NFL 2019 Win Totals: Over/Under Predictions For Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Bucs, NFC South Pick

The NFC South has been a three-team race for the better part of a decade. The New Orleans Saints have won consecutive division titles with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers each posting multiple first-place finishes over the previous five seasons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have seven last-place finishes in the last eight years.

How many games will each NFC South team win in the 2019 NFL season? Below are predictions for the division, based on the latest over/under win totals at New Jersey’s FanDuel Sportsbook.

New Orleans Saints: 10.5 Wins (+110 Over/-134 Under)

Drew Brees finally showing his age is probably the only way the Saints will go under their projected win total. Considering the 40-year-old led all quarterbacks with a 115.3 passer rating and set a record by completing 74.4 percent of his passes in 2018, there’s little reason to believe the veteran is going to slow down a ton. Brees has a top-three running back and wide receiver, at worst, at his disposal. If the defense can get back to where it was in 2017 when it ranked 10th in points allowed, the Saints might be favored to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Prediction: Over

Atlanta Falcons: 8.5 Wins (-135 Over/+115 Under)

The Falcons have the potential to be one of the biggest disappointments of the 2019 season. Sure, Atlanta’s defense was decimated by injuries last year, but the unit is consistently below average. The team overcame that to reach the Super Bowl when Matt Ryan was the MVP and no one else in the division won 10 games three seasons ago. There are questions about the offensive line with new starters at both guard positions. Only six teams have a more difficult schedule than Atlanta.

Prediction: Under

Carolina Panthers: 7.5 Wins (-160 Over/+125 Under)

Had shoulder surgery not ended Cam Newton’s 2018 season prematurely, the Panthers probably would have suffered fewer than nine losses for the fifth time in six years. An 8-8 record to hit the over is more than doable for Carolina. Newton finds ways to win games when he’s healthy. Luke Kuechly is still an elite linebacker and Kawann Short is a top defensive tackle. The Panthers could be primed for a second-place finish and a wild-card push.

Prediction: Over

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6.5 Wins (-110 Over/-110 Under)

The 2019 season will likely force the Buccaneers to realize it’s time to move on from Jameis Winston. The quarterback has an abysmal 6-16 record in the last two years with 38 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Bruce Arians might be a quarterback whisperer, but he’s not a magician, nor is he a fixer of bad defenses. Tampa Bay could be fun to watch. They probably just won’t be very good.

Prediction: Under

Division Winner: Saints