In Depth Analysis on the NFL Winning Picks to Win the NFC South
The Favorite: Atlanta Falcons +130
The Falcons went 11-5 SU and 10-6 ATS in 2016 to bring the Carolina Panthers’ three-year run as NFC South champions to an abrupt halt in 2016 before going on to beat Seattle in the divisional round and Green Bay in the conference title tilt. However, the Falcons saw offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan bolt to take the head coaching job in San Francisco and that may or may not have an effect on an offense that ranked first in scoring (33.8 ppg) last season. The good news is that Atlanta has their entire core group of offensive stars back from last season’s team including Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and made a nice hire by naming former USC and Washington head coach as their new offensive coordinator. The Falcons need to really upgrade a defense that finished 25th overall, 28th against the pass and 27th in points allowed (25.4 ppg) and to that end, Atlanta brought in veteran nose tackle Dontari Poe and traded up to snag UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley in the first round and linebacker Duke Riley in the third round. If the Falcons can come close to the offensive production they produced last season while improving their defense just a bit, they could both, win the NFC South while challenging to make consecutive Super Bowl appearances.Atlanta Falcons Team Statistics
MyBookie’s Free Picks to Win the AFC North
The Smart Pick: Carolina Panthers +180
Carolina fell to 6-10 SU and 6-9-1 ATS in 2016 just one year after reaching Super Bowl 50. The Panthers and Cam Newton struggled in ranking 21st in passing last season and a modest 15th in scoring (23..1 ppg),but they added a pair of electrifying rookies in versatile Stanford running back Christian McCaffery and speedy Ohio State wide receiver Curtis Samuel that should help pay dividends right away. The bigger problem for the Panthers last season was a defense that fell off in a big way in finishing 21st overall, a pitiful 29th against the pass and 26th in points allowed (25.1 ppg). To help address their defensive woes, the Panthers added veteran defensive end Julius Peppers and traded up in the third round for Texas A&M’s defensive lineman Daeshon Hall. After being banged up nearly all of last season, a healthy Cam Newton and some improved defensive play and I believe it’s quite possible the Panthers could contend in a big way.Carolina Panthers Team Statistics
The Longshot: Tampa Bay Buccaneers +300
The Bucs aren’t getting a whole lot of love from oddsmakers apparently, even though they beat Carolina for second place in the NFC South last season and recorded a winning recording by going 9-7. Now, as they get set for the upcoming 2017 season, I think it’s quite possible that Jameis Winston and company could take another step forward after nearly reaching the playoffs a year ago.![The Bucs aren’t getting a whole lot of love from oddsmakers apparently, even though they beat Carolina for second place in the NFC South last season.](https://cdn.mybookie.ag/wp-content/uploads/NFL-Winning-Picks-to-Win-the-NFC-South-02.jpg)