A budding division in football, the NFC South is set to deliver thrilling matchups, breakout stars, and plenty of dramatic moments throughout the 2026 NFL season. Hot off the heels of a season that saw all four teams finish with a losing record for the second time in four years, the NFC South is in desperate need of a turnaround in gridiron success.
As the Carolina Panthers look to continue their evolution as a football team after pushing the Los Angeles Rams to the brink of elimination in the NFC Wild Card in 2025, the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints have all gotten better this offseason, meaning this year the division is completely up for grabs.
With it being anyone’s to win, get some skin in on the latest NFC South odds featured below, as well as get our expert betting insights for this division to see how you can boost your bankroll on all the upcoming action during the 2026 NFL season.
Thanks for reading our NFL Divisional Preview Series! Be sure to check out our previews for all eight divisions as they become available!
AFC North – AFC South – AFC East – AFC West – NFC North – NFC South – NFC East – NFC West
Atlanta Falcons to Win the Super Bowl
Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowl Odds: +10000
To Win Conference Odds: +4500
Division Odds: +350
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+230) No (-310)
Season Win Total: Over 7.5 (+110) Under 7.5 (-140)
2025 Record: 8-9
Key Additions: QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Jahan Dotson, S Sydney Brown
Key Subtractions: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Tyler Allgeier, WR Darnell Mooney
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Looking to make a statement early on this season, expect a playoff atmosphere at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the Falcons take on the Panthers in Week 2. Set to face the reigning NFC South champions, this will be a massive opportunity for the Falcons to showcase their growth from last season, lay the smackdown on a division rival, and set the tone for what’s to come later in the season.
Prop to Watch: The ink is dry on a juicy $66.75M contract extension, and you can expect Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson to prove he’s worth every dollar as he leads the NFL in rushing yards this season. After finishing fourth in the NFL in total rushing yards in 2025, heading into his fourth NFL season, look for the training wheels to finally be taken off as Robinson becomes a bell cow for his team behind a stellar offensive line, taking the bulk of touches out of the backfield and finishing with the most rushing yards in the league in 2026.
Potential Breakout Player: Coming off two quiet years as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, look for newly acquired wide receiver Jahan Dotson to reignite the hype around his name as he breaks out in his first year as a Falcon. After tallying 523 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season with the Washington Commanders, Dotson struggled to get targets with the Eagles, an issue not exclusive to him in their wide receiver room. Now on a new offence and playing alongside budding star Drake London, look for Dotson to serve a vital role in the Falcons passing attack, seeing an increase in targets, culminating in a career year.
Betting Projection: Despite there being plenty of red flags and question marks surrounding the quarterback position for the Falcons, I firmly believe the oddsmakers have mispriced the Falcons to a criminal degree. Sporting one of the most talent-rich offences in the NFL, coupled with a reliable defence, I expect to see the Falcons steamroll their NFC South counterparts, cruise to their first division title in a decade, and make some noise in the NFL Playoffs in 2026.
Bijan Robinson to Lead the NFL in Rushing Yards
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl Odds: +5000
To Win Conference Odds: +2200
Division Odds: +185
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+135) No (-170)
Season Win Total: Over 8.5 (+115) Under 8.5 (-145)
2025 Record: 8-9
Key Additions: LB Alex Anzalone, RB Kenneth Gainwell, DE A’Shawn Robinson
Key Subtractions: QB Teddy Bridgewater, LB Lavonte David
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Amidst a competitive division, look for the first of three late-season divisional matchups to serve as the most important game on the Buccaneers schedule as they host the Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Long one of the top-producing teams in their division, the Buccaneers appear to be on a downward trend, unable to recapture the fire that helped them secure a postseason win back in 2023. With the Saints on an upward trajectory, look for the Bucs to fight off any changing of the guard, preventing their rivals from leapfrogging them in a heated playoff race.
Prop to Watch: Needing to put the team on his back in order to remain competitive in the NFC South, expect a big year from quarterback Baker Mayfield as he throws for 4,000+ passing yards in 2026. After missing the mark for the first time in his three seasons with the Buccaneers last year, look for Mayfield to get back on track as he leads an aggressive passing attack, taking big shots downfield to his speedy wide receiver tandem of Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan. Additionally, the Bucs love to pass to their running backs out of the backfield, something that starter Bucky Irving excels at, and will assist Mayfield in earning easy passing yards all season long.
Potential Breakout Player: After coming out of the gate hot to begin his NFL career, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka hit a wall in his rookie season after Week 9, failing to record a touchdown and only finishing with more than 50 yards once in his last eight games played. Hungry to prove that his early-season play wasn’t a fluke, look for Egbuka to string together a complete season in 2026, leading the charge for the Bucs passing game, and finishing with his first 1,000-yard season and besting his six-touchdown year from last season.
