Seahawks Predictions: Experts Set High Hopes

SEATTLE, WA - The long wait is finally over: the NFL regular season is here. The Seahawks open with a tough match-up against the Packers in Green Bay. But NFL pundits have faith in the Seahawks, with several picking them to win it all.

The Seahawks will have several high-profile players returning from injuries . In preseason games, quarterback Russell Wilson appears to have returned to form. All-pro safety Earl Thomas is also coming back from a broken leg near the end of last season. They've also added pieces, including former Packer Eddie Lacy.

Jason Moore of the Fantasy Footballers podcast is among those bullish on the Seahawks, predicting that they will beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. That would be a rematch of 2015, when the Patriots narrowly defeated Seattle.

The long-running video game franchise Madden NFL also has the Seahawks taking home the Lombardi trophy in a simulation of the 2017-18 season, according to CBS Sports. But the accuracy of the simulation is questionable - it also predicted the Miami Dolphins would sign Colin Kaepernick. The Dolphins bypassed signing the controversial quarterback and plucked Jay Cutler out of retirement, signing him to a one-year, $3.56 million deal.

ESPN has the Patriots as a strong favorite to go the distance, but puts Seattle as having the second-best chance.

USA Today also has the Seahawks rated number two and says they're one of the only legitimate threats to defeat the New England Patriots. "If the Seahawks injury luck turns around in 2017, they’ll be the favorites to win the NFC," Steven Ruiz wrote.

Vegas odds have the Seahawks at 8-1 to win it all. Only the Patriots have better odds of winning it all, while the Packers and the Raiders are also at 8-1.

Green Bay is favored in the week one contest by three points. The Packers are 5-1-1 in their last seven match-ups against the Seahawks.

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