NFL: NFC South Sports Betting Guide (2019)
This is the sixth of an eight-part series breaking down each NFL division and its future market.
The NFC South has potentially the most unknowns from top to bottom. At the top, it has a Saints team that, by way of the media, still can’t seem to get over the no-call in the NFC Championship game. At the perceived bottom, the Buccaneers welcome a new veteran head coach in Bruce Arians and have a quarterback on what can be seen as his last chance to show maturity. In the middle, the Falcons are looking to bounce back from a mediocre season, and the Panthers are hoping Cam Newton can evolve into the accurate pocket passer he has struggled to be. Let’s take a deeper dive into the division’s futures and try to find an edge. Check out all NFC South future odds here.
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What are the odds?
These odds were taken from FanDuel Sportsbook on August 17, 2019.
| Team | Super Bowl | Division | Win Totals | To Make Playoffs |
| New Orleans Saints | +900 | -165 | o10.5 (+110) / u10.5 (-134) | Yes (-320) / No (+245) |
| Atlanta Falcons | +3200 | +320 | o8.5 (-135) / u8.5 (+115) | Yes (+138) / No (-166) |
| Carolina Panthers | +5000 | +600 | o7.5 (-160) / u7.5 (+125) | Yes (+192) / No (-245) |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +6000 | +1000 | o6.5 (-110) / u6.5 (-110) | Yes (+500) / No (-700) |
What happened last year?
| Team | SU Record | ATS Record | O/U | Points For | Points Against | Net Points |
| New Orleans Saints | 13-3 | 10-6-0 | 7-9-0 | 504 | 353 | 151 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7-9 | 5-11-0 | 9-7-0 | 414 | 423 | (9) |
| Carolina Panthers | 7-9 | 7-9-0 | 8-8-0 | 376 | 382 | (6) |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-11 | 8-7-1 | 9-7-0 | 396 | 464 | (68) |
Best Bet?
After their tragic collapse in the 2017 Super Bowl, the Falcons followed up with a dud in 2018. They opened the season 3-0 but proceeded to drop five straight and suffered some brutal injuries along the way that they were never able to recover from. Starting running back Devonta Freeman missed all but two games of the entire season, and the Falcons’ starting safety and linebacker also missed significant time.
In addition to getting back players from injury at some key positions, the Falcons have moved on from the disaster that was Steve Sarkisian calling plays. Stepping in for him this season is Dirk Koetter who ran this offense from 2012-14, propelling Matty Ice into the stat monster he’s been in recent years. Koetter’s pass-heavy offense comes at the perfect time, with 14 of Atlanta’s 16 games played either in warm weather or a dome. With no new system to learn and a healthy Freeman and Julio Jones, this offense has the potential to put up huge numbers as they did in 2014.
The Falcons have made it clear this offseason their main priority was bolstering their line to protect Matt Ryan as his career turns toward the end. In addition to picking up a top guard and tackle in the draft, they added Jamon Brown and James Carpenter in free agency to help protect their most valuable asset.
The bottom line for me is even an improved NFC and in a division with one of the most top to bottom talented rosters in New Orleans, the Falcons have all the ingredients to compete. Last season can largely be seen as a throwaway, between the injuries and general Super Bowl hangover. If they can get through the first eight weeks of the season and head into the bye above .500, their schedule lightens down the stretch. They have the roster to, at a minimum, compete for a Wild Card spot.
Atlanta Falcons – To Make Playoffs (+138)
AFC East Sports Betting Guide
AFC South Sports Betting Guide
AFC North Sports Betting Guide
AFC West Sports Betting Guide
NFC North Sports Betting Guide
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TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.