Each division in the NFC has several teams that are legitimate contenders to win a conference title. This group includes the reigning Super Bowl champion LA Rams as well as the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The entire NFC looks to be wide open in 2022-23. Many sleeper teams could potentially surprise everyone and win their respective divisions. It happens virtually every year – several NFL underdogs will greatly exceed expectations. In my 2022-23 NFC preview, I explore the early betting odds for all the teams in every division. I also offer my analysis and predictions of the winners. The goal is to help your betting picks on NFL futures and other markets.
This is one of the more unpredictable divisions in the NFL. In fact, the NFC East has been extremely volatile over the past few decades – no team has won the division in consecutive years since the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003 and 2004. It’s worth noting that the Eagles added the most weapons to their roster during the offseason. This includes Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown, who’ll help open up the passing game for QB Jalen Hurts. The Eagles also bolstered their defense with several notable additions, including cornerback James Bradberry and linebacker Haason Reddick. Overall, their roster should be a lot better in 2022-23, and they’ll likely win more games than they did last year. The Cowboys, on the other hand, didn’t make any major additions to the roster. They even lost several impact players. The team traded wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns, and they could not re-sign defensive end Randy Gregory.
The Eagles had the best offseason out of all the NFC East, but are they better than the Cowboys? I don’t think so. The Cowboys have a ton of depth, and the team has drafted really well in the past few years. I just don’t buy all the hype surrounding the Eagles.
The Los Angeles Rams will now attempt to defend their Super Bowl title in 2022-23. They certainly can win back-to-back championships. The team retained several core players, including Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, and Jalen Ramsey. Although the Rams are the favorites to win the NFC West, it’s also one of the most competitive divisions. The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers are legitimate contenders to win the NFC. (Last season, the 49ers lost to the Rams in the conference championship.) The Seattle Seahawks, however, are now entering the post-Russell Wilson era. They departed from the Super Bowl-winning quarterback by trading him to the Denver Broncos during the offseason. Seattle has to rediscover their identity under QBs Drew Lock and Geno Smith.
My NFC betting preview has to include a sleeper pick, and the Cardinals are the perfect outlier. The team has a talented roster, and after re-signing QB Kyler Murray, they’re set up to win a conference title. A lot of people right now are overlooking the Cardinals as NFC contenders.
There’s no question that the Green Bay Packers deserve to be the betting favorites. They’ve dominated the NFC North, having won the division in eight of the previous 11 seasons. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is also on the cusp of potentially achieving three consecutive MVP awards. Could the Vikings surprise everyone and win the NFC North? The Packers traded Devonte Adams (arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL) to the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason, so the team lost another offensive weapon. The Vikings also have one of the best young wide receivers in the league – Justin Jefferson. Furthermore, Minnesota signed Za’Darius Smith during the offseason, a defensive Pro Bowler for the Packers. However, Kevin O’Connell is entering his first year as the head coach.
It’s safe to say that betting against the Green Bay Packers typically backfires. Head Coach Matt LeFleur, who’s now in his third season with the Packers, has a record of 26-7 at the helm. Also, the Packers have a ton of talented young players on defense who are only getting better.
Tom Brady briefly retired before deciding to return to the NFL during the offseason. Once he made this decision, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were once again the betting favorites in the NFC South. They also sit atop the betting odds to win another NFC Championship. The New Orleans Saints missed the playoffs last season for the first time in four years (despite finishing the year with a winning record). However, the Saints are also responsible for defeating the Buccaneers in seven of their past eight matchups. The Carolina Panthers acquired QB Baker Mayfield via trade with the Cleveland Browns. Although he’s a huge upgrade over Sam Darnold, the Panthers still lack cohesion on offense. Carolina and the Atlanta Falcons are both without franchise quarterbacks.
Tom Brady is arguably the greatest player ever to grace the NFL. He’s a future Hall of Famer and still playing his best football. He also has a ton of weapons on offense in Tampa Bay, including the notable wide receiver duo of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. It’s hard to bet against Brady and the Buccaneers, so I expect another divisional title for them in the upcoming campaign.
The Los Angeles Rams loaded up with playmakers, and it paid off with a Super Bowl victory. However, will their formula yield more championships in the future? The NFC is incredibly competitive, and new teams are emerging as real contenders every year.
I’m going for pure value with this one. The NFC Championship betting odds for the Packers are simply too high. Green Bay is always a threat to win a conference championship, and I believe the team is due for a Super Bowl appearance.
My NFC preview should make it easier for you to bet on the NFC winner. I encourage you to explore the best football betting sites to discover markets that offer competitive odds. You can also check out my AFC preview for more information and analysis on NFL futures for the 2022-23 season.
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