The 2016/17 NFL season kicks off for the 97th time on Thursday, September 8th with a showdown between the reigning Super Bowl champs the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. This is the perfect time to check out all 32 teams and see how bet365 ranks them when it comes to their chances of winning the Super Bowl. Fans out in Los Angeles will be rejoicing as NFL’s back in town with the St. Louis Rams returning to the west coast. The regular season will wind down on January 1st with the playoffs getting underway five days later. The 51st Super Bowl will be hosted at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 5th.
NFL fans and bettors should be sure to look over team lineups and injury lists before making their wagers since anything can happen from day to day when it comes to injuries and suspensions.
Online NFL Odds Betting Preview for the 2016 NFC South, where the Carolina Panthers are favorites to win the division at 5/11:
Online NFL Odds – Carolina Panthers:
- 2015 Record: 15-1 (1st in NFC South)
- Predicted 2016/17 finish: 11-5 first place
- Odds of winning Super Bowl: 8/1
The Carolina Panthers took everybody by surprise last year by going 15-1 and making it all the way to the Super Bowl where they fell to Denver. Quarterback Cam Newton had a career season and the squad pulled together after losing Kelvin Benjamin for the entire campaign with a preseason injury. The Panthers got solid contributions from receivers Ted Ginn and Jerricho Cotchery while Josh Norman was arguably the best defensive back in the NFL. Newton wasn’t as effective as usual in the Super Bowl and he and his teammates will need to have the mental toughness to prove it was just an off-day. Carolina’s offense looks potent again and Benjamin will be back in the lineup, but Norman left for the Redskins. The team drafted three defensive backs though to seek his replacement.
Online NFL Odds – New Orleans Saints:
- 2015 Record: 7-9 (2nd in NFC South)
- Predicted 2016/17 finish: 7-9 second place
- Odds of winning Super Bowl: 60/1
New Orleans is hoping to reach the postseason for the first time since 2013. Quarterback Drew Brees has some talented offensive helpers in the speedy Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas has looked good in training camp. Tight end Benjamin Watson will be missed, but Coby Fleener will do his best to replace him. New Orleans needs to tighten up the defense, but defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, a first-round draft choice, will miss the start of the season with a broken fibula. New Orleans needs big seasons from the likes of Stephone Anthony, Delvin Breaux and Cameron Jordan, but it looks like their record will mirror last year’s when all is said and done.
Online NFL Odds – Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
- 2015 Record: 6-10 (4th in NFC South)
- Predicted 2016/17 finish: 7-9 third place
- Odds of winning Super Bowl: 66/1
There’s no doubt Tampa Bay improved in all most areas last year, but still finished 6-10. Dirk Koetter takes over as the club’s new head coach and will hope to keep the improvement going with a few more wins thrown in. Quarterback Jameis Winston enjoyed a fine rookie year and Charles Sims and Doug Martin should help the running game from the backfield. Winston has some solid receiving targets with Vincent Jackson, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Mike Evans in the fold. Mike Smith, former head coach with the Atlanta Falcons, has been brought in as defensive coordinator and will be working with some good players in Lavonte David, Gerald McCoy, Noah Spence and Vernon Hargreaves III.
Online NFL Odds – Atlanta Falcons:
- 2015 Record: 8-8 (2nd in NFC South)
- Predicted 2016/17 finish: 7-9 fourth place
- Odds of winning Super Bowl: 40/1
Atlanta cooled off dramatically last year to finish the season at 8-8 after starting the campaign with a record of 6-1. The team struggled a bit on offense, especially in the turnover department, while the defense wasn’t too bad due to its speed and youth. The team needs big years out of Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones and the offense as a whole needs to improve. Atlanta acquired Alex Mack in the offseason along with linebackers De’Vondre Campbell and Deion Jones in the draft as well as safety Keanu Neal. This gives the team’s defense even more speed, but the Falcons still might end up in the cellar this year and will miss the departed Paul Soliai at defensive tackle.
Click here to read our review of the bet365 online sportsbook.
by Ian S. Palmer