The 2021 National Football League season is quickly approaching – with training camps opening in the next week. NFL betting, especially online betting at sportsbooks in California (the most populated state by over ten million people), is about to ramp up as we approach the season.
Can one of the three NFL teams win and bring home a Super Bowl – to a state without a winner since Super Bowl XXIX in 1995 (remember the Rams won their Super Bowl while playing in St. Louis)? Or will the state spend another year without hoisting the Lombardi Trophy?
Will Matthew Stafford take the Los Angeles Rams Offence to the Next Level in 2021?
“Mathew Stafford” by Duane Burleson is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Hopes are high for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 – thanks to a massive trade in the offseason to bring in quarterback Matthew Stafford. While the Rams made a Super Bowl with Jared Goff – the offence was never nearly as efficient in the two subsequent years – something head coach Sean McVay thought was holding them back.
The Rams sent first-round picks and Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford in the offseason. While Stafford has no playoff wins in his career, he has played at an elite level, despite having minimal help in the running back and some of the worst defences in the NFL.
The Rams had one of the best defences in the league last season. The team is anchored by Aaron Donald – a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner – and Jalen Ramsay – one of the league’s elite cornerbacks. With Stafford, they are one of the best teams in the NFL.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl: Top-five contender in the league this season.
Can the San Francisco 49ers Avoid the Injury Bug in 2021?
The San Francisco 49ers followed up a Super Bowl appearance in the 2019-20 season, with a season marred by injuries. The team lost the most games to injury in 2020, causing their record to crash from 13-3 to 6-10.
However, hopes in San Francisco are for a rebound in 2021 – with health and improvement at quarterback the most significant factor. While Jimmy Garoppolo has been a winner in San Francisco – owning a 22-8 record and guiding the 49ers to the Super Bowl – his proneness to injury is an issue.
Because of that and the upside of the quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft, the 49ers drafted Trey Lance with the third pick. Although inexperienced, Lance brings a dynamic element to this offence that could take it to another level.
He may not be ready to lead a team to a Super Bowl win (no rookie quarterback ever has) or even start the season. Still, his presence in San Francisco should make them a perennial contender (especially for as long as he remains affordable on his rookie deal).
Chances of winning the Super Bowl: Moderate if the roster remains healthy.
Will Justin Herbert take a Big Step in 2021 and make the Los Angeles Chargers Contenders?
“Justin Herbert” by Justin Edmonts/AP is licensed under CC BY 3.0
After getting thrust into the starting lineup – after a doctor stabbed Tyrod Taylor with a needle – Justin Herbert has looked like one of the best young quarterbacks of the last 20 years.
Herbert set multiple rookie records – including most passing touchdowns (31) and most completions (396). His play helped the Chargers end the season with four straight wins.
The team made some smart moves in the offseason – most notably, using their first-round pick on an offensive lineman – to help Herbert develop even more in 2021. They brought in a defensive-minded head coach – Brandon Staley – to help the defensive unit make strides in 2021.
However, the team is still missing enough blue-chippers to be considered a legitimate Super Bowl threat. They have the talent on offence to make the postseason – but until Brandon Staley gets a few more pieces on defence – it is hard to see them winning multiple games against the AFC’s elite offences (the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Tennessee Titans) to make the Super Bowl. Still, it is an excellent time to be a Chargers fan, and a chance at the team’s first Super Bowl win does not seem too far off.
Chances: Low this year but expect good things to come.
