The defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the heavy favorites to win the NFC South in the upcoming season. The division should not represent a particularly competitive race, as the second betting choice (New Orleans) has yet to settle on a starting quarterback, with both Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston on the roster after the retirement of Drew Brees. In Atlanta, the Falcons still have Matt Ryan at quarterback, but they no longer have top receiver Julio Jones, meaning that Calvin Ridley will be the #1 wideout. The Carolina Panthers remain in a rebuild, and the arrival of quarterback Sam Darnold from the Jets means a new commitment to head coach Matt Rhule as the architect of the next Panthers team.
Check out the latest NFL betting odds — and updated perspectives — on each team in the division race.
NFL News: Picks to Win the NFC South
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | -200 |
| New Orleans Saints | +300 |
| Atlanta Falcons | +800 |
| Carolina Panthers | +1100 |
Tampa Bay fans learned that Tom Brady played the whole 2020 season with a tear in his MCL. Coming into 2021, despite being a year older, he has a healthy knee — and he knows Bruce Arians’ system. All 22 Tampa Bay starters return, so the Buccaneers could become the first team in almost 20 years to win consecutive Super Bowls. The team’s defense is rock solid once again. Can anyone get Tom Brady to lose when the chips are down?
New Orleans has Jameis Winston, who threw for over 30 touchdown passes in 2019. The problem is that he also threw for 30 interceptions, becoming the first 30-30 quarterback in league history. He faces questions with the Saints, starting with ball security. New Orleans also has Taysom Hill, who can run, catch passes, throw the ball and even punt with excellence. However, he struggled to move the ball when starting in the absence of Drew Brees during the 2020 campaign. Winston or Hill? That’s the first question that Sean Payton has to answer if the Saints are going to even consider contender status.
Atlanta does not come with enough value, in my opinion, in this wager. The Falcons snagged Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall pick, and he is an intriguing tight end, who has the speed to make linebackers pay in coverage. The team would have had more promise until they traded Julio Jones to Tennessee. Given that they are playing for the future and the salary cap, you might also have expected the Falcons to move to a prospect at quarterback, but they did not. It is not clear whether they want to contend or are building toward 2022 and beyond, which is frustrating for fans — and problematic for sports bettors.
Carolina is an intriguing team, as Christian McCaffrey will be back at full strength after blowing an ACL in 2020. Sam Darnold has to have a mammoth chip on his shoulder after the way his three seasons with the Jets have gone, so he should be ready to put up big numbers. The defense is improving into a unit that has speed, aggression and youth. Brain Burns and Derrick Brown are a dynamic pair on the D-line. Haason Reddick gives the team another edge rusher. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady has the tools in place to get his team to a wild card slot
NFL Betting Odds
Love betting NFL football games? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date NFL lines
