Our NFL Divisional Tour wraps up with the NFC South. While this isn’ the most exciting group of teams in the league, this division could be very competitive this season. You know, aside from one team… but I’ll let you figure out who that might be. Dive in to our NFC South Preview by getting to know the teams and checking out our favorite picks and predictions for the division.
Check out our other division previews to prep for a fantastic NFL Season.
- AFC South Preview
- AFC West Preview
- NFC West Preview
- AFC East Preview
- NFC East Preview
- AFC North Preview
- NFC North Preview
Find the best futures odds and more at our favorite online sportsbooks.
Mike Evans has gone for 1,000 yards in all 11 of his NFL seasons
NFC South Divisional History
Past 10 NFC South Division Champions
- 2024: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
- 2023: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
- 2022: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
- 2021: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
- 2020: New Orleans Saints (12-4)
- 2019: New Orleans Saints (13-3)
- 2018: New Orleans Saints (13-3)
- 2017: New Orleans Saints (11-5)
- 2016: Atlanta Falcons (11-5) *Lost Super Bowl LI vs. Patriots*
- 2015: Carolina Panthers (15-1) *Lost Super Bowl 50 vs. Broncos*
The Buccaneers have topped the division for four straight years, and the Saints did that for four years prior to them. However each team has claimed the NFC South crown in the past decade, but lately it hasn’t taken much to do so.
The 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the only NFC South division winner to have a losing record, but it’s barely taken double digit wins to claim the title the past few seasons. Will that change this year?
Drake London has a new starting QB in Atlanta this year
NFC South Betting Odds
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Odds to Win Super Bowl LX
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +2800
- Atlanta Falcons +6600
- Carolina Panthers +15000
- New Orleans Saints +30000
The Saints are actually the longest shot on the odds board to win the Super Bowl this season. Anyone feeling lucky? Realistically, I don’t believe anyone other than the Bucs has a shot at the Lombardi, but don’t let me ruin your hope! However, based on the odds to win the division, it’s Tampa’s to lose.
Odds to Win NFC South Division
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers -115
- Atlanta Falcons +230
- Carolina Panthers +425
- New Orleans Saints +1200
The oddsmakers think Tampa Bay is on their way to a fifth straight NFC South divisional title, but the other squads are hungry to spoil their season.
Will Bryce Young elevate his game this season for Carolina?
Team Win Totals
Atlanta Falcons
- Over 7.5 (-165)
- Under 7.5 (+135)
Carolina Panthers
- Over 6.5 (-145)
- Under 6.5 (+115)
New Orleans Saints
- Over 5.5 (+155)
- Under 5.5 (-190)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Over 9.5 (-115)
- Under 9.5 (-115)
I would be tempted to pair the Falcons win total over with the Saints win total under if you could find a sportsbook that will let you, as those are my two favorites but both are very juicy. While you could push the Falcons up to over 8.5 wins for plus money, I think that last win could be extremely difficult.
This is the most bet league in all of sports, so the lines are as sharp as possible. Especially with futures.
Michael Penix Jr. is the new starter for the Falcons
NFC South Team Breakdown
Atlanta Falcons
After Michael Penix Jr. sat behind Kirk Cousins for a year, the Falcons flipped their quarterbacks and are rolling with the lefty for this upcoming season. He will have plenty of help from RB Bijan Robinson, as well as a pass catching trio of Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud. The hype surround Kyle Pitts is here for a fifth straight season, but I refuse to believe he will be a top tight end in the NFL.
Atlanta ranked No. 23 in points allowed last season, giving up nearly 25 per game. That will need to change if they want to compete with their schedule.
The Falcons are tested early, taking on the Bucs and going to Minnesota in back to back weeks, along with hosting the Commanders in Week 4. After their bye in Week 5, they’ll host Buffalo before things get a little easier down the stretch.
Atlanta is right on the fence, and I could see them giving Tampa Bay trouble for the top of the NFC South.
Chuba Hubbard is the lead RB for the Panthers, but he has some help this season
Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young leads the Panthers with Chuba Hubbard in the backfield and new signing Rico Dowdle to back him up. They drafted Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick, and he joins Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette as the wide receiving corps. Hunter Renfrow will also run some routes for Carolina.
Things have to get better for the Panthers, and while some do have hope for them to be sneaky this year, I am not one of those people.
Their defense was dead last in points and yards allowed last year, as they were the only team to allow over 400 yards and 30 points per game (404.5 yards, 31.4 points). While they did make some moves in the draft to help, nobody will make a life changing switch this year.
The Panthers host the Bills in Week 8, go to Green Bay in Week 9, and have to wait until December for their bye week. Strap in for a long season if you are a Carolina fan.
Alvin Kamara and the Saints need to figure out their offensive after the departure of Derek Carr
New Orleans Saints
The Saints had to scramble when Derek Carr retired, leaving Spencer Rattler in charge of the offense. However he could be competing with rookie Tyler Shough for the starting job by Week 1. The Saints still have pieces like Alvin Kamara to help out, as well as a wide receiving corps of Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks. But there’s little reason to be excited about this offense who will be with a new coordinator.
Doug Nussmeier, father of LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, takes over as the offensive play caller for New Orleans after years of being a quarterbacks coach around the league. Can he get this bunch to produce points on a consistent basis?
Defensively, the Saints are sound, but getting old. Cam Jordan just turned 36 and Demario Davis will be 37 by the time the season is over. Hopefully new signings Chase Young and Justin Reid can make a difference immediately.
Can Baker lead the Bucs to another NFC South title?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield returns with a great supporting cast. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin return as the main pass catchers, with Jalen McMillan and rookie Emeka Egbuka round out the receiving corps. Cade Otton is the starting tight end, adding another weapon for Mayfield, and Bucky Irving is set to take over as RB1, with Rachaad White ready to go.
Defensively, the Bucs could compete with anyone in the league. They signed Haason Reddick to boost an already star-studded defense with Lavonte David, Vita Vea and Antoine Winfield Jr.
The Bucs will have to host the Super Bowl Champions in Week 4, and go to Detroit and Buffalo later in the season. But playing the rest of the NFC South helps, and they also pull some of the weaker teams in the league, like the Dolphins, Cardinals, Jets and Patriots.
The NFC South will likely go to Tampa Bay again, as they are the most complete team by far.
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- AFC South Divisional Preview
- AFC West Divisional Picks
- NFC West Divisional Predictions
- AFC East Divisional Preview
- NFC East Divisional Insights
- AFC North Divisional Predictions
- NFC North Divisional Picks
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