ATLANTA FALCONS

2014 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC South: 5/1
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 31/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLIX: 62/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 8.5

2014 Preview:
Offense:
The Falcons brought in long-time offensive line guru Mike Tice to try and revive their running game. He uses a scheme heavy in zone-blocking concepts, which should benefit the Falcons’ relatively small front five. They’ll likely try to keep Steven Jackson’s workload reasonable during the regular season in order to keep him fresh for December and January. The No. 2 job will be an interesting battle between undersized veteran Jacquizz Rodgers, who will take a lot of passing-down snaps, and rookie Devonta Freeman, who fits the scheme well. Jackson will remain the primary runner in the red zone.

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has always tried to utilize a lot of deep shots, though injuries sabotaged his game plan a year ago. A healthy Julio Jones working downfield will once again be Matt Ryan’s top target, with Roddy White working more underneath and crossing routes. They’ll go three-wide more often this season, with slot receiver Harry Douglas poised to take on a bigger role. Koetter usually features his tight end heavily, though he may have to change it up this year with Tony Gonzalez retired and replaced by raw second-year man Levine Toilolo. Koetter also uses a lot of screen work for his backs. Koetter usually relies on Ryan to make plays in the red zone by calling a lot of play-action. Jones took on a huge red-zone role last year before getting hurt.

Defense:
The Falcons defense was a huge disappointment last season, as the unit placed among the bottom-six NFL teams in sacks, points allowed and total yards allowed. None of Atlanta’s new starters via free agency (DE Tyson Jackson, DT Paul Soliai and FS Dwight Lowery) will make a big enough difference to make this an above-average unit.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
QB T.J. Yates (Texans)
WR/ST Eric Weems (Bears)
WR Courtney Roby (DNP in 2013)
TE Bear Pascoe (Giants)
G Jon Asamoah (Chiefs)
OT Gabe Carimi (Buccaneers)
OT Pat McQuistan (Titans)
DE Tyson Jackson (Chiefs)
DT Paul Soliai (Dolphins)
ILB Pat Angerer (Colts)
CB Javier Arenas (Cardinals)
CB Josh Wilson (Redskins)
SS Dwight Lowery (Jaguars)
S Tyrell Johnson (DNP in 2013)
KR Devin Hester (Bears)

SUBTRACTIONS
QB Dominique Davis (released)
RB Jason Snelling (retired)
WR Kevin Cone (Dolphins)
TE Tony Gonzalez (retired)
TE Chase Coffman (Titans)
G Garrett Reynolds (Lions)
LB Akeem Dent (Texans)
OLB Stephen Nicholas (released)
CB Asante Samuel (released)
CB Dominique Franks (Ravens)
FS Thomas DeCoud (Panthers)

StatFox Take: The Falcons were a trendy Super Bowl pick a year ago, but injuries and a ton of close losses (seven defeats by seven points or less) led to a pitiful 4-12 record in 2013. The schedule is harder than most (11th in NFL), but they shouldn’t lose much at home. Take the plus money here.
Prediction: OVER 8.5 wins (+140)

CAROLINA PANTHERS

2014 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC South: 6/1
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 35/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLIX: 75/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 7.5

2014 Preview:
Offense:
The Panthers will remain one of the NFL’s most run-heavy teams, employing a diverse number of looks in their ground attack. They still utilize a lot of zone-read plays featuring Cam Newton, who will likely lead all quarterbacks in rushing attempts again despite offseason ankle surgery. They run a lot of two-back looks with DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert on the field, giving them three running options between the tackles. Williams will likely hold off the injury-prone Jonathan Stewart for another year, with Kenjon Barner and rookie Tyler Gaffney battling for a roster spot.

