The NFC South is one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL and Carolina Panthers sprang a surprise in 2025 as they ended Tampa Bay Buccaneers' dominance of the division.
Tampa Bay had won four consecutive divisional titles between 2021 and 2024, but they lost their spot at the top, despite three teams in the NFC South finishing with 8-9 records.
Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta Falcons all tied on 8-9, while the New Orleans Saints finished bottom with a 6-11 record.
After plenty of activity across the division in free agency and the draft, there is no standout candidate for the title and all four teams will feel they have the chance to finish first.
NFC South Division Winner betting picks and predictions
New Orleans Saints to win the NFC South (+260)
The Saints' critics will suggest they cannot turn their fortunes around in one year, but New Orleans will take confidence from the fact it only took eight wins to win the division last year.
The Saints finished the season with four wins and one defeat and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough had a decent first season. He threw for 2,384 yards, despite only featuring in 11 games.
Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley managed to get a tune out of his defense and they went under the radar for stopping explosive plays.
Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor have moved on and that is a blow for Staley, but the Saints did add linebacker Kaden Elliss to their roster, weakening the Atlanta Falcons in the process.
On offense, they added guard David Edwards to their offensive line, while also adding running back Travis Etienne and tight end Noah Fant to their roster.
Wide receiver Chris Olave was given some support after the addition of Jordyn Tyson in the draft and Shough has plenty of options to target.
Etienne's arrival should help the Saints improve their rushing attack, which was extremely disappointing in 2025.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore is now in his second season as a head coach and with Shough expected to kick on next season, New Orleans look good value to top the division, especially when they have the second-easiest schedule in the NFL based on ratings.
Elsewhere in the division, Tampa Bay have bolstered their defense, but they have lost wide receiver Mike Evans and Todd Bowles' team look like they lack depth in key areas.
Carolina were fortunate to top the division last season and while the additions of Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd will help their defense, quarterback Bryce Young only has one elite receiver in Tetairoa McMillan.
Finally, the Falcons have the most questions to answer. Two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski is now in charge, but they have a quarterback issue as Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa are yet to prove they can lead in style.
Running back Bijan Robinson is one of the best in the NFL, while wide receiver Drake London is also expected to have another fantastic campaign.
However, the Falcons cannot rely just on them two and with no standout favorite for the division, the Saints have every chance of springing a surprise.
Baker Mayfield over 3599.5 passing yards regular season (+100)
Baker Mayfield has already voiced his disappointment in failing to secure a new contract this summer, so a fired-up Mayfield is a big asset for Tampa Bay.
He elevates those around him and plays with a chip on his shoulder and a personal challenge should be what brings the best out of him.
Mayfield has thrown for 3,693 yards or more in three successive campaigns and with Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan his main three options, he should surpass 3,600 yards once again.
Atlanta Falcons Under 7.5 wins (-150)
The NFL is complex in plenty of areas, but one thing is still true - no team can do well with poor quarterback play.
Penix Jr. is coming into the season on the back of a season-ending knee injury, while Tagovailoa has had fitness issues of his own.
The pair are set to battle it out for the starting job, but there are too many doubts surrounding the pair.
Atlanta's schedule is also difficult in the first seven weeks as they face five teams that competed in the 2025 playoffs.
To make matters worse, they have already lost defensive star Jalon Walker to a season-ending ACL injury.
If they get off to a slow start, it could be tough for Atlanta to rack up wins due to their quarterback problem.
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NFC South Division Winner odds
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +175 |
New Orleans Saints | +260 |
Carolina Panthers | +300 |
Atlanta Falcons | +375 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
