Unbelievably, football will be played this month since it’s July.
The yearly Hall of Fame Game between the Lions and Chargers takes place at the conclusion of the month.
If nothing else, preseason football is a sign that the real thing is almost here, even though for some people it’s like breaking open a non-alcoholic drink.
Let’s examine the NFC South from a betting standpoint this week.
The Buccaneers are vying for their sixth consecutive division title after quietly dominating this division for over five years. Ironically, they only managed a wild-card berth in 2020, the year of the COVID pandemic, the last time they failed to win this division.
The Buccaneers are favored by odds of -110 to win the South again. With rookie quarterback Michael Penix beginning late in the season, the Falcons, who are +250, came very close to winning this division in 2024. However, a couple of OT losses at the conclusion of the season ruined the Falcons’ hopes.
With youngster Tyler Shough expected to start the season opener, the Saints are +1200 long bets, and with good reason—the club is rebuilding after quarterback Derek Carr unexpectedly retired.
At their individual numbers, I don’t think any of those three alternatives are worth betting on, thus the Carolina Panthers at +400 are, in my opinion, the greatest bargain.
Can Bryce Young finally break through and lead the Panthers to a winning season?
The majority of fans considered Panthers quarterback Bryce Young to be an awful flop at this time last year. Panthers management appeared to agree early in the season, benching Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton following a dismal 0–2 start.
The Panthers appeared to be a different squad in the second half of the season following Young’s return to the starting quarterback position. Against a Falcons club that still had a chance to win the division, they scored 44 points at Atlanta in the season’s last game. In addition, the Panthers played coin-flip games against the Bucs, Chiefs, and Eagles and scored 38 points in a victory over the Cardinals.
With the arrival of former Raiders safety Tre’von Moehrig, the Panthers made an effort to strengthen their weak run defense over the offseason. Tetairoa McMillan, an outstanding wide receiver, was selected eighth overall in the offensive selection in an attempt to provide the resurgent Young with a top target.
The Panthers may build on the progress they made at the end of 2024 and contend for the top spot in the NFC South, while the Buccaneers are assigned a first-place schedule.
The Panthers can push the Bucs and Falcons and make it a three-team battle, with the Saints being a club that bettors can easily ignore, if Young can maintain the level of performance he showed late in the previous season and they have an improved defense.
