Buy or Sell: Atlanta Falcons to Win the NFC South

The Atlanta Falcons showed signs of improvement in the 2022 campaign, and there’s potential to take an even bigger step in 2023. If you look at the makeup of the NFC South, it’s hard to find a team that stands out on its own right now. This could be a division that struggles overall, meaning it’s hard to see it ultimately taking a spotless record to win the division. 

It’s no secret that Falcons’ head coach Arthur Smith loves to run the football. The Falcons had the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and chose to select star running back Bijan Robinson out of Texas. It was surprising to see them make this move after Tyler Allgeier had a nice breakout campaign in 2022. 

Theoretically, it probably shouldn’t have been that big of a surprise. Other more pressing holes on this roster should have been prioritized ahead of that. Still, Robinson can potentially give Atlanta another explosive weapon on offense, where tight end Kyle Pitts and sophomore wideout Drake London already join him. These three talented offensive players will have the chance to grow together in Atlanta, and if they all become in sync with one another, the Falcons may boast the best offense in the NFC South. 

Defense has continued to be an area of concern for Atlanta, but it’s set to look a lot different in 2023. The Falcons have a new defensive coordinator in Ryan Nielsen, while they added multiple players to the fold, headlined by Calais Campbell and Jessie Bates III. It’s not as though you should expect this unit to flip on its head overnight and become one of the best in the league, but they should make positive steps to becoming an improved team in 2023. 

Buy or Sell: Atlanta Falcons to Win the NFC South at +240

The Falcons are listed at +240 to win the NFC South, which has them planted with the second-shortest odds. The New Orleans Saints are the current division favorite at +130 on the BetMGM Sportsbook. In addition, the Carolina Panthers sit at +375, followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rounding out the division at +550.

With not much separating these four teams, it’s completely understandable why their odds are so tightly contested. Atlanta should win games in the trenches, specifically on offense, where they want to continue pounding the rock, so it’s hard to look away from their appealing number of +240 to win the NFC South. The Falcons’ defense is much improved and should also play a factor, meaning buying into the Falcons’ +240 odds has value worthy of being backed.