Newton and offensive coordinator Mike Shula have their work cut out for them in the passing game after losing their top three receivers. The Carolina passing game works off of the running game, utilizing a lot of deep crossing patterns off play-action. They’ll use a two-tight end base, with Ed Dickson playing in-line and Greg Olsen flexed out as their top receiving threat. Jerricho Cotchery provides another middle-of-the-field threat. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin takes over as the primary deep threat and can count on seeing the ball any time he’s in single coverage. When they throw in the red zone, Olsen has always been Newton’s favorite red zone target, but Benjamin will surely take on a big role near the goal line, as he did at Florida State. Third receiver Jason Avant is better as a perimeter blocking presence than a pass-catcher at this point.

Defense:
This defense became elite last year, finishing second in the NFL in both scoring defense and total defense, thanks to a league-best 60 sacks. The Panthers upgraded the secondary with CB Antoine Cason, FS Thomas DeCoud and SS Roman Harper.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
QB Joe Webb (Vikings)
WR Jerricho Cotchery (Steelers)
WR Jason Avant (Eagles)
WR Tiquan Underwood (Buccaneers)
TE Ed Dickson (Ravens)
TE Mike McNeill (Rams)
C Fernando Velasco (Steelers)
CB Antoine Cason (Cardinals)
FS Thomas DeCoud (Falcons)
SS Roman Harper (Saints)

SUBTRACTIONS
QB Jimmy Clausen (Bears)
RB Kenjon Barner (Eagles)
WR Steve Smith (Ravens)
WR Brandon LaFell (Patriots)
WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr. (Cardinals)
WR/KR Domenik Hixon (Bears)
TE Ben Hartsock (Patriots)
OT Bruce Campbell (Jets)
OT Jordan Gross (retired)
G Geoff Hangartner (retired)
OLB Jordan Senn (Bears)
CB Captain Munnerlyn (Vikings)
CB Drayton Florence (Lions)
FS Mike Mitchell (Steelers)

StatFox Take: This is a team that will be hard-pressed to duplicate its first winning season since 2008. The Panthers’ non-division road schedule is a bear (Baltimore, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Philadelphia and Minnesota) and they don’t have an easy home contest until mid-December.
Prediction: UNDER 7.5 wins (-155)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

2014 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC South: 14/25
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 28/5
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLIX: 11/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 10.5

2014 Preview:
Offense:
The Saints’ running game is a Frankenstein of a series of other offenses, but its basis is in between-the-tackles power. Pierre Thomas might lead the backfield committee in playing time, but the running game is better suited for big bruising backs like Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson. They’ll rotate the three on early downs with Thomas staying on the field for most passing downs. Thomas is at his best on stretch plays that move the opposing front seven laterally, while the other two will work a lot of inside zone runs. Thomas got most of the carries inside the 20 last season, but Ingram started to eat into those red-zone touches late in the year once he was healthy.

The Saints will run the same kind of pass-happy, spread offense they have run since 2007. Tight end Jimmy Graham is the focal point of the passing game, flexing out and working the deep seam. Drew Brees will look for him any time Graham gets single-coverage, and often when he’s double-covered too. He is by far the Saints’ top option in the red zone. Marques Colston works downfield on the perimeter, as Brees reads high-to-low. Kenny Stills and Brandin Cooks will mix in as home-run hitters, and Cooks could see some of the catch-and-run work that used to go to Darren Sproles. Thomas, one of the NFL’s best in the screen game, will see increased usage through the air with Sproles gone.

Defense:
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan transformed one of the worst defenses ever in 2012 to a unit that finished fourth among NFL defenses in yards, points and sacks. The addition of FS Jairus Boyd and CB Champ Bailey will help pass-rushing studs DE Cameron Jordan (12.5 sacks) and OLB Junior Galette (12 sacks) get more sacks.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
FB Greg Jones (Texans)
FB Erik Lorig (Buccaneers)
TE Richard Quinn (DNP in 2013)
C Jonathan Goodwin (49ers)
DT Brandon Deaderick (Jaguars)
CB Champ Bailey (Broncos)
FS Jairus Byrd (Bills)

