SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Injury Free: The Hawks have made a few moves that they hope can give them depth in case of key injuries. However, the Hawks proved last season, that without key personnel, they aren’t as good as the Super Bowl team of 2005. Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander will need to stay healthy if the hawks expect another run at the title in 2007. Marcus Trufant is the key to their secondary. New additions Deon Grant and Bryon Russell will help with a secondary that felt injury after injury in 2006. Darrell Jackson and his injury problems have been shipped off to San Francisco, and the Hawks drafted yet another cornerback to help on passing downs. More depth on the defense and a healthy offense are the keys for a successful season in the Pacific Northwest.
Over or Under: The Seahawks are 36-27 O/U over the past 4 regular seasons. They are 17-16 at home and 19-11 on the road. Last year they were 10-6 O/U. On the road, the Hawks have been much more likely to finish with the over, as their defense doesn’t slow down opposing offenses as much out of Seattle’s “Loudest Stadium in the NFL”. As a favorite since 2003, the Seahawks are 28-24 O/U. As a road favorite, they are 11-6 O/U. IN domes over the past 4 seasons, the Hawks rarely cover the relatively high over, going 2-7 O/U since ’03.
Against the Spread: The Seahawks were 6-9-1 ATS last season, their second losing mark in the last 3 seasons (10-6 ATS in 2005 and 5-11 ATS in 2004). While they’ve won 30 total home games since 2003 and only compiling 6 losses in those 4 seasons, the Seahawks are amazingly only 18-17-1 ATS at home in that time span. Last season they were 4-3-1, and in 2005 they were 6-2 ATS. On the road, the Hawks leave something to be desired; they’ve compiled a 15-19-1 ATS record over the last 4 seasons.
Straight Up: Seattle has been one of the best home teams in all of football over the last 4 seasons, going 30-6 SU from 2003-2006. That includes perfect home seasons in 2003 and 2005 and as many as 12 in a row from 2003-2004. Their 5-3 home record in 2006 was their worst effort in the last 4 seasons. Away from Seattle, the Hawks are much less imposing, going 15-20 SU over the last 4 seasons.
Smoked on Grass: The Hawks are from the Northwest where the grass grows as green as the pine trees, but at first glance Seattle doesn’t seem to play too well on the cow-friendly substance. Since 2003, the Hawks are 11-13 ATS on grass and 10-14. However, one must realize that Seattle plays on turf, so if they are to play their Sunday’s on grass, they always have to travel to do so. So, they are 11-13 ATS and 10-14 SU on the road on grass. That’s not too bad when you look at it like that, but its something to think about. More importantly, the Hawks don’t let the grass slow them from putting up points. In 24 grass games since 2003, the Hawks are 18-6 O/U, busting the over at a 75% rate. Now that’s something to remember. They’ve hit the over in 16 of their last 19 on the natural stuff.
