Since the NFC South was founded in 2002, the division has been evenly contested. Each team has won from 3 to 5 NFC South titles, and that parity has made this division race one of the most fun each season. Coming into the 2019 campaign though, the New Orleans Saints are sizable favorites to win the division per the NFC South betting odds. The three other teams will be looking to prove the oddsmakers wrong.
2020 NFC South Sports Betting Preview
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons could be one of the most fun teams to watch in 2019. Matt Ryan has one of the best sets of triplets to throw to in the NFL, and if Calvin Ridley can improve the wide receivers’ corps could be unstoppable.
Julio Jones is one of the two or three best receivers in the league. Jones has led the NFL in receiving yards per game in three of the last four seasons, and he has topped 100 receiving yards per game in five of the last six years. With Ridley and Mohamed Sanu in the picture alongside him, this is a tall test for secondaries to stop.
There is so much talent on this defense that if they can put it all together, the Falcons will be a Super Bowl contender. Grady Jarrett is a great run stuffer, and Takk McKinley and Vic Beasley are solid rush ends. Deion Jones could be a special linebacker, and Keanu Neal is the most underrated safety in the league.
If you’re betting on the NFC South, you could do a lot worse than betting on Atlanta to win the division.
Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton’s shoulder is the most talked about topic in Charlotte this season. The Panthers started 2018 red hot at 6-2, but they backslid to a 1-7 finish after Cam hurt his shoulder midway through the campaign.
The team is optimistic of a similar hot start in 2019, and Newton has been declared fully healthy once more. Christian McCaffrey is as versatile as they come out of the backfield, but the lack of a quality wide receiver could really hamstring Carolina. None of Carolina’s draft picks have worked out and that’s concerning.
Questions abound on this defense. Luke Kuechly remains a tackling machine at middle linebacker, but the defensive line has been overhauled and the secondary is looking to find a rhythm too.
New Orleans Saints
As long as Drew Brees and Sean Payton are together, New Orleans is going to have an elite offense. Brees continues to put up other-worldly statistics at the age of 40. He nearly led the Saints to the Super Bowl last season, and his laser-like accuracy will make any receiver flourish in this offense.
Michael Thomas is one of the top possession receivers in the league, but the real playmaker is Alvin Kamara. Kamara is deadly with the ball in his hands, and his blend of size and speed is rare for a running back. He has averaged over five yards per carry and 9.5 yards per reception in two seasons, and his utility as an every down back makes him very valuable.
New Orleans has knocked it out of the park with its last two first round picks. Marcus Davenport had a great rookie season and emerged as a force at the hybrid position, and Marshon Lattimore is one of the league’s top young cornerbacks. The Saints don’t usually have a solid defense, but this unit’s rise has made the team the favorite per the NFC South betting odds.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Things have been tough in Tampa Bay this decade. The Buccaneers haven’t made the playoffs since 2007, and Jameis Winston has not been the franchise savior. He is in the final year of his contract, and it seems very likely Tampa Bay is ready to let him walk unless Byron Leftwich can get him to have a breakthrough campaign.
Mike Evans has put up some big numbers during his time in Tampa, but there is no complementary wide receiver to him this season. OJ Howard and Cameron Brate have been decent tight ends, but neither has emerged to become the playmaker teams covet at the position. The offensive line is a mess too, making the Bucs an unlikely bet to win the NFC South.
The defense could be improved after the team selected Devin White in this year’s draft, but losing Gerald McCoy certainly hurts. Tampa Bay hopes that Ndamukong Suh can replace his production, yet that seems unlikely.
Check out the latest NFC South betting odds at the online sportsbook.
