The New Orleans Saints enter this season because the betting favourite to win a lackluster NFC South at +105 odds, which is taken into account one of many weakest divisions within the NFL.
Quarterback Derek Carr, seen right here in warmups for a preseason recreation with the New Orleans Saints, has an opportunity to steer his new group to a playoff berth for the primary time since 2020. (Picture: Getty)
The Atlanta Falcons are +200 odds to win the NFC South and enter the season because the Saints’ closest competitors. The Carolina Panthers (+500) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1000) are in rebuilding years, which makes the NFC South a two-horse race between the Saints and Falcons.
Just one recreation separated all 4 NFC South groups in 2022, and the division title wasn’t determined till the ultimate two weeks of the season. The Bucs secured a house recreation within the playoffs and a division title regardless of a dropping file.
Quarterback Tom Brady spent three seasons with the Bucs and received Tremendous Bowl LV earlier than he lastly retired. With the Brady chapter ending, the Bucs start a brand new chapter in a post-Brady world.
Every group within the NFC South has received a division title since 2015. Brady led the Bucs to back-to-back division titles in 2021 and 2022. The Saints received 4 division titles in a row between 2017 and 2020. The Falcons final received the division in 2016, whereas the Carolina Panthers received three straight NFC crowns between 2013 and 2016.
Since 2009, all 4 groups from the NFC South secured at the very least one journey to the Tremendous Bowl. Within the final 14 seasons, the NFC South claimed two Tremendous Bowl champions with the 2009 Saints and 2020 Bucs.
New Orleans Saints: Finest Staff in a Weak Division
- NFC South Odds: +105
- Tremendous Bowl Odds: +3000
- 2022 Document: 7-10
- 2023 Win Whole: 9.5 o/u
There’s a situation during which a group clinches the NFC South title with a dropping file in back-to-back seasons. Oddsmakers put in the Saints with a win complete of 9.5 o/u, and so they face one of many simpler schedules within the NFL this season. The Saints are nearly even cash to win the division at +105 odds.
The Saints will play three of final yr’s playoff squads, together with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants. Additionally they have potential powerful opponents within the Detroit Lions, and a street recreation on the New England Patriots.
The Saints added quarterback Derek Carr in free company, and Jameis Winston will tackle backup duties. Additionally they have the versatile Taysom “Swiss Military Knife” Hill, who can play a number of positions, together with quarterback.
Vast receiver Chris Olave was one of many few standouts for the Saints final season. Olave caught 72 passes for 1,042 yards and 4 touchdowns throughout his rookie marketing campaign. Tight finish Juwan Johnson led the Saints with seven touchdowns final season, and Carr loves throwing passes to tight ends (e.g. Darren Waller for the previous few seasons in Las Vegas).
Working again Alvin Kamara begins the season serving a three-game suspension due to his involvement in a Las Vegas brawl. Jamaal Williams will begin instead of Kamara within the first three weeks, however accidents to 2 backup working backs are inflicting potential depth points.
Atlanta Falcons: Ridder and Robinson
- NFC South Odds: +200
- Tremendous Bowl Odds: +6000
- 2022 Document: 7-10
- 2023 Win Whole: 8.5 o/u
The Falcons are a younger group, however they may make a run at a division title due to their excellent offensive line. That features Drew Daiman, Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Chris Lindstrom, and Kaleb McGary.
Desmond Ridder took over because the beginning quarterback late within the season, and the rookie produced blended outcomes. Head coach Artwork Smith expects Ridder to make an enormous leap in his second season.
The Falcons additionally chosen Bijan Robinson with the eighth decide within the 2023 NFL Draft out of Texas. Robinson was the primary working again chosen within the draft, and the highly-touted rookie has the good thing about dashing behind a premier O-line.
The Falcons have an offensive assault with a trio of first-round picks, together with Robinson. Vast receiver Drake London was the #8 decide from the 2022 NFL Draft, and tight finish Kyle Pitts was the fourth general decide in 2021.
Atlanta was 1-7 on the street final season and so they play 9 street video games this season, together with one recreation in London towards the Jaguars in Week 4. Different powerful nondivisional street video games embrace the Detroit Lions, New York Jets, and the Chicago Bears on New Yr’s Eve.
The Falcons have a win complete of 8.5 o/u. Additionally they face a simple schedule this season, because of video games towards their AFC South opponents. Their hardest nondivisional dwelling recreation is towards the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9.
The Falcons are +105 odds to make the playoffs and -125 odds to overlook the playoffs, in line with DraftKings.
Carolina Panthers: The Bryce Younger Experiment Begins
- NFC South Odds: +500
- Tremendous Bowl Odds: +8000
- 2022 Document: 7-10
- 2023 Win Whole: 7.5 o/u
The Panthers have a rookie quarterback and a brand new head coach, which is commonly a purple flag. The Panthers whiffed on Matt Rhule as their head coach, who proved that superior faculty coaches don’t routinely discover success on the professional stage. The Panthers employed Frank Reich as their subsequent head coach, who was dismissed by the Indianapolis Colts in the midst of final season.
The Panthers traded working again Cristian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers previous to the 2022 commerce deadline. They used a few of that draft capital to make an enormous commerce with the Chicago Bears, and bought the #1 decide within the 2023 NFL Draft. That they had their sights set on Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger, and chosen him with the primary decide. Younger has large expertise. However the Panthers’ porous offensive line will pose an enormous problem in his rookie season.
The Panthers additionally chosen Jonathan Mingo from Ole Miss with a second-round decide. Mingo is on a shortlist of rookie huge receivers to observe this upcoming season. Mingo joins a large receiver room that features veterans Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, and Laviska Shenault.
The Panthers face powerful street opponents, together with the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Additionally they have two difficult dwelling video games towards the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Final Probability for Baker Mayfield
- NFC South Odds: +1000
- Tremendous Bowl Odds: +10000
- 2022 Document: 8-9
- 2023 Win Whole: 6.5 o/u
The brand new quarterback in Tampa Bay had large footwear to fill after Brady retired. Baker Mayfield edged out Kyle Trask for the beginning QB job. Trask, a third-year quarterback from Florida, barely noticed any time as Brady’s backup over the previous two seasons. Head coach Todd Bowles tapped Mayfield to start the season because the starter as a result of Trask isn’t fairly prepared but.
Mayfield started the 2021 season because the beginning quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, and commenced final season because the starter in Carolina. The Panthers minimize him after a disastrous stint in Carolina. He completed the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams when Matthw Stafford missed a number of video games with a concussion and neck damage. The Bucs appreciated what they noticed and provided Mayfield a contract and an opportunity to compete for the beginning job.
Mayfield is aware of this is likely to be his final probability earlier than he’s relegated as a backup QB for the remainder of his profession, which is disappointing for a former #1 decide within the NFL Draft.
The Bucs have two excellent huge receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. However they misplaced Russell Gage to a season-ending knee damage within the preseason.
The Bucs are anticipated to complete the season in final place within the division with a win complete of 6.5 o/u. They’re the lengthy shot on the board to win the NFC South at +1000 odds.
