the Rams with 625 rushing yards. He'd suffer an Achilles injury in 2021 that limited him to only one regular season game. However, Akers returned in time for the playoffs to pick up 248 yards from scrimmage in four games on the way to the Rams Super Bowl LVI championship. Akers would rebound from the Achilles in 2022 to lead the Rams with 786 yards on the ground and 7 scores, both of which would be a career best. Los Angeles would trade Akers to the Minnesota Vikings early into the following season, where he'd pick up only 138 yards in six games before landing on injured reserve. He signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans during the 2024 offseason. After just 147 yards over five contests, the Texans traded him back to Minnesota. In his second stint with the Vikings, Akers ran for 297 yards in the last 12 games of last year. Over his five years in the NFL, Akers has averaged four yards per carry while picking up 2,025 rushing yards. He's added 388 more as a receiver on 52 catches and has scored a total of 17 touchdowns. Akers has been hampered by injuries and never was able to secure a featured backfield role. However, he has excellent power between the tackles and good burst into the second level of a defense. The addition of Cam Akers adds to the competition in the New Orleans backfield. Alvin Kamara will continue to be the team's featured weapon. Behind him, the often-injured Kendre Miller and 2024 veteran pickup Clyde Edwards-Helaire haven't been able to provide viable threats. The Saints also added Kansas running back Devin Neal in Round 6 of this year's draft along with Delaware running back Marcus Yarns as an undrafted rookie.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Brian Flores reflects on NFL head coaching courtship, remains 'happy' running Vikings' defense
The Minnesota Vikings held a mandatory minicamp this week, and Brian Flores stood close by as Vikings defensive players participated in drills. Earlier this year, it wasn't clear Flores would be wearing a Vikings cap when the team's offseason program kicked off. The former Miami Dolphins head coach drew interest from multiple NFL teams that had head coaching openings during the latest hiring cycle. The Chicago Bears and the New York Jets were among teams that confirmed they met with Flores for an interview in January. Flores did not land another head coaching opportunity and returned for his third season as the Vikings' defensive coordinator. Flores had success in his first couple of seasons with the Vikings, and his innovative schemes were widely credited for the franchise's defensive turnaround. Although the regular season is still months away, Flores' creativity and aggressive style of play-calling was already on display at minicamp. During full team drills Thursday, an unexpected pre-snap alignment by the defense prompted new center Ryan Kelly to ask Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell about the call he should make for blocking that play. "Your guess is as good as mine," O'Connell told Kelly, he later recounted to reporters. "I've got no idea what they're doing over there." "It must've been pretty close to the end of the offseason program because today he ran some stuff that I didn't even know was in there," O'Connell added. "That's Flo. I challenge him all the time to do those things." Although he won't enter the 2025 NFL season as a head coach, Flores expressed appreciation for the opportunity to go through the interview process. He added he was "happy" to be returning to Minnesota. "Being able to sit in that interview setting and have a conversation for that role is obviously an honor, and those jobs went to guys who were certainly deserved," Flores said. "It was a great experience, and I enjoyed it. I'm also very happy to be right where I am." The Dolphins parted ways with Flores after the 2021 season. He filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the league shortly after losing his head coaching job. The lawsuit is still pending. The Vikings ranked fifth in the league in scoring defense last season after finishing 14th the year before. They were 28th in 2022 before Flores arrived. Spending in free agency helped enhance the depth chart, but Flores has also helped turn unheralded players such as safety Josh Metellus and linebacker Ivan Pace into key contributors. Last season, the Vikings tied for the league lead with 33 takeaways, leading to a steady stream of on-field celebrations. "My joy comes from watching them have excitement," Flores said. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Saints sign running back Cam Akers: Source
The New Orleans Saints are signing running back Cam Akers, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. Akers participated in the Saints' minicamp this week and must have impressed new coach Kellen Moore and his staff. The 2020 second-round pick spent last season with the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings and tallied a combined 512 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns in 2024. Akers began his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams, where he rushed for a combined 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns over the bulk of four seasons. He joins a running backs group highlighted by Saints star Alvin Kamara and former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Outside of those two, the group doesn't feature many experienced players as Kendre Miller has dealt with injuries throughout most of his career and Velus Jones Jr. has been mostly used as a receiver and special teamer throughout his career. New Orleans also used a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select running back Devin Neal out of Kansas.
