2026 NFL Divisional Previews | NFC South: That Southern Charm
Written by: Varun Sharma
Last Update: Thu Aug 13, 2026, 12:04 pm ET
Read Time: 11 minutes
nfl
This might not be one of the most talked about divisions in the NFL, but it's definitely one of the most wide open; in my opinion.
The NFC South is coming off a year in which all four teams finished with losing records, including the eventual division winner; the Carolina Panthers.
Th New Orleans Saints have put their trust in a young QB, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can't seem to pick a direction when it comes to this team's future and the Atlanta Falcons are in the midst of a QB battle between two terrible options.
The NFC South is wide open and that's clear when you look at the odds for each team to win the division. The win totals for all four teams is set a 7.5, with varying amounts of juice on either side; once again just solidifying how close this division really is.
Odds to Win the NFC South
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+195)
- New Orleans Saints (+240)
- Atlanta Falcons (+325)
- Carolina Panthers (+325)
Best Bets in the NFC South
- Carolina Panthers (+325)
- Carolina Panthers o7.5 Wins (+115)
For additional information on NFL futures, take a look at our NFL Picks Page or our NFL Odds Page.
You can also browse our recommendations for the best online sportsbooks available in the U.S.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offense
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the 'favorite' to win the NFC South at nearly 2-to-1, but in my opinion; the Buccs may have more questions to answer this year than any other team in this division.
Starting on offense, the team lost their lost possibly the greatest Buccaneer in Tampa Bay history; Mike Evans. Evans was the franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, yards from scrimmage and he set the single season (franchise) record for touchdowns scored and receiving yards.
Evans has played 12 years in the NFL and in every single season but 2025, he finished with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He won a Super Bowl with Tom Brady and he was Baker Mayfield's favorite target.
The Buccaneers do have weapons in this receiving room; with Chris Godwin likely in line for a big increase in targets. Add to that the two young guys in Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson. Both guys going into their sophomore years and looking to build on what they accomplished last year.
In the backfield we've got Bucky Irving going into his 3rd year and the newly signed Kenneth Gainwell taking over for Rachaad White as the team's RB2. I don't think I'd say this this offense got a lot better, but they've still got weapons and the engine that drives it; Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield's coming off his worst season as a Buccaneer. It was the first time he threw for under 4,000 yards, he threw his lowest number of touchdowns of the last three years (26) and had the most turnovers he's had in that same period (14).
This year Baker's playing on the last year of his 3-year contract and it looks like that's how both sides have decided to go into the 2026 season.
Defense
Although Evans' departure was tough, at 32 years old, it made sense with the plethora of talent the Buccaneers have at the position. To me, the bigger issue lies with this defense.
After 14 long seasons, Lavonte David has retired. He lead the Buccaneers in combined tackles/assists last year and retires and the franchises leader in tackles, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.
David was Tampa's second leading pass rusher last year, recording 3.5 sacks, 1 interception and 3 forced fumbles. It's tough to think of this Buccs team without David on the field, but they've done a lot to try and plug the hole he's about to leave.
Tampa Bay signed two former Lions, bringing in Alex Anzalone at LB and additionally Al-Quadin Muhammad to help bolster the defensive line. Muhammad set a career high with 11 sacks last year and played just 41% of the Lions' defensive snaps.
Anzalone gives the Buccaneers a new defensive play caller, as well as one of the best coverage LB in the game of football. In the draft the Buccs took 4 defensive players with their first 5 picks and that was no accident.
Projected Win Total
- Over 7.5 Wins (-150)
- Under 7.5 Wins (+120)
Additions
- Alex Anzalone (LB)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad (DE)
- Kenneth Gainwell (RB)
- A'Shawn Robinson (DL)
- Christian Rozeboom (LB)
Subtractions
- Mike Evans (WR)
- Jamel Dean (CB)
- Logan Hall (DL)
- Rachaad White (RB)
- Lavonte David (LB)
New Orleans Saints
Offense
Is Tyler Shough really the answer? That's the question I keep asking myself.