SUBTRACTIONS
RB Darren Sproles (Eagles)
RB Jed Collins (Lions)
WR Lance Moore (Steelers)
C Brian de la Puente (Bears)
OT Charles Brown (Giants)
DE/OLB Will Smith (Patriots)
DE Kenyon Coleman (retired)
DE Tom Johnson (Vikings)
CB Jabari Greer (released)
FS Malcolm Jenkins (Eagles)
S Roman Harper (Panthers)

StatFox Take: The high-powered Saints have won at least 11 games in four of the past five seasons, and a weak schedule (T-8th easiest in NFL) that has the club playing only one road game against a 2013 playoff team (Carolina) should allow them to reach another 11 victories in 2014.
Prediction: OVER 10.5 wins (-110)

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook 2014 season preview for the Saints:

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

2014 Odds:
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Odds to Win NFC South: 7/1
Odds to Win NFC Championship: 50/1
Odds to Win Super Bowl XLIX: 100/1
Regular Season Wins Over/Under: 7

2014 Preview:
Offense:
This will be the NFL debut for new offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, long one of the most respected offensive coaches in the college game. O-Line coach George Warhop uses multiple concepts and relies on athletic blockers getting to the second level to open up big plays in the running game. They’ll likely use some tempo to help the running game along. Doug Martin figures to take the bulk of the workload, and will likely see a bunch of red-zone handoffs, including goal-line carries. Mike James also figures to see some work as Martin's backup.

Tedford ran a pro style system at the collegiate level, using tempo and space similarly to how Chip Kelly does in Philly. Assuming veteran Josh McCown wins the starting job, he will have a good shot at duplicating the success he had in Chicago. Tedford’s system often gets one of the boundary receivers in single coverage, and both Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans are capable of overpowering defensive backs downfield. The size of Tampa’s pass-catchers should lead to a lot of short TD throws for McCown. Jackson has never been a great red-zone producer due to the attention he draws, but between he, Evans and rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, the passing game should be difficult to defend in the end zone. Seferian-Jenkins will have a chance to establish himself as a security blanket over the middle, while move TE Brandon Myers works up the field. They’ll also likely work the screen game more frequently, featuring Martin and Sims.

Defense:
The Bucs improved in nearly every defensive facet last season, and new DC Leslie Frazier gets to infuse some talented free agents like DE Michael Johnson and CBs Alterraun Verner and Mike Jenkins to new head coach Lovie Smith’s Tampa-2 scheme.

Key Offseason Moves:
ADDITIONS
QB Josh McCown (Bears)
QB Mike Kafka (DNP in 2013)
WR Louis Murphy (Giants)
TE Brandon Myers (Giants)
G/OT Oniel Cousins (Browns)
OT Anthony Collins (Bengals)
C Evan Dietrich-Smith (Packers)
DE Michael Johnson (Bengals)
DE/OLB Larry English (Chargers)
DT Clinton McDonald (Seahawks)
OLB Dane Fletcher (Patriots)
CB Mike Jenkins (Raiders)
CB Alterraun Verner (Titans)
CB D.J. Moore (Panthers)
SS Major Wright (Bears)

SUBTRACTIONS
QB Dan Orlovsky (Lions)
FB Erik Lorig (Saints)
WR Mike Williams (Bills)
WR Tiquan Underwood (Panthers)
TE Tom Crabtree (released)
C Jeremy Zuttah (Ravens)
C Ted Larsen (Cardinals)
G Davin Joseph (Rams)
G Carl Nicks (retired)
OT Gabe Carimi (Falcons)
OT Donald Penn (Raiders)
DT Derek Landri (released)
ILB Adam Hayward (Redskins)
OLB Dekoda Watson (Jaguars)
CB Darrelle Revis (Patriots)

StatFox Take: This schedule may rank only 19th-hardest in the NFL, but the Buccaneers could certainly start off in a 1-5 hole facing Carolina, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Baltimore before a Week 7 bye. With an average of five wins per season since 2011, go for the plus-money here with the Under.
Prediction: UNDER 7 wins (+105)

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook 2014 season preview for the Buccaneers:

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