BEAST DIVISION

The Rams might be the story, but the NFC West at +235 to win the NFL title is quietly one of the best ways to express that view. Last week we talked about L.A. as the best team in football, and nothing’s changed there with the Rams now around +430. But zoom out: this division gives you multiple live paths to the trophy.

You’re basically betting on the Rams and Seahawks versus the field — with a very real San Francisco hedge thrown in. L.A. still has the cleanest playoff profile thanks to two proven edges: Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. Coach/QB combos win in January, and that duo has already cashed the biggest ticket in the sport. Seattle just showed it can stand toe-to-toe with the Rams, and their ceiling is high enough to ride a hot month to Levi Stadium. San Francisco isn’t the monster it was two years ago, but it’s still an upper-tier roster that’s highly likely to be in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the rest of the NFC feels a half-step down. Detroit and Philadelphia are tough, but neither looks scarier than L.A. or Seattle. Add in an AFC that’s wide open with no true juggernaut, and +235 on the NFC West to lift the Lombardi is a very logical way to back what look like the two best teams in football — with a third contender as a bonus.