NFL Week 16 Picks: Upcoming Odds and Predictions for Full Schedule

Since the advent of the eight-division NFL in 2002, the NFC South has never sent three teams to the conference playoffs in the same season.

It's a difficult task for any division to pull off considering only two of six conference playoff spots go to wild-card teams, so it's not exactly a slight against the division, which has represented the NFC in the Super Bowl five times (winning it twice) since 2002.

However, that could all change this year, as the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons hold the NFC wild-card spots at 10-4 and 8-5, respectively, while the 10-4 New Orleans Saints lead the division. Each team controls its own destiny to make the playoffs.

We'll take a deeper dive into the Week 16 NFC South matchups below in addition to providing picks for each game. All spreads and over/under totals are via OddsShark.

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens (-13.5, 41.5 O/U)

Pick: Ravens 24, Colts 10

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (No Line)

Pick: Vikings 27, Packers 24

Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears (-6.5, 38.5 O/U)

Pick: Bears 20, Browns 17

Detroit Lions (-4, 43 O/U) at Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Lions 31, Bengals 10

Los Angeles Rams (-6.5, 49 O/U) at Tennessee Titans

Pick: Rams 31, Titans 17

Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs (-10, 44.5 O/U)

Pick: Chiefs 31, Dolphins 10

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (-11.5, 47 O/U)

Pick: Patriots 31, Bills 17

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-5.5)

Pick: Saints 31, Falcons 24

Los Angeles Chargers (-7, 42.5 O/U) at New York Jets

Pick: Chargers 28, Jets 14

Denver Broncos at Washington Redskins (-3.5, 41 O/U)

Pick: Redskins 20, Broncos 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (-9)

Pick: Panthers 35, Buccaneers 10

Jacksonville Jaguars (-4.5, 42.5 O/U) at San Francisco 49ers

Pick: Jaguars 24, 49ers 16

Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys (-2.5)

Pick: Cowboys 31, Seahawks 30

New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals (-4.5, 40 O/U)

Pick: Cardinals 24, Giants 17

Pittsburgh Steelers (No Line) at Houston Texans

Pick: Steelers 24, Texans 10

Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles (No Line)

Pick: Eagles 31, Raiders 20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers offense has sprung to life in the past two weeks, putting up 31 points each against the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. The most notable aspect about those wins is the fact that numerous players stepped up and became stars in these contests.

Running back Jonathan Stewart scored three touchdowns against the Vikings, while backfield mate Christian McCaffrey accrued 136 yards from scrimmage and a score versus the Pack.

Tight end Greg Olsen looked like his old self after missing the better part of the year with a broken foot, catching nine passes for 116 yards and a score against Green Bay, and speedy wideout Damiere Byrd scored twice.

After winning six of their last seven games, the Panthers will now face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have struggled in all three phases and hold a 4-9 record. After starting 2-1, the Bucs have lost eight of their last 10, and they also have not beaten a team with a winning mark.

The Bucs lost at home to the Panthers 17-3 earlier this season in a game affected by strong winds, and now they'll head to Bank of America Stadium, where they have not beaten Panthers quarterback Cam Newton since 2012 (Tampa Bay won in Charlotte last year, but backup Derek Anderson was the starter).

On paper, the Panthers have an edge on offense, defense and special teams and should win and clinch its fourth playoff berth in five years.

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

Although the Atlanta Falcons posted an impressive 20-17 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 14, they did so without facing dynamic Saints running back Alvin Kamara for the majority of the game.

The rookie out of the University of Tennessee, who has accrued 1,346 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns this year, suffered a concussion in the first half and did not return. He returned for Sunday's game with the New York Jets and should be good to go this week.

Kamara will be a tough task for the Falcons defense, which has only allowed an average of 17 points per game in the last three weeks but has given up 4.3 yards per carry this season. That mark ranks in the bottom third of the NFL.

Furthermore, New Orleans has been a juggernaut at home this year. After losing their home opener in Week 2 to the New England Patriots, the Saints have rolled off five straight victories at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome by an average of 13.4 points.

Therefore, New Orleans looks to have the edge heading into this matchup, but the best player on the field for either team will be Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, who has the ability to single-handedly dominate a game with his dynamic downfield displays.

He accrued 300 receiving yards in one game against the Carolina Panthers last season and amassed 253 versus the Buccaneers this year. Although Jones will face a tough task against cornerback Marshon Lattimore and a Saints secondary that ranked fourth in pass defense heading into Week 15 (per Football Outsiders), he is a future Hall of Famer and can win any matchup.

That being said, given its strong rushing attack and home-field advantage, New Orleans should hang on for the win. Jones and the Falcons will keep it close, though.