Life after Russell Wilson was always going to be rough for the Seahawks, but given the lack of a legitimate move to replace the future Hall of Famer, this season could be as bleak as the winter weather in Seattle.
2022 season odds
| Market | Odds (O/U) |
|---|---|
| Win total | 5.5 (-140/+120) |
| Division | +1600 |
| Conference | +7000 |
| Super Bowl | +15000 |
The Seahawks' win total is befitting a team whose quarterback room consists of Geno Smith, Drew Lock, and Jacob Eason. With the odds above, the market looks at Smith and says, "Gee, no." It knows the key is not Lock. It understands that there is no such thing as "Eason season."
Schedule outlook
| Week | Opponent | Lookahead line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEN | +4 |
| 2 | @SF | +8 |
| 3 | ATL | -3.5 |
| 4 | @DET | +1 |
| 5 | @NO | +6 |
| 6 | ARZ | +2.5 |
| 7 | @LAC | +8.5 |
| 8 | NYG | -2.5 |
| 9 | @ARZ | +6.5 |
| 10 | @TB | +9.5 |
| 12 | LV | +2 |
| 13 | @LAR | +9.5 |
| 14 | CAR | -1 |
| 15 | SF | +3 |
| 16 | @KC | +10.5 |
| 17 | NYJ | -1.5 |
| 18 | LAR | +5.5 |
Ruthless, the NFL schedule-makers gave Russell Wilson his return to the Pacific Northwest in Week 1. The former face of the franchise could "take it easy on them" and the Broncos could still cover -4. The Hawks' home-field advantage is likely to have less effect on Wilson if the 12s even have it in their heart to make their usual noise.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
The Seahawks are built to stop the run, with Al Woods and Poona Ford coming in at more than 300 pounds on the defensive line, and Jamal Adams often lurking in the box. They were successful - second-fewest rush yards per carry last year - but it's 2022 and many teams couldn't care less about running the football. This is a prime example of the Jurassic Era mindset that frustrated Wilson toward the end of his tenure.
In the same vein, running back Rashaad Penny showed flashes at the end of last year. Of course, the Seattle decision-makers burned a valuable draft pick in April on another running back - Kenneth Walker.
DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are two dynamic options at wide receiver. However, with the Hawks' quarterbacks, they won't see the same playmaking throws they're accustomed to.
Weaknesses
The quarterback-receiver connections, and the running game, would be salvageable if the Seahawks had a good offensive line. They don't.
At least the Seahawks acknowledged that, making moves at both tackle positions and at center. The problem is, first-round pick Charles Cross played in the air-raid offense, and Carroll wants to run. Another issue - their right tackle is a second-year undrafted free agent who has five starts, and their new center is on his fourth team since 2016.
To his credit, Smith only turned the ball over twice in 3-plus games last year, and he did start the Seahawks' convincing win over Jacksonville. He was sacked 13 times in three starts. Meanwhile, Lock gave the Chiefs more than a few fits in a big game late last season.
Opportunities
The Seahawks were a good fade the last couple of seasons because Wilson masked how bad much of the roster and coaching was. With his departure, the secret is largely out - this team is bad, and the market is aware of it. There are no clear-cut spots to fade the Seahawks, and even their near double-digit spread projections for road games at Tampa Bay, Los Angeles (Rams), and Kansas City are all games where their defense could easily get housed.
Threats
A threat for this team could potentially be an opportunity for bettors. He may have too much respect in the organization to be fired, but Carroll could step away if his team is sinking into Puget Sound early. You'll want to be vigilant about how your sportsbook words any bet about a "first coach fired" versus "first coach to leave," but Carroll is certainly a candidate since it was somewhat surprising he was back this year in the first place.
How to bet the Seahawks
There's no one on this roster who's going to lead the league in anything, nor is there anyone going to win an award. If the Seahawks win less than their prescribed total of 5.5 games, it's not far-fetched to think they'll win just two or three games. In fact, maybe that's the plan with a relatively quarterback-rich draft coming in 2023. As a result, the Seahawks to win the fewest games (+750), is the only bet I'd make before the season.
Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.
