In the case of projecting the NFC South, I solely really feel assured about two issues: the division will as soon as once more be among the many worst in soccer and the Carolina Panthers gained’t be profitable it.
Whilst improved because the Panthers must be because of the additions of playmakers Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette and Jonathan Brooks, nobody of their proper thoughts is betting their +1100 odds to make a leap to division winner recent off a two-win season.
In all probability, the division will probably be one other battle between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. And I think it’ll be lots nearer than the chances would lead you to consider.
After including Kirk Cousins within the offseason, the Falcons are -120 favorites at BetMGM to win the NFC South. These odds are tied because the third-best division odds in all of soccer.
The logic is straightforward to observe. With unhealthy quarterback play a 12 months in the past, Atlanta went 7-10 and was within the division race all the way in which to the tip. Including a professional bowler on the place ought to theoretically springboard the Falcons forward of the equally mid Bucs and Saints.
However nearly as good as that sounds, I’m not satisfied. At the very least not sufficient to take Atlanta at such quick odds.
2023 NFC South standings
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
- New Orleans Saints (9-8)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
- Carolina Panthers (2-15)
Even when the bar to win is simply 9 video games, Cousins is somebody who has met that threshold simply twice within the final eight years. And although mobility was by no means part of his recreation, he’ll be 36 and getting back from an Achilles tear when the season begins. It’s honest to anticipate some decline in efficiency.
Wins aren’t a quarterback stat, so it’s potential the best state of affairs Atlanta was capable of present Cousins helps him take one other step ahead. Particularly as he’ll have much less stress to hold the load in a run-first system. However the Falcons aren’t good. They nonetheless have loads of questions on protection, notably within the secondary and the cross rush.
One division foe able to making the most of these potential shortcomings is Tampa, which fell right into a groove over the ultimate six weeks of final season resulting in that beautiful wild card playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles. But, the Bucs get to journey that top into this season with out the conventional stress of expectations to repeat as division champs.
They get to stay the underdog.
Regression from Baker Mayfield is all the time potential, however the Bucs ought to stay aggressive sufficient for his or her +300 odds to carry the very best worth within the division.
New Orleans can also be an attention-grabbing sleeper at +375, with hope that new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak can get extra consistency out of Derek Carr and the remainder of that unit. Nonetheless, the getting older operation that the Saints are, it looks like a matter of when not if that complete factor comes crumbling down.
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