49ers and Rams Rivalry Expected to Explode in 2025 NFC West Race

In recent years, the 49ers have been the dominant team in the NFC West. To illuminate, they have won the title in two out of the past three NFL odds seasons. Including three of the most recent six campaigns. San Francisco opened as the 2025 future market betting favorite to take back the NFC West. Second in the eyes of the betting public is the defending division champion Los Angeles Rams. LA is considered a more value-oriented selection. The Rams won the 2024 NFC West title as injuries plagued the Niners’ season.

NFC West Division Championship Odds

TeamOdds
San Francisco 49ers+160
Los Angeles Rams+180
Arizona Cardinals+425
Seattle Seahawks+550

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San Francisco continues to be a great story with quarterback Brock Purdy. Of course, Purdy is known as the last man taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. Purdy has had a remarkable sports betting run from “Mr. Irrelevant” to starting quarterback midway through the 2022 season. With the 49ers written off for dead, Purdy rallied them with a run to the NFC championship game. So well did Purdy perform that the 49ers were comfortable in trading their previous first-round draft pick, Trey Lance, to the Dallas Cowboys.

Concurrently, in the 2025 offseason, Purdy cashed in with a massive new contract to affirm his status as the 49ers’ starter. Purdy rewarded the 49ers for their confidence by leading them to the Super Bowl in his first season as the full-time starter. In turn, Purdy is one of the key NFL betting odds reasons why the Niners are favored to win the West in 2025.

The Rams, under head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matt Stafford, have enjoyed a nice return to the NFC Playoffs over the past two seasons. Following a disappointing 2022 campaign. Specifically, it was ruined by a Super Bowl championship hangover, injuries, and poor coaching. Los Angeles lost close playoff games to Detroit in 2023 and to Philadelphia last year. The Rams are a team good enough to make the playoffs. However, the Rams are not quite good enough for the Super Bowl.

In 2024, the Seattle Seahawks kicked coach Pete Carroll upstairs in favor of rookie head coach Mike Macdonald. The new HC is considered one of the bright young leaders and defensive experts in the game. Macdonald went 10-7 but missed the playoffs in a promising rookie campaign. Now, Sam Darnold arrives as the new starting quarterback after winning the NFC North title last year.

Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the NFC West has existed in various forms. Previously, members included the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, who are now in the NFC South. The two constants of the NFC West have been the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. Thus, it is no surprise that the 49ers and Rams have one of the best rivalries in the division. San Francisco had a heated rivalry with the Seattle Seahawks a decade ago, but when Jim Harbaugh left the 49ers, the passion waned.

It’s been tough being an Arizona Cardinals fan. The oldest team in the NFL, founded in 1920, has won just eight division titles over the course of its history. Arizona’s most recent division title came in 2015. And it could be a while before the Cardinals top the NFC West again. The San Francisco 49ers are expected to win the NFC West in 2025.