Following a three-year span in which the NFC East was consider the dominant division in the conference, it seems as if that label has now been placed on the NFC South, where the reigning division champion Atlanta Falcons are looking up at the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading in to week five. Right behind them is a talented Carolina Panthers’ team, and although they may not contend for a playoff spot this year, they will certainly have an impact on the postseason landscape this NFL season.New Orleans Saints (-6) @ Carolina Panthers
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
The Panthers will allow rookie first overall pick Cam Newton to continue to do his thing, as they give him even more leverage to make plays both on the ground and through the air. The New Orleans defense could have a tough time containing the former Heisman trophy winner in their second road game in as many weeks, and defensive coordinator Greg Williams is sure to come up with some funky blitz schemes to try and confuse him. The Saints’ offense was held to just 23 points last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, their lowest total of the season. But considering that Carolina hasn’t been able to stop anyone through the air or on the ground, it shouldn’t be a problem for Drew Brees and company to put up some big sports betting numbers and force the rookie to try and keep up once again.
NFL Betting Pick: New Orleans Saints - 6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ San Francisco 49ers (-3)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
After a tough loss at home to the Detroit Lions in week one, the Buccaneers have bounced back with three straight wins to take over first place in the division, including a close pay per head win over the division rival Falcons two weeks ago. If Tampa Bay is going to keep up with Atlanta and New Orleans this season, they will need to find a way to win the games in which they are favored on the road. The 49ers proved in their win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week that they won’t roll over for anyone, but the Buccaneers are a much different team than the one that San Francisco beat last Sunday.
NFL Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 3
Green Bay Packers (-5.5) @ Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, 8:30 PM ET
The pay head problem with the Falcons is that they don’t have the defense to slow opponents down, so even though they score a ton of points, they can’t stop anyone. The same cannot be said about a Green Bay defense that has struggled more than expected this year, but has still made plays. The defending Super Bowl champions are rolling as one of two undefeated teams still remaining, and they should have no problem extending that run against an Atlanta team that they roughed up last NFL betting picks postseason.
NFL Betting Pick: Green Bay Packers – 5.5
