NFC South 2011 Betting Preview
Three teams in the NFC South won double-digit games last season, making it a battle on the NFL odds boards at the sportsbooks for 2011. Here's how the NFC South contenders (and the Panthers) look heading into the season.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints went 11-5 last season and looked like they'd have an easy time with the sub-.500 Seahawks in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, but instead they got thumped 41-36. For 2011 the Saints will again be carried by the strong arm of Drew Brees, who threw for 4,620 yards and was good for 33 touchdown strikes last season.
At Bodog the Saints are set at 15/1 on the Super Bowl odds for this season despite last year's ugly playoff exit, and they're at 15/2 to win the NFC Championship Game. On the props market New Orleans' win total OVER/UNDER for 2011 is sitting at 10, while Brees is high up on the MVP betting board at Bodog with 10/1 odds right now.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons had more wins than any other NFC team last season with 13, but that didn't help them in the playoffs when they were pounded 48-21 at home by the Packers in the Divisional Round. Atlanta, though, is still led by QB Matt Ryan and RB Michael Turner and will be looking to put that embarrassing loss behind them in 2011.
If they can do that, the Falcons would pay off at 16/1 on the NFL betting board at Bodog to win the Super Bowl this season, and they're tied with the rival Saints at 15/2 odds to win the NFC Championship Game. If a return to 13 wins is in the cards for Atlanta they'd pay off on the OVER bet on their posted win total of 10.5 at the sportsbooks, while Ryan is one of the top MVP contenders in the league at 18/1 odds. Turner sits at 45/1 on the MVP odds board at Bodog, with WR Roddy White at 50/1.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers were one of two NFC teams last season to win 10 games but not make the playoffs (the Giants were the other), and they'll again have to contend with strong Saints and Falcons teams in the division race in 2011. QB Josh Freeman took a big step forward for the Bucs in 2010, and his continued development is the key to their future success.
Right now, though, the Bucs remain third in the NFC South pecking order at Bodog at 30/1 on the Super Bowl odds list and at 16/1 to win the NFC Championship Game. Tampa Bay's wins OVER/UNDER sits at a modest 8, and Freeman is at 40/1 on the MVP odds board.
Carolina Panthers
With three 10-win teams in one division you know there has to be a sad-sack fourth team – and that was the Panthers last season. Winning just two games in 2010, the Panthers at least also won the right to draft first overall – picking up franchise (they hope) quarterback Cam Newton. Still, they're in very tough in the NFC South in 2011.
And that's why the Panthers are well back at 100/1 odds at Bodog to win the Super Bowl this season, and at 65/1 to win the NFC Championship Game. On the wins OVER/UNDER board the Panthers' total for 2011 has been listed very low at just 4.5.