The New Orleans Saints enter 2026 with the 2nd shortest odds to win the NFC South and the highest expectations they've had since Drew Brees was still on the team.
Shough went 5-4 in 9 games as a starter last year, even rattling off four straight wins in the month of December. It's those four wins that have stuck out in the heads of football fans around the world and it's why the Saints continue to garner even a modest amount of hype.
Let's take a second and look at those four games. Two of the four wins came against divisional opponents; the Panthers and Buccaneers. With the other two wins coming against two of the worst teams in football; the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans.
On the bright side, Shough completed 69% of his passes in these 9 games, he threw 10 touchdowns to 5 interceptions and averaged 251 pass yards per game.
To help fill out this roster around Shough, the Saints gave Chris Olave a big extension and simultaneously signed Travis Etienne Jr. away from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Add to this the fact the team still has Alvin Kamara on the roster and Juwan Johnson; albeit both a little older now.
Lastly, let's not forget about the speedy Jordyn Tyson; wideout of Arizona State. Tyson's looked great at training camp and I know the Saints didn't use a top-10 pick to have this guy watch from the sidelines.
Defense
After 8 seasons with the Saints, long time defensive captain Demario Davis is on his way back to New York. He lead the Saints in tackles/assists last year and now he's going to finish his career in the same place it started; with the Jets.
The Saints signed Kaden Elliss to help fill the void left by Davis but I'm just not sure it'll be enough. The defense also lost it's best corner in Alonte Taylor. The 27-year old finished with 83 tackles/assists, 2 interceptions and played all 17 games last year. Now he wears baby blue in Tennessee.
The biggest question mark for me about New Orleans is on this side of the ball. Demario Davis is 37-years old, but replacing him with a 31-year old Kaden Elliss just won't cut it. Alonte Taylor's departure is going to be felt immediately, especially considering some of the receivers that play in this division.
Taylor was the Saints' answer for guys like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Tetairoa McMillan, and even Drake London. Without him and with no real pass rush; the Saints could be in for a very long season.
Projected Win Total
- Over 7.5 Wins (-135)
- Under 7.5 Wins (+105)
Additions
- Travis Etienne Jr.(RB)
- David Edwards (OL)
- Kaden Elliss (LB)
- Noah Fant (TE)
Subtractions
- Demario Davis (LB)
- Alontae Taylor (CB)
- Taysom Hill (QB/TE)
Atlanta Falcons
Offense
The Atlanta Falcons are an enigma. They drafted Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and this was just five weeks after giving Kirk Cousins a 4-year $180 million deal to be the franchise's new QB.
Everyone was shocked by the decision and here we are now, two seasons removed from that draft. Kirk Cousins is now a Las Vegas Raider and Michael Penix Jr. is in a QB competition with Tua Tagovailoa; IN ATLANTA.
Outside of the QB competition, the Falcons are loaded on offense. They've got Drake London, one of the best/young wideouts in the NFL. Bijan Robinson has lived up to the hype (and then some) he had coming out of college and now they've got the shiny new Head Coach to hopefully turn this franchise around.
Kevin Stefanski is now Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons and from what I can tell, he seems to be leaning with Tua early in training camp. It seems highly unlikely to me that either of these guys is a franchise QB and it's why I think we see the Falcons struggle this year.
Defense
Defensively this team hasn't gotten any better and they just lost their leading tackler from last year; Kaden Elliss. Like I said above, Elliss now plays for the Saints and the Falcons will need to replace him.
James Pearce, the team's young DE; was charged with domestic violence and could face a lengthy suspension and that's if he's re-instated at all.
Dee Alford's no longer on this team and he was tied for 2nd most interceptions on this defense (3). Alford also recorded 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and now he's taken his talents to Buffalo.
The Falcons did use four of their first five picks in this year's draft on defensive players, including three picks on players to help solidify this front seven.
