The 2024/25 NFL season is right around the corner.?Bet.NOLA?has broken down the odds for each division over the last eight weeks in the build-up to the upcoming campaign. The final preview will take an in-depth look at the NFC South where the Atlanta Falcons are favored to win a division title for the first time in nearly a decade.
The NFC South is one of the most competitive divisions in football, simply because there's no dominant force. The Falcons appear poised to make a run at the division title for the first time since 2016, but bettors can't discount the three-time reigning champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers either. Let's take a look and see how oddsmakers expect the division to play out this year.
2024/25 NFC South division winner odds
The NFC South is a streaky division. Three of the four teams have gone on three-year stretches — or four, in the case of the New Orleans Saints — where they topped the division since 2013. The only team to not do so is this year's heavily juiced favorite, the Falcons.
Atlanta (-130) believes it has successfully put all the pieces together for new head coach Raheem Morris. Kirk Cousins was the big-money offseason acquisition, and due to his age and questionable health record, the team even invested in a first-round backup in Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons also brought in multiple complementary pieces on both sides to cement themselves as the favorites to win the division. Darnell Mooney gives the receiving corps a boost, whereas Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons make the defense even more fearsome.
Top to bottom, Atlanta appears to be the cream of the crop in the NFC South. Luckily for the other three teams, football isn't played on paper. There is understandable skepticism considering the Falcons' current division-winning drought, as well.
Tampa Bay (+320) appears to be Atlanta's biggest challenger. Perhaps the biggest offseason loss for the Buccaneers was offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Otherwise, Todd Bowles and Co. are running it back with a familiar core. Oddsmakers are favoring the Falcons due to an excellent offseason, and in doing so, they're showing a lot of disrespect to the three-time reigning NFC South champions. Baker Mayfield loves playing with a chip on his shoulder, so don't be quick to count out Tampa Bay.
New Orleans (+400) is viewed as the last true contender for the division title. The Saints have an incredibly tough stretch to start the season, but if Derek Carr and Co. can pick up a few surprise wins in the process, they're set up nicely later on.
There is excitement ahead of Klint Kubiak's first season as the OC for the Black and Gold, but it's optimism of the cautious variety. New Orleans has one of the — if not the — worst offensive lines in the entire league. How will a veteran quarterback and aging star running back hold up behind this unit? The answer to that question could dictate the team's success this season with Dennis Allen's seat heating up.
The Carolina Panthers (+1100) once again find themselves on the outside looking in. The Panthers are long shots after a 2-15 finish to the previous campaign. While Canales' arrival is expected to help Bryce Young take the next step in the NFL, there isn't a ton of talent on the Carolina roster. This team is at least a couple of years away from seriously competing and these odds reflect that reality.
Jim Derry and Larry Holder went more in-depth on the NFC South on the latest episode of Dattitude. They broke down the division's odds and made predictions for the 2024/25 season:
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of September 4, 2024