2022 NFC South Betting Odds: Can Anyone Dethrone Tom Brady and the Buccaneers?

NFC South odds are available in several betting markets at sportsbooks across the country. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are clear favorites to win the division again this year.

The New Orleans Saints are the second betting favorite in the AFC South. The Carolina Panthers could be a surprise contender with the addition of Baker Mayfield at QB. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to be the division’s cellar dweller this season.

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Odds to Win the NFC South

Here’s a look at NFC South futures odds from around the sports betting industry, current as of Friday, July 29.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

One of these years we’ll write a preview that doesn’t start with the return of Tom Brady. Until that day arrives, we’re compelled to mention the fact that Brady is back for another run at a record eighth Super Bowl. It’s with a mix of reverence and chagrin that we discuss Brady’s greatness. What else is there to be written?

Tampa Bay and Green Bay tied for the best record in the NFL last year at 13-4. The Bucs will be without a key piece in the retired (for now) Rob Gronkowski. They might be without WR Chris Godwin (recovering from ACL injury) to start the season, so expect fellow wideout Mike Evans to see his fair share of targets.

The Bucs also acquired Julio Jones this week to bolster their receiving corps. But Jones looked like a shell of his former self in Tennessee last year.

Also read: Julio Jones’ NFL Comeback Player of the Year odds

Tampa Bay has had one of the NFL’s best defensive units against the run for the past three years, but the Bucs gave up the most completions in the league last year (445). It stands to reason when teams are trailing or can’t run the ball against the Bucs, they’ll go to the air more often than not.

Tampa Bay is without question the best team in the NFC South. It’ll be a major upset if anybody but the Bucs win the division.

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New Orleans Saints

Sean Peyton is gone as coach, and Drew Brees is now in a TV booth. The Saints missed the playoffs for the first time in five years last season with a 9-8 record.

Jameis Winston is a wildcard at QB. He’s guaranteed to throw some ill-advised passes that wind up in opponents’ hands. Winston is coming off an ACL injury that limited him to seven games last year. He is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2022-23 NFL season, however.

Taysom Hill isn’t expected to see much action under center.

New coach Dennis Allen and the front office would do well to improve a suspect offensive line to protect Winston. Rookie Trevor Penning will start at left tackle. Pro Football Focus ranks the Saints O-Line 21th out of 32 NFL teams.

Other concerns for New Orleans? All-world RB Alvin Kamara might be looking at a six-week suspension from the NFL after a felony battery incident in Las Vegas. Top WR Michael Thomas is coming off an 18-month absence and multiple ankle surgeries.

The Saints did draft Ohio State stud WR Chris Olave and added Jarvis Landry to the receiving corps in the offseason. DE Cameron Jordan remains one of the league’s most dominant defensive players.

New Orleans has some question marks entering the season, but the Saints have a talented core group of players making them worthy of the second betting choice in the NFC South.

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Carolina Panthers

Is Baker Mayfield the answer at QB for Carolina? We’re about to find out. Head coach Matt Rhule insists that Mayfield will need to compete for the starting spot with Sam Darnold and rookie Matt Corral, but that might just be coach-speak. Darnold was a turnover waiting to happen last season before giving way to PJ Walker and Cam Newton.

To be sure, Mayfield brings some competitive fire to Carolina. If his shoulder injury’s completely healed, expect Mayfield to be a major upgrade at the QB position.

Carolina’s season win total has been adjusted from 6 (over -120) to 6.5 (under -125) at the Westgate SuperBook, following VP of Risk Management Ed Salmons telling Gaming Today earlier this month, “I will (probably) bump that up because I do think that (Mayfield will make a difference). Their QB play just has been so horrendous. It can only go up; it can’t go down. That’s like a low-ball number with Darnold and the other nonsense they had (at QB).”

The other big question for Carolina: Can the diminutive Christian McCaffrey stay healthy for an entire season? CMC, when healthy, is one of the NFL’s most dynamic running backs with the ability to take dump passes the distance. Wide receivers DJ Moore and Robbie Anderson will also be key targets for Mayfield.

Carolina’s defense will be without LB Shaq Thompson (knee) at training camp, but he’s expected to start the season. PFF has questions about Carolina’s defensive line, which is ranked 24th heading into the new season.

Atlanta Falcons

Fade the Falcons. It’s that simple. Longtime leader and QB Matt Ryan is now playing in Indianapolis.

Journeyman Marcus Mariota might be Atlanta’s starting QB. That doesn’t exactly engender much confidence, eh? Perhaps rookie QB Desmond Ridder will blossom early.

TE Kyle Pitts is a solid talent, and RB Cordarelle Patterson gives Atlanta some pop out of the backfield. But Atlanta’s top WR Calvin Ridley was suspended for the entire 2022 season for betting on NFL games last year. At the risk of editorializing, that seems a bit draconian compared to the possible six-game suspension for Alvin Kamara. But we digress…

As far as Atlanta goes, book this season as a rebuilding year and invest your money elsewhere.

Also read: NFC Odds 2022: Fade the Bucs | What is Your NFL Team’s Chance of Making the Playoffs? | 2022 NFL Season Win Totals

Additional NFL Futures Betting Markets

Check out live Super Bowl odds for all 32 NFL teams on Gaming Today’s Super Bowl 57 odds page. Here are some additional futures markets you might be interested in:

•  At DraftKings, the Bills and Bucs had the highest season win totals at 11.5. What teams will surpass their NFL season win totals during the upcoming NFL season? Be careful with the Dallas Cowboys. DraftKings enticed Dallas backers by putting up 10 wins and -110 on the over. The Cowboys were 12-5 last season, but it had been five years since they last eclipsed 10 wins.
• What are your favorite team’s chances of making the postseason? Check out odds to make the NFL Playoffs for all 32 teams here.
• The Bills are favored to win in AFC odds, but the Chiefs and Raiders offer much better value. Las Vegas could be this year’s version of the Cincinnati Bengals.
•  In NFC odds, fade the Bucs and Packers to win the conference this year. The Rams are a much better bet to repeat as NFC champs, and the Eagles are worth a wager at juicy odds.

NFC South Odds — Frequently Asked Questions