Sportsbooks: NFC South Most Competitive
May 17th, 2026
“Ed, we have enough NFC South division title T-shirts in our closets. Time for something better.”
Sometimes, the jokes write themselves.
And while in the long run, this isn’t a laughing matter, it did provide Joe with a good chuckle while nursing a cold beer yesterday afternoon.
Per Jenna Laine of ESPN, it seems our friends in the desert consider the NFC South as the most competitive division in the NFL “based on sheer betting odds.”
The NFC South is considered the most competitive division in the NFL based on sheer betting odds, with every team having odds under +500 to win the division. But per DraftKings Sportsbook, the defending-champion Panthers aren’t favored. The Bucs are at +165, and then it’s the Saints (+265), Panthers (+300) and Falcons (+450).
Well, “competitive” is one word to describe it.
Two of the last four NFC South champions captured the division with losing records: the Bucs and the Stinking Panthers. That’s not something to brag about.
This is why Bucs fans get irked when the Bucs crow how the team has been the beasts of the NFC South under Todd Bowles. The Bucs have won a grand total of two playoff games the past five seasons.
(During the throes of The Lost Decade, one playoff win seemed like manna from heaven.)
While Joe understands division titles are huge for organizations (home games mean a ton of revenue and that tends to bring smiles from the businessmen and businesswomen who own teams), fans consider quick playoff exits an ugly rut. Cap and T-shirt games are nice but they’re a stepping stone to bigger and better things, not a long-term accomplishment.
Can the Bucs snap out of this rut and win playoff games? That’s what Bucs fans want.
May 17th, 2026 at 8:24 am
If we don’t, Bowles should be tossed.
May 17th, 2026 at 8:50 am
I was scouring over Hard Rock this morning while loading up on coffee. To win NFC South
TB +175
ATL +300
NO +300
CAR +350
To win SB
TB +5000
ATL +7500
NO +10000
CAR +10000
The word consistent and Baker Mayfield don’t always go together. But I believe oddsmakers favor him more than the other NFC South QB’s. Starting TB as favorites to win division. Those odds change fast and are not set in stone.
May 17th, 2026 at 9:14 am
‘Can the Bucs snap out of this rut and win playoff games? That’s what Bucs fans want.’
One step at a time Joe. I don’t give a hoot what the odds-makers say. The odds had us favored last year and we all know what happened. The same exact thing could happen this season if we get away from the ‘One game at a time’ mentality. Win the division FIRST and make the playoffs, THEN we can worry about winning playoff games.
May 17th, 2026 at 9:37 am
Saints have a good young QB in Tyler Shough.
May 17th, 2026 at 9:43 am
added ettienne and a top wr in the draft with an offensive minded head coach
May 17th, 2026 at 9:52 am
“Two of the last four NFC South champions captured the division with losing records: the Bucs and the Stinking Panthers. That’s not something to brag about.“
…. unless you are the Glazers (see Bowles’ extension), Licht and/or seemingly thousands of Bowles-backers.
Shrewd organizations would have recognized winning the NFC south as the fools gold that it is and fired their coach early. Some may have been insightful enough to have never promoted a coach of Bowles’ (in)abilities.
May 17th, 2026 at 10:04 am
Don’t know why the oddsmakers are down on the Panthers? They are the south champs till they’re not. Oddsmakers don’t think like that. That Panthers team couldn’t beat a reeling Bucs team to finish last season in a must-win game. The Bucs, Panthers and Falcons tied at 8-9. The Panthers are sad at the QB position, which very much drives odds. They also are a run-first offense that let its top running back leave in free agency. –Joe
They had a good draft, decent FAcy, plus coaching stability. I wouldn’t be sleeping on them.
May 17th, 2026 at 10:29 am
In this economy, i wouldnt be surprised to see a bunch of empty seats everywhere. So merch sales and concession sales that are usually way over priced? Yeah, owners are gonna get a good look the next few years.
May 17th, 2026 at 10:38 am
Well the South probably is the most competitive division. I mean the whole division is composed of sub par teams. Yes the Bucs were favorites last year, so hold on before getting to excited.
Yes, I believe the Saints will surprize people this year. The Panthers won last year and look improved. Atl has talent so it is wait and see. Who wins this division this year is anybody’s guess currently. I don’t see the Bucs winning this division unless that defense is vastly improved. Yes they added players but they have not played yet. I know this, they have not fully addressed the CB position . Yes Parrish may rise to the occasion, may is the key word. Then on the other side you have currently McColumn and or Parrish, both were flat awful last year period. Maybe Morrison develops, if he can stay on the field. That is a big gamble going in. McColumn, well watch last year’s games if needed, but, believe this, he may have been the worst starting corner in the league by far. So to expect him to return am suddenly become an impact player, appears pure fantasy. To me he is even a bigger gamble than Morrison. I just don’t see it
May 17th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Sorry meant , Morrison and McColumn were flat awful last year. Parrish was a great surprize and hopefully he takes one corner position this year
May 17th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Speaking of odds and gambling…
Mike Evans o/u for TDs is set at 6.5.
If you think he can stay healthy, that’s free money.
Guaranteed Shanahan and Purdy are looking his way in the red zone like the Rams did with Adams last year.
May 17th, 2026 at 10:48 am
Good points on the Panthers while you were setting Hodad straight Joe! I would not bet one penny on the Panthers doing anything besides maybe being better than the ATL. All these people who love Carolina forget the Panthers do have the first place schedule, when the Bucs had the first place schedule the critics always hyped, I wonder if they factor that in when they pick carolina to actually win the division?????. Panthers have a tougher schedule than Tampa and Joe is right, they choked in Tampa when a win got them in, how does that make them better than Tampa who should be healthy and thus stronger than the paper Panthers.
May 17th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Panthers will have a LOT tougher schedule this year, and they only won 8 LAST year
May 17th, 2026 at 11:57 am
Tyler looks very promising compared to Spencer Rattler. Has limited NFL playing time?
B. Young is coming around after being benched. What version is CAR getting?
Phenix Jr. looked good until he tore his ACL, new HC?
Mayfield and Bucs look predictable here with a lot on the line for 2026.(Contract) HC hot seat.
These division games are very competitive one score game rivals often split.
Outside the topic any chance Jake Browning can share Joe Burrow’s playbook and tendencies with the defense for week 1?
May 17th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
from the looks of it, the division doesn’t appear to have an elite team, or a bottom feeder…
you can logically say almost all teams bracket in between 7-10 to 10-7…
so it should be tight…yes…
can someone only win 6……sure…
can someone win more than 10…?…….probably not…
they all look like 7-9 win teams…
so 10 should secure the south title
May 17th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
I would rather finish first in the allegedly worst division than finish third in the best division.