NFC 2021 Futures Betting: NFC South Division
May 28, 2021
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The NFC South Division was a force to be reckoned with during the 2020 NFL season – well at least two of the teams were. Two teams had future Hall of Fame quarterbacks under center and the others were battling mediocrity. There have been a few interesting developments that could shape this division for the foreseeable future. Let’s break down last year’s results:
New Orleans Saints: 12-4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 11-5
Carolina Panthers: 5-11
Atlanta Falcons: 4-12
The following lines for these division futures bets will be pulled from William Hill unless otherwise noted.Buccaneers Odds to Win the NFC South Division: -180
I mean they’re the Super Bowl Winners – what do you expect? Once Tom Brady landed in Tampa, we all knew the potential this team had going forward. To no one’s surprise, it was a juggernaut. This offense is just straight up STACKED. They have the greatest quarterback of all time playing pitch and catch with Mike Evans, Godwin, Gronk, and Antonio Brown. This combination is hands down one of the most lethal receiving corps in the NFL. The Buccaneers started off somewhat slow last season. The connection between Brady and his pass-catchers took some time to develop but when it did, it showed just how potent this offense could be. When Tom Brady and the Bucs aren’t airing it out, they’re grinding away the clock. Fournette and Jones made an excellent 1-2 punch last season, and they plan on keeping that same strategy going forward. The defensive unit is not lacking either. Last year, they finished top 10 and were a perfect compliment to this ridiculous offense.Is There Any Value?
Ladies and gentlemen: This is what we call a super-team. Tampa knows this roster can continue to dominate and made it a point to retain almost all the players from last year's Super Bowl run. Let’s be honest. The most likely scenario is that Tampa wins the division. At -180, this line might seem high at first, but in reality – it’s not too bad. You would have to risk $180 to win $100, that’s not asking too much for a team of this caliber. However, I would suggest hedging by betting on another team in this division.Saints Odds to Win the NFC South Division: +280
Goodbye, Drew Brees. The Saints won't be the same without you. There’s a lot of uncertainty now that Brees has retired. Will it be the TE/QB hybrid Taysom Hill marching the Saints? Or will it be Jameis Winston serving up WINS and eating Ws with the team? That’s unclear at the moment, but honestly, it might not even matter. The Saints offense shouldn’t (and didn’t) take a hit with Drew Brees gone. Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara are absolute game-changers on this offense. Now that Thomas is done battling whatever was wrong with him last season, this unit should pick up where it left off. Where this team does most of its damage is on defense. The Saints were ranked 5th and understandably so. Every single week, the opposing teams had an uphill battle trying to move the ball against this unit. They’re young, fast, and are great at creating turnovers.Is There Any Value?
Absolutely. I don’t see this team falling off much next season. Sure, they lost a Hall of Fame quarterback, but at almost 3-1 on your money with this defense – take a shot.
Falcons Odds to Win the NFC South Division: +800
This was the worst team in the NFC South Division last season. You could blame this on multiple things, but a big part of it was that the Falcons loved giving up leads late in the game. A lot of that was poor coaching but also just really bad luck. Without this, the Falcons would have finished with a much better record. The Falcons' offense isn’t bad by any stretch. Matt Ryan is an above-average quarterback throwing to above-average receivers. Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones are both easily top ten talents in the NFL right now. While it’s almost certain that Jones is traded to a new team, this offense will still be a force. Why? Kyle Pitts. If this rookie balls out like he’s expected to, Ryan won’t need to rely on Julio. Pitts is a rare talent and could be the wild card to propel the Falcons back into being division winners.Is There Any Value?
This is my favorite dark horse of the division. I love the potential this team has going into next season. They have needs in certain spots like running back and pass rush, but overall, this is going to be an exciting team to watch. For 8-1 on your money, I’ve already got this line locked in. Let’s just hope their luck changes and they stop blowing leads in the 4th quarter.Panthers Odds to Win the NFC South Division: +1000
When you look at Carolina’s roster, one name jumps off the page – Sam Darnold. Just kidding, it’s Christian McCaffrey. He is undeniably the best player on this roster and the star of this franchise. When McCaffrey was injured, defenses were not afraid to sit back and dare whatever quarterback they rolled out there to throw it down the field. The Panthers were just not competitive without him. The quarterback for next season is Sam Darnold. And while this might be a possible upgrade to what they had before, do we really think that this is the team that can challenge the Bucs and take the division?Is There Any Value?
These odds could be +20000 and I still wouldn’t bet it. Okay, I would throw a couple of dollars on it, but the fact is that even with the current odds set at 10-1, there’s just not enough value here. This franchise is on the back of McCaffrey, and despite his elite athleticism and skill, it won’t be enough to win this division alone. Stay away from the Panthers next season or you’ll just be burning your money. This wraps up the NFC division winners. Next week we’ll move on to the AFC where I’m already looking at a few specific teams for some great value. Remember, If you see a line you like – don’t hesitate to take it. These lines will shift daily, and you don’t want to miss any potential value. For more great sports content and weekly pick articles – follow us on Twitter.
