There is almost parity in the number of Super Bowl winners emanating from the NFC and AFC. But the former is looking to wrest back the initiative after Los Angeles Rams’ eclipse by the Ne England Patriots in Atlanta earlier this year – the Patriots’ third Super Bowl in five years.
Four divisions make up each Conference and the Rams are a short price to win the NFC West again this season.
NFC West Current Best Odds – Rams no certainties against a couple of improvers
Los Angeles Rams 4/7, Seattle Seahawks 10/3, San Francisco 49ers 11/2, Arizona Cardinals 30/1
There is a suspicion that the Rams won’t have it all their own way in the NFC West this year, even though they have retained most of their key players. The Seahawks and the 49ers both have the potential to better equal 8-8 records this season while the Rams will have a target on their back for most teams in the upcoming campaign. That said, the advice would be no bet as Los Angeles should just have the ammunition to get over the line, though a second successive NFC title might be beyond Todd Gurley and his team-mates.
NFC East Current Best Odds – can the Eagles recapture their best form?
Philadelphia Eagles Evens, Dallas Cowboys 13/8, Washington Redskins 12/1, New York Giants 14/1
Dallas Cowboys won seven of their last eight games in the regular season last year to claim the NFC East and their winning run post-season was only halted by eventual NFC champions Los Angeles Rams. They’ve spent big to re-sign Jaylon Smith and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence but that’s caused a rift in the camp. The Philadelphia Eagles had all hope of retaining their Super Bowl title last year ended by a string of injuries but they did make it into the play-offs as a wildcard only to wilt against the Saints and go out in the divisional round. QB Carson Wentz has still to prove he is back to his best and the Cowboys look the call at 13/8 with Betfred.
NFC North Current Best Odds – QB issues may hamper Green Bay and Minnesota
Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers 2/1, Minnesota Vikings 9/4, Detroit Lions 13/1
The NFC North is probably the most competitive division on paper but I’m amazed that the Bears (2/1 with Betfred) are not outright favourites. Ryan Pace’s team are looking for their first back-to-back division title since the 2005-2006 seasons but they look to have the balance between offense and defense just about right. They won 12 times in the regular season last year and a similar record is envisaged given their schedule. The Packers have an injury-prone QB in Aaron Rodgers and a new first team coach so it may take a while to assess how they’ll perform over a whole season. The Vikings gave Kirk Cousins an $84 million contract in 2018 but he didn’t do a lot to justify the lay-out in his first season. The now-wealthy QB has a strong offense to work with but can he deliver?
NFC South Current Best Odds – another title for the Saints?
New Orleans Saints 3/5, Atlanta Falcons 19/5, Carolina Panthers 6/1, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12/1
The Saints lost the NFC Championship game to the Saints last year and are only a best 3/5 with Unibet to breeze through the NFC South for the third season in a row. QB Drew Brees is the cornerstone of Sean Payton’s Saints’ roster but he’s not getting any younger. You could argue that the Saints have not had much luck in the last years but maybe this squad is simply not good enough to go all the way. None of their NFC South rivals reached the play-offs last years, however, and all ended up with negative records. Atlanta are the ones most likely to do better this time around as they lost some key men early doors last year but this should still be another relative stroll for the Saints.
NFC Outright Winners Latest Odds
New Orleans Saints and Los Angles Rams 9/2
Philadelphia Eagles 8/1
Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers 10/1
Minnesota Vikings 13/1
Dallas Cowboys 14/1
Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons 16/1
San Francisco 49ers 20/1
Carolina Panthers 25/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 40/1
Detroit Lions 50/1
New York Giants 66/1
Arizona Cardinals 80/1
Washinton Redskins 100/1
(Odds correct at 2.15pm September 3)
NFC Predictions
The Dallas Cowboys look to have a stronger all-round team than at the start of last season. With the Eagles having a bit to prove now, they should win the NFC East. Even if they come up just short, the door is not closed on the path to Super Bowl.
