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2021 AFC South Predictions with Odds and Expert Betting Picks

by Devon Rymarchuk - 8/27/2021

NFL picks Carson Wentz Indianapolis Colts AFC South predictions

The AFC South is setting up for a tight race this year mainly between the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts. There is a big discrepancy between the two top teams and bottom teams in this division for 2021. Most experts are not giving the Texans nor Jaguars much of a chance to compete for a division championship. With a lot of new faces in the AFC South (Julio Jones, Carson Wentz, Trevor Lawrence), there are many exciting storylines to look forward to. Can Lawrence turn a franchise around? Will Julio be able to put the Titans over the hump? Or will Wentz be the answer the Colts franchise has been looking for since the departure of Peyton Manning? With this much uncertainty, I think the Texans only goal is to keep their franchise from imploding.

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Tennessee Titans

Last Season Record- 11-5

Tennessee enters the season as the favorite to win the division. Adding superstar Jones to an already efficient offense can make them a scary matchup for many opponents this year. The concern for Tennessee is their defense; will they be able to slow down elite offenses in the NFL? They added edge Bud Dupree to help out their pass rushing, which was last in the NFL in 2000. With a shaky secondary, Tennessee is going to have to score at a very proficient rate if they want to be successful this year. Tannehill will be under immense pressure to perform with many superstars like Henry, Brown and Jones surrounding him. The Titans at -115 are not odds I love with many question marks around their defense.

Key Additions/ Re-signings: Edge Bud Dupree, DL Denico Autry, WR Julio Jones, OT Kendall Lamm, CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Kevin Johnson, WR Josh Reynolds, LB Jayon Brown, CB Caleb Farley (Via Draft)

Key Departures: TE Jonnu Smith, WR Corey Davis, WR Adam Humphries, CB Malcom Butler, CB Adoree’ Jackson, Edge Jadeveon Clowney, S Kenny Vaccaro

Season Odds:

Super Bowl

AFC +1700

AFC South -115

To Make Playoffs -160

Win Total O/U 9.5 +110

Strength of schedule 2020 opponent win percentage: T13 .507 (138-134)

Indianapolis Colts

Last Season Record- 11-5

The Colts could be one of the most fundamentally sound teams in the NFL. Heavily fueled by strong offensive and defensive lines, the Colts have few holes in their roster. Phillip Rivers was the most inconsistent part of the Colts roster last year. They added the likes of Wentz to solve their quarterback issue, and Indianapolis is relying heavily on former magic between the QB and coach Frank Reich. Wentz was sacked 15 more times than any other QB last year, which is something that should be solved with the Colts. Wentz has the ability to return to All-Pro form again with all of the key pieces around him to be successful. Indianapolis at +150 is a pick I really like going into the year.

Key Additions/ Re-signings: QB Carson Wentz, OT Sam Tevi, WR T.Y. Hilton, CB Xavier Rhodes, RB Marlon Mack, OT Julie’n Davenport, S Sean Davis, OT Eric Fisher, Edge Kwity Paye (Via Draft)

Key Departures: QB Phillip Rivers, LB Anthony Walker, DL Denico Autry, QB Jacoby Brissett, S Tavon Wilson, OT Anthony Castonzo

Season Odds:

Super Bowl +3100

AFC +1400

AFC South +150

To Make Playoffs +100

Win Total O/U 10 -110

Strength of schedule 2020 opponent win percentage: T23 .478 (130-142)

Jacksonville Jaguars:

Last Season Record- 1-15

The big question around Jacksonville is if coach Urban Meyer and first overall pick Lawrence can bring the Jaguars back to relevancy this year. The rookie QB, who is considered a generational talent, will have immense pressure to make drastic changes to the Jags franchise. Jacksonville also spent a lot of money this offseason in free agency beefing up their defense, especially in their secondary. With a mixture of young talent and key veterans, look for Meyer to change the culture of Jacksonville this year. With it seeming to be a two-team race for first in the AFC South, I cannot see the Jaguars being a viable option at +700 to win the division.

Key Additions/ Re-signings: CB Shaquill Griffin, S Rayshawn Jenkins, DT Roy Robertson-Harris, WR Marvin Jones Jr., WR Jamal Agnew, RB Carlos Hyde, DT Malcom Brown, OT Cam Robinson, QB Trevor Lawrence (Via Draft), RB Travis Etienne (Via Draft)

Key Departures: WR Keelan Cole, DT Al Woods

Season Odds:

Super Bowl +13000

AFC +6000

AFC South +700

To Make Playoffs +350

Win Total O/U 6 -120

Strength of schedule 2020 opponent win percentage: 18th .491 (133-138-1)

Houston Texans

Last Season Record- 4-12

No team in the NFL has fallen off as quickly as the Houston Texans in the past year. The Texans have been consistently in the media for all the wrong reasons, parting ways with franchise defender J.J Watt, losing No. 1 receiver Will Fuller V, and to top it all off, starting quarterback Deshaun Watson is up to 22 active civil lawsuits. With one of the oldest rosters in the league, and coming off a lackluster draft, the Texans franchise doesn’t have much to look forward to other than hoping they can somehow retain Watson and clear his name in the courts. If you are going to make a bet on the Texans, look for them to get less than 5 wins.

Key Additions/ Re-signings: OT Marcus Cannon, Edge Shaq Lawson, RB Mark Ingram II, QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Phillip Lindsay, LB Christian Kirksey, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, Edge Jordan Jenkins, CB Desmond King, WR Andre Roberts

Key Departures: DE J.J Watt, WR Will Fuller V, DL Carlos Watkins, C Nick Martin, LB Benardrick McKinney, LB Tyrell Adams

Season Odds:

Super Bowl +30000

AFC +15000

AFC South +3000

To Make Playoffs +900

Win Total O/U 5 +110

Strength of schedule 2020 opponent win percentage: T15 .504 (137-135)

Note: I have taken the average of 11 of the most trusted sports betting platforms in the US

(Draft Kings, Fanduel, BetGM, Foxbet, Ceasers Sportsbook, Pointsbet, bet 365, Borgata Online, Unibet, SH, Resortscasino.com)

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