Betting Projection: While the Bucs still have a high-upside offence, the current Buccaneers roster construction appears to have seen the last of its sunny days in Tampa, Florida. With inconsistent play throughout their offence, constant injury concerns, and a downright depleted and sad defensive group, expect to see the Buccaneers to miss the NFL Playoffs for the second year in a row, struggling to secure wins, and ultimately finishing near the bottom of the NFC this season.
Baker Mayfield to Pass for 4,000+ Yards
New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl Odds: +8000
To Win Conference Odds: +3500
Division Odds: +260
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+182) No (-240)
Season Win Total: Over 7.5 (-130) Under 7.5 (+100)
2025 Record: 6-11
Key Additions: RB Travis Etienne, LB Kaden Ellis, TE Noah Fant
Key Subtractions: LB DeMario Davis, CB Alontae Taylor, TE Foster Moreau
Most Important Game on the Schedule: After a slow start to the season, the Saints finished red hot, winning four of their last five games in 2025. Looking to prove this was a sign of what’s to come and not a fluke, this has lined up for a massive matchup in Week 4 when they host the Falcons at the Caesars Superdome. In what will be their first taste of divisional play in 2026, look for the Saints to set the tone for their upcoming campaign as they hope to assert themselves as a divisional contender with an impressive early-season showing at home.
Prop to Watch: Sometimes a forgotten star among an era chock-full of amazing pass-rushing talent, don’t sleep on the output for former number-two overall pick, Chase Young, as he records 10+ sacks this season. In just 12 games played in his second year as a Saint, Young racked up 10 sacks, good enough to rank him in the top 15 last year. With a pivotal role on a team needing increased output on the defensive side of the ball, if Young can stay healthy, he’s in a great spot to improve off his career-best season in 2025 and set a new top sack tally in 2026.
Potential Breakout Player: After making a late-season case to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, expect big things from second-year quarterback Tyler Shough as he looks to take the reins of the Saints offence into the future. While many questioned his draft selection for the Saints going in Day 2 as a 25-year-old prospect, Shough silenced the critics, racking up 2,384 passing yards,10 touchdown passes, as well as three rushing touchdowns in 10 starts in his first year as a pro. Looking to establish himself as a true starter at the NFL level, look for Shough to cement his place as the QB1 of the future in NOLA with a big 2026 campaign.
Betting Projection: While the Saints showed legitimate potential and upside at the end of the 2025 season, many of those games were against mediocre opponents with nothing to play for. There’s no doubt that this year’s team is better than the version from a season ago, but temper expectations for them, as they are destined to once again finish outside the postseason bracket, with Under 7.5 wins in what will be another developmental year.
Chase Young to Record 10+ Sacks
Carolina Panthers
Super Bowl Odds: +9000
To Win Conference Odds: +4000
Division Odds: +320
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+230) No (-310)
Season Win Total: Over 7.5 (+115) Under 7.5 (-145)
2025 Record: 8-9
Key Additions: TE Darren Waller, LB Jaelan Phillips, LB Devin Lloyd
Key Subtractions: DE A’Shawn Robinson, G Joshua Gray
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Wanting to establish themselves as legitimate competition in the NFC coming off a stellar performance in the 2025 postseason, look for the biggest game of the Panthers’ season to come in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football when they host the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium. Taking on one of the top teams in the league on primetime, this will be a golden opportunity for Bryce Young and company to showcase their ability to compete against the upper echelon of the NFL in the spotlight.
Prop to Watch: Coming off a career high in interceptions that saw him finish tied for second in the NFL in this regard, send your bankroll skyrocketing by backing Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn to lead the NFL in picks in 2026. A standout member of the Panthers secondary, Horn possesses tremendous talent and the ability to match up with the league’s top wideouts and get the upper hand. With his play continuing to improve season after season, all indicators point toward an even better interception tally in 2026. At +7500, Horn is a certified lotto ticket waiting to be cashed as the 2026 interception king.
Potential Breakout Player: Continuing to establish himself as a versatile talent at the safety position, expect a breakout year for Tre’von Moehrig in 2026. After beginning to build a name for himself with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, Moehrig continued to build on this momentum in his first season with the Panthers last year, breaking 100 total tackles in back-to-back years, as well as recording three sacks. With his improving physicality and nose for the football, Moehrig could be poised to continue breaking his own personal bests in a standout season in 2026.
Betting Projection: To say I don’t trust the Panthers is an understatement. Being the best team in the worst division a season ago doesn’t mean diddly squat once the standings reset. While they put together an inspiring playoff performance against the Rams, this team still lacks star power, consistent play at quarterback, and, most importantly, depth. Expect the script to flip on the Panthers in 2026 as they finish at the bottom of the NFC South, failing to recapture the momentum they capped off their 2025 campaign with.
