Seattle Seahawks betting odds, Week 1 Vegas spread and Russell Wilson NFL MVP chances

Since entering the NFL as a third-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Russell Wilson has led the Seattle Seahawks to a winning record each season, making him the only quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to a winning season in each of his first eight years. Wilson has easily been one of the league's top signal-callers over that span but has not gotten a SINGLE NFL MVP vote. Might that change in 2020? Seattle opens Sunday as a 2.5-point favorite on the NFL odds in Atlanta. The Seahawks have won their past eight on the East Coast and failed to cover in just one of those. 

While the Seahawks were not able to re-sign defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, they significantly boosted their defense regardless this offseason with the trade for New York Jets All-Pro safety Jamal Adams. It was costly, though, as Seattle gave up a 2021 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick, a 2022 first-round pick, and safety Bradley McDougald to the Jets in exchange for Adams and a 2022 fourth-round choice. Adams gets to face his former Jets teammates in Week 14. 

Last year, the Seahawks did an about-face in regard to their strong performance trends in the Pete Carroll era. Although CenturyLink Field has a deserved reputation as one of the NFL's most difficult road environments, opponents found Seattle more of a gracious host last year. The Seahawks went just 4-4 straight-up and 2-6 against the spread on their home turf, while going 7-1 SU and ATS on the road.

The 2020 schedule lines up as a favorable one for Seattle, with key early games against the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings coming at CenturyLink. There's a decent chance the NFC West title could be decided in the regular-season finale at San Francisco, where the Seahawks won last year.

The Seahawks don't appear to have made significant upgrades through a draft that most analysts graded as below average. They did add a potential target for Wilson in tight end Colby Parkinson while also signing veteran tight end Greg Olsen and bringing back wideout Josh Gordon. 

Consider betting Seattle in Week 7 at Arizona, as the visitor is 6-0 ATS in the past six meetings.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS BETTING PROFILE

2019 record: 11-5, second in NFC West

2019 against the spread: 8-9-1

2019 ATS margin: -1.2

2019 Over-Under: 9-8-1

2020 strength of schedule: T-13th toughest; opponents combined for a .508 win percentage last year.

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WILLIAM HILL 2020 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS FUTURES ODDS

Win total: 9.5 (Under -150 favorite)

To make playoffs: Yes -130, no -110

Division: +225 to win NFC North

Conference: +850 to win NFC

Super Bowl 55: +1700 to win

NFL MVP: QB Russell Wilson +1000

Defensive Player of the Year: LB Bobby Wagner +6600

SportsLine Model's projection: 9.4 wins  (Pick is Under)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS GAME-BY-GAME BETTING TRENDS

Week 1 at Falcons, 1 p.m. ET: The Over is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings.

Week 2 vs. Patriots, 8:20 p.m. ET: The Under is 17-2 (89 percent) in Seattle's last 19 home openers.

Week 3 vs. Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET: Dallas has covered seven of the past 10 meetings.

Week 4 at Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET: Miami is 6-1 ATS in the series.

Week 5 vs. Vikings, 8:20 p.m. ET: The Seahawks are 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in this series.

Week 6: Bye

Week 7 at Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET: The Seahawks are on a 4-0 ATS run as a road favorite.

Week 8 vs. 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET: The Seahawks are on a 33-16-3 ATS heater as an underdog and likely will be underdogs here.

Week 9 at Bills, 1 p.m. ET: Buffalo is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings.

Week 10 at Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET: The Seahawks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.

Week 11 vs. Cardinals, 8:20 p.m. ET: The visiting team has covered six straight in this matchup.

Week 12 at Eagles, 8:15 p.m.: Seattle won and covered both meetings last season, winning 17-9 each time.

Week 13 vs. Giants, 4:05 p.m. ET: The Seahawks have won and covered the last four meetings.

Week 14 vs. Jets, 4:05 p.m.: Seattle has won and covered the last three meetings.

Week 15 at Redskins, 1 p.m. ET: The favorite is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings.

Week 16 vs. Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET: Seattle is 7-10-1 ATS in division games the past three seasons.

Week 17 at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET: The Seahawks are 7-0 ATS on Sunday the week after hosting the Rams.

Some trends contributed by SDQL Gurus 

EXPERT PICK FROM MIKE TIERNEY, LAST SEASON'S TOP NFL HANDICAPPER FOR SPORTSLINE: Under 9.5 wins

The Hawks' 11-5 record in 2019 misleads. They outscored opponents by a mere seven points. Add in their stumble down the stretch -- three defeats in the last four outings -- and some retrenchment is likely in the tough-as-leather West. DE Jadeveon Clowney flew the coup, while the draft crop should not pay instant dividends. Reversing course from the late-season decline will be trying. Seattle travels long-distance to Atlanta for the opener, then must cope with the Patriots and Cowboys.

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