Falcons NFC South Betting Odds Shorten from Improved Defense

• The Atlanta Falcons have +240 odds to win the NFC South for the first time since 2016.
• The New Orleans Saints are the divisional favorites with +125 odds.

ATLANTA– The Atlanta Falcons are +240 to win the NFC South in 2023. Odds favor the New Orleans Saints despite both teams finishing 7-10 in the 2022 NFL season.

The NFC South is up for grabs, with back-to-back divisional champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers now without Tom Brady. The Bucs have the longest NFC South odds on NFL sportsbooks at +700.

NFC South Odds: Offseason

• New Orleans Saints +125
• Atlanta Falcons +240
• Carolina Panthers +325
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers +700

Based on opponents’ records from the 2022 season, the Falcons have the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL for 2023. Their 2023 opponents had a winning percentage of .417 last season, edging out the New Orleans Saints’ opponents at .427.

Although Desmond Ridder running the offense may sound like a recipe for disaster, the Falcons can rely on their rushing attack that ran the ball 33 times per game last season.

Adding first-round pick Bijan Robinson will only improve a rushing offense that ranked top three in the NFL for rushing yards per game and per attempt. Robinson’s success is expected by football sportsbooks that list him as the favorite to win rookie of the year at +290.

The Falcons made massive improvements to a defense that gave up the sixth most yards per game in 2023.

Falcons Acquisitions

• Jessie Bates lll
• Calais Campbell
• Bud Dupree
• Jeff Okudah
• Mike Hughes
• Tre Flowers

The Falcons also hired Saints defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen as their defensive coordinator and added two former Saints pass rushers in David Onyemata and Kaden Elliss.

Atlanta’s much improved defense and dangerous offense puts them in prime position to win a wide-open NFC South with +240 odds.