2016 NFC South NFL Betting Preview: Panthers Well Ahead of Falcons, Saints, Bucs

The NFC South produced a conference champion last season, as the Carolina Panthers rolled through the NFC to a Super Bowl berth. Their performance on that big stage left much to be desired, but the Panthers still rank among the favorites on the odds to win Super Bowl 51 this season at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark, and they're clearly the class of their division.

How does the rest of the NFC South shape up? Here's a breakdown of the division along with a look at each team's current Super Bowl 51 odds.

Carolina Panthers (12-1)

Carolina became the sixth team in NFL history to go 15-1 last year, making a bunch of money along the way, going 11-5 against the spread. But the Panthers also became the fourth member of that 15-1 club to come up short in the quest for a Super Bowl title, showing a lack of maturity in a 24-10 loss to Denver. Carolina then lost All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman to free agency. However, it still has quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly, and that bad taste in their mouths might provide the necessary motivation.

Atlanta Falcons (50-1)

Atlanta started 5-0 last season, its first under new head coach Dan Quinn, but lost eight of its last 11 games to finish 8-8 SU, just 6-10 ATS and out of the playoffs for the third straight year. How can that be, considering the Falcons just played in the NFC Championship Game four years ago? Better health would help, as would a running game, which Atlanta hopes it's discovered with Devonta Freeman. However, according to last year's win and loss records, the Falcons will play the toughest schedule in the league this season.

New Orleans Saints (66-1)

The end is nigh for the coach-quarterback combo of Sean Payton and Drew Brees in New Orleans. The Saints struggled to go 7-9 last season, missing the playoffs for the third time in the last four years. New Orleans ranked second in the league in total offense last season but 31st in total defense, and no team allowed more points than the Saints. Perhaps that's why they used three of their first four picks in the draft on that side of the ball.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (75-1)

The Bucs advanced from 2-14 to 6-10 in two seasons under coach Lovie Smith. Then, they fired him, opting instead for offensive-minded Dirk Koetter to tutor young quarterback Jameis Winston. Tampa Bay ranked fifth in total offense and 11th in total defense last year, and rankings like that are more indicative of a winning team, not one that finished four games under .500. So, it appears Koetter inherits a decent situation despite the Buccaneers' lowly ranking on the NFL betting futures.