Projected Win Total
- Over 7.5 Wins (+100)
- Under 7.5 Wins (-130)
Additions
- Tua Tagovailoa (QB)
- Jahan Dotson (WR)
- Olamide Zaccheaus (WR)
- Brian Robinson Jr. (RB)
- Austin Hooper (TE)
Subtractions
- Kirk Cousins (QB)
- Tyler Allgeier (RB)
- Darnell Mooney (WR)
- Kaden Elliss (LB)
- Dee Alford (CB)
Carolina Panthers
Offense
This is probably the team I'm most excited about in the NFC South and that might come as a bit of a surprise. Bryce Young has not been elite, by any means; but what we saw last year was talent.
In his first year under new Head Coach, Dave Canales; Young won 8 games and finished the season .500 in games he played. That is two more wins that Bryce had in his first two years in the league, combined.
Young averaged under 200 pass yards per game, but he threw 23 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and completed 64% of his passes. The run game was huge for Carolina last year, lead by both Chubba Hubbard and the former panther; Rico Dowdle.
After a full year on the sidelines, Johnathan Brooks will finally get a chance to show people why the Panthers why drafted him. It'll be a split backfield, but don't be surprised if we see Brooks do something similar to what we saw from Dowdle last year.
In addition to an elite run game, the Panthers have some weapons in that receiver room. Tetairoa McMillan is the first name that comes to mind, but you can't forget about Jalen Coker.
Coker's another guy that looks ready to break out this year, as long he finds a way to stay healthy for 15+ games. He's played 11 games in both of his first two seasons and near the end of last year is when we finally saw this connection develop with Bryce.
All 4 of Coker's touchdowns came in the team's last six games and this year the team won't be returning Hunter Renfrow. The Coker breakout just feels so obvious.
Defense
The additions the Panthers made on defense is what initially peaked my interest. Carolina brought in Jaelan Phillips through free agency, signed Devin Lloyd to a huge deal and will return big name guys like Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson and even Derrick Brown.
Lloyd's played four seasons in the NFL, he's coming off his first ever Pro Bowl selection and his first ever All-Pro selection. He's one of the best LB in football and it's why the Panthers showed no hesitation giving him $42 million for 3-years.
He's here to be the anchor for this front seven and I'm excited to see exactly how the Panthers use him going into this season. On the outside we've got one of the best CB in the game, Jaycee Horn.
Horn's going into his sixth season in the NFL, he's made two Pro Bowls and last year we watched him turn into one of the league's premier shutdown corners. I love a lot about this Panthers team, but most of all I love the (+325) price tag we're getting.
Best Bet: Carolina Panthers to Win the NFC South (+325)
Best Bet: Carolina Panthers o7.5 Wins (+115)
Projected Win Total
- Over 7.5 Wins (+115)
- Under 7.5 Wins (-145)
Additions
- Jaelan Phillips (DE)
- Devin Lloyd (LB)
- Rasheed Walker (OL)
- John Metchie III (WR)
- Luke Fortner (OL)
Subtractions
- Rico Dowdle (RB)
- A'Shawn Robinson (DL)
- Christian Rozeboom (LB)
- Cade Mays (OL)
Looking for More
More NFL News
NFL Betting News
2026 NFL Divisional Previews | NFC West: Rams House?
NFL Betting News
BetOnline NFL Odds: 2027 Football Hall of Fame Favorites
NFL Betting News
New York Jets 2026 Win Total Future: Will Geno Save Aaron Glenn?
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER
Follow me on 'X' @VSaaauce for all my picks and sports takes you didn't ask for! Follow Betting News on 'X' and Twitch and catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks, and news!
Looking for a great promo for a new sportsbook? Check out our reviews of the best sportsbooks.
You may know me as ‘VSaaauce’. I’ve been a die hard hoops fan my entire life. I’ve been betting on the NBA/NCAAB/NFL/MLB for six years now, each year gaining more and more knowledge about being a profitable handicapper. I’m eager to learn, and eager to pass on everything I’ve gained over the last few years. I started my Twitter page four years ago, and this community makes me so thankful I did. Outside of sports and handicapping, I enjoy traveling, hoopin, a strong espresso and I’m currently studying to obtain my MD. I’m all about the vibes, good vibes only. If that sounds like you, follow me on 'X' @VSaaauce.
This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.