The NFC South could be the easiest division to predict based on the odds. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are overwhelming -300 favorites to cruise to another division title and possible Super Bowl berth. The rest of the NFC South has a lot of catching up to do to dethrone the defending champions.
NFC South Standings [2021]
| NFC | SOUTH | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bucs | 13 | 4 | 0 |
 | Saints | 9 | 8 | 0 |
 | Falcons | 7 | 10 | 0 |
 | Panthers | 5 | 12 | 0 |
It won’t be a 17-0 season for Tampa Bay because the schedule includes Green Bay, Kansas City and the tough AFC North. But barring serious injuries, the Bucs should roll right along. Not only is Brady returning but several other key veterans including running back Leonard Fournette and starting receiver Chris Godwin. The Buccaneers had a great draft too as they bolstered both of their lines. The Bucs had the second-best offense and fifth-best defense in 2021 and I don’t see much of a drop from that.
Odds to Win NFC South (as of 7/29/22):
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -300
New Orleans Saints +350
Carolina Panthers +1000
Atlanta Falcons +2800
The New Orleans Saints have the best shot at catching the Bucs with an improved offense and Dennis Allen call the shots. Jameis Winston has the capability of putting up huge numbers but also can lose games with key interceptions. He will have a couple of new weapons to throw to in Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave out of Ohio State. The one thing that could prevent the Saints from having a winning record is a brutal schedule. The team also must improve on their 3-5 home record from 2021.
The Carolina Panthers have a quarterback battle this preseason with Sam Darnold looking to hold onto his job. The team acquired Baker Mayfield from Cleveland in hopes of giving the offense a spark. A change of scenery might help Mayfield as well. The Panthers would desperately love Christian McCaffrey to stay healthy, as he’s played just 10 total games in the last two seasons. The horrible offensive line was improved by drafting Ikem Ekwonu, who many consider to be the best tackle in the draft. Carolina still has a solid defense and the easiest schedule in the division.
Season Win Totals (as of 7/29/22):
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11.5 u160
New Orleans Saints 8.5 o130
Carolina Panthers 6.5 u120
Atlanta Falcons 5 u190
Life without Matt Ryan begins in Atlanta with Marcus Mariota taking over under center. Coach Arthur Smith knows Mariota well from their time with the Tennessee Titans. Winning five games might be tough with a schedule that includes the L.A. Rams, Bengals, 49ers, Chargers and Ravens. The offseason wasn’t productive and people scoffed when they drafted wide receiver Drake London in the first round. Top receiver Calvin Ridley will miss the entire season following a suspension for gambling.
Jay’s Season Win Total Best Bet: The Falcons are going to be terrible this year. Even Matt Ryan couldn’t hold this team together. I don’t see Mariota suddenly turning this team around. Not having Ridley is also a huge loss. The defense was and still is one of the worst. I can’t see Atlanta winning five games.
Falcons UNDER 5 -190
Jay’s Pick to Win Division: If I though the Saints or Panthers actually had a shot at catching the Bucs, I would take it. But I don’t. The juice is really high, but it could be one of the easiest season-long bets to place.
Bucs -300
To see more odds and props for the NFC South, click here.
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