The 49ers finished last in the NFC West last year and then watched multiple key pieces walk out the door.

But here they sit, as the favorites to win the division once again in 2025.

The 49ers have +125 odds to capture the NFC West next season, followed by the Rams at +155. The Seahawks (+650) and Cardinals (+650) are distant underdogs to claim the division.

There was some head-scratching among fans after the odds were released, as many assume the 49ers’ best days are behind them.

However, Robert Cooper, the Trading Director for SportsBetting.ag, said the returning core for the 49ers is enough to keep them the team to beat in the division.

San Francisco still has quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, left tackle Trent Williams, edge rusher Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and others from the team that made the Super Bowl after the 2023 season.

“We’re looking at the 2024 49ers’ season as an anomaly,” Cooper said. “They had injuries all over the place and still managed to win six games. It’s not as if the rest of the division made leaps in bounds of improvements during free agency and via trades.”

The Rams are seen as the biggest threat after keeping Matthew Stafford this offseason and signing Davante Adams, amongst other moves.

The Seahawks, though, arguably downgraded at quarterback from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold, while the Cardinals added some talent in free agency but didn’t make a move for a game-changer.

By virtue of their fourth-place finish in the division a year ago, the 49ers have an extremely easy schedule. They also have one of the brightest offensive minds in the league in Kyle Shanahan.

The 49ers may not be the juggernaut of two years ago, but the oddsmakers consider them among the best teams in the NFC when healthy.

“The Niners lost some key pieces on defense and Deebo (Samuel), but the latter may end up being addition by subtraction,” Cooper said. “At the end of the day, the puppeteers are greater than the puppets in San Francisco.”