Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books, and we’re starting to learn more about the league’s landscape in 2024.

Each week in this column, I’ll analyze a futures bet I’m taking before the coming week’s games.

This week it’s the Seahawks, who I like better than Ryan Dunleavy does. My Post colleague still has Seattle ranked 21st in his Week 2 Power Rankings.

Week 2 NFL futures best bets

Before the season, I wrote about the teams I’m buying and selling to make the playoffs. The Seahawks were my biggest buy at nearly 2-1 odds, and that number is long gone after an opening-week win.

However, I still see value in plus-money odds, and my confidence is rising in this team despite a sloppy Week 1 showing at home against the Broncos.

Trailing at halftime, the Seahawks needed some time to get rolling on both sides of the ball. It’s not shocking, given the team’s new coaching staff elected to play starters sparingly in the preseason.

The ball got rolling in the second half, though, and I was incredibly impressed with first-year head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense.

Yes, Seattle was facing a rookie quarterback (Bo Nix) making his first start on the road. However, the Seahawks have tons of young defensive talent that flashed in Week 1.

Devon Witherspoon and Tariq Woolen could be the league’s best young cornerback duo. Julian Love was PFF’s highest-graded safety in Week 1, and rookie Byron Murphy II is a problem for opponents on the defensive line. Boye Mafe is also poised for a breakout season, logging nine pressures against Denver.

My biggest concern for the Seahawks is their offensive line, which ranked 29th in pass-block win rate in Week 1. Charles Cross continues to ascend as a franchise left tackle, but the rest of the group leaves much to be desired.

Eventually, getting Abraham Lucas back will help, and offensive line coach Scott Huff led a Washington line last year that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award.

Huff worked under Ryan Grubb at Washington. Grubb’s offense utilized motion at a 78.9 percent rate in Week 1, up from 53.2 percent in 2023 and the highest rate in a game with Geno Smith since he became the starter in 2021.

The diversification of the rushing attack paid dividends, with running back Kenneth Walker III taking over the game in the second half.

I also loved Macdonald’s aggressiveness in the game, going for a two-point conversion in the second quarter and instructing Grubb to go for the kill on offense late despite holding just a six-point lead.

Seattle is an analytics-driven organization, and risk calculation makes a massive difference throughout a season compared to other coaches, including the Raiders’ Antonio Pierce, whose conservative play-calling and decision-making hurt their teams.

The competition in the NFC took a hit this week.

In the NFC West, the Rams lost star receiver Puka Nacua (knee) for at least four games after he was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, one of three players the team put on IR. They are also dealing with a cluster of injuries in their secondary and along the offensive line.

Elsewhere, Green Bay lost Jordan Love for the foreseeable future, Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins had a rocky debut in Week 1 and Tampa Bay is dealing with significant injury woes. Seattle’s path to at least a wild-card spot is increasing.

Betting on the NFL?

After Week 1, FTN gives the Seahawks a 63.6 percent chance to make the playoffs, and the current +110 odds offer an implied probability of 47.6 percent, showing clear value on the current number.

The Seahawks are also priced at +500 to win the NFC West (16.7 percent implied probability), with FTN giving them a 26.2 percent chance at the division crown.

I recommend a full-unit bet on the Seahawks to make the playoffs at +110 and a quarter-unit bet on them to win the division at +500 odds.

NFL futures best bets

• Seahawks to make playoffs (+110, DraftKings)
• Seahawks to win NFC West (+500, FanDuel)

The 2024 WNBA season continues on Wednesday, September 11, as the Seattle Storm (21-14) take on the Los Angeles Sparks (7-28) in the Western Conference showdown at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA.

Below, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about the upcoming Sparks vs. Storm game, including the injury report, key players and where to watch.

Los Angeles Sparks vs Seattle Storm: Date and Tip-off Time

The epic WNBA matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm will take place on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 10:00 PM ET/ 7:00 pm PT, at Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA.

How to watch Los Angeles Sparks vs Seattle Storm online – TV Channels and Live Streams

Fans in the USA can catch all the actions of this high-voltage WNBA matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm live on the NBA TV television network and FuboTV Streaming platform.

Streaming the game with a VPN

Unable to watch this game due to broadcast restrictions? A VPN could be the answer to your problems.

When it comes to streaming live sports, NordVPN is our pick for the best VPN service in 2024. You can even try NordVPN risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Los Angeles Sparks Team News

Rickea Jackson spearheaded the Sparks’ effort with 23 points, four rebounds, and three steals, and forward Dearica Hamby contributed 17.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. The Sparks are well-positioned to secure a playoff spot.

Seattle Storm Team News

With guard Jewell Loyd averaging 20.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, she is well-positioned to support the Storm in maintaining their strong performance as the regular season approaches its conclusion.

Head-to-Head Records

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Seattle Seahawks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

It’s Seahawks Reacts time!

As always, the first question is whether or not you believe the Seahawks are headed in the right direction. It’s a weekly confidence poll, which last week was at 94 percent. I would expect this week to remain at a very high percentage, but maybe I’ll be proven wrong.

The next question is about the New England Patriots game. Jerod Mayo won his debut as Patriots head coach after a 16-10 road win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Seattle is still a road favorite despite New England’s upset victory, but do you believe the Seahawks will improve to 2-0? Just like last week, the answers are divided by margins of victory. The majority of you were spot on with your pick of Seattle winning by 1-8 pts over the Denver Broncos.

Speaking of that win over Denver, let’s talk expectations. The Seahawks might have won but it was far from a clean game. While the defense was excellent, the offense started poorly before getting into gear in the second half, and special teams was a mixed bag. If we assess the overall performance of the team, did the Seahawks meet, fail to meet, or exceed your Week 1 expectations? This is a roundabout way of asking if you expected them to win, expected them to win more cleanly, or didn’t even expect them to win in the first place. Choose wisely in the survey below!

Check back on Saturday for a separate article with all of the results.