With the NFL set to resume working relations with its players union later this week, it is once again time to open up the sports betting debate as to which of the six divisions to make up the NFL is the best and most challenging? For years, NFL betting lines handicappers have suggested that the AFC is the more difficult conference to win in, while the NFC has more bottom feeder teams. However, over the last couple of years, as seen by Super Bowl Champions, the New Orleans Saints in 2010 and Green Bay seven months ago, the NFC is becoming a more respectable conference.
Over the last couple of years, the NFC South, made up of the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has become the best division in the NFL. During the 2010 – 11 NFL seasons, the average amount of wins in the NFC South was an astounding 10. To put this into perspective, consider that in the NFC’s East and West Divisions, a 10 and six record would have allowed a team to win the division. However, in the NFC South, that was only good enough for third place.
Meaning to say, the South is becoming the best division in the entire NFL, if for no other reason, then the fact that they have raised the bar for how well teams must play. Last season, Atlanta came out of nowhere, to accumulate the second best record in the NFL at 13 and three. New Orleans had an equally as impressive record, at 11 and five, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team synonymous with mediocrity finished third in the division with an overall record of 10 and six. Detroit rounded out the division with a six and 10 record, which if they had played in the NFC West, may have got the team a divisional crown.
This offseason, while the NFL lockout was lifted for the draft, the NFC South laid the smack down on the rest of the league, as each of the four teams drafted absolute studs. Atlanta traded eight draft picks to be able to draft Julio Jones, a wide receiver to compliment Roddy White. New Orleans had two picks in the first round, as they picked up former Heisman winner and only running back of the first round, Mark Ingram, as well as defensive stand out Cam Jordan. While both Atlanta and New Orleans made great moves at the draft to help them contend now, Detroit and Tampa Bay acquired talent for the future.
Detroit had one of the best drafts in the last couple of years, as Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley literally fell into the Lions lap with the 13th pick. Fairley and former 2009 second overall pick Ndamukong Suh will form one of the scariest defenses for years to come. Tampa Bay on the other hand, was able to draft two stud defensive prospects in Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers. In theory, with the improvements to both Detroit and Tampa Bay, the fourth place team in the NFC South may win 10 games next season.
