2016 AFC South NFL Betting Preview: Colts, Texans Lead Way on Odds in Offseason – Bleacher Report
No division in the NFL consists of a bigger bunch of Super Bowl long shots than the AFC South. The favorite to win this mediocre mash-up of a division is getting worse than 20-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, and the defending division champion is back at almost 30-1.
Here’s a rundown of post-draft odds to win Super Bowl LI at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark for members of the AFC South.
Indianapolis Colts (+2200)
Indy suffered through a lost season last year, as quarterback Andrew Luck missed nine games to injury. The Colts managed to go 8-8 both straight up and against the spread overall, and somewhat remarkably, 6-3 SU and 5-4 ATS without Luck. This year Indianapolis hopes to have its starting quarterback back and healthy for at least 16 games, but it will need improvements from a 29th-ranked running game and a 26th-ranked defense to return to the playoffs.
Houston Texans (+2800)
The Texans started four different quarterbacks last season. After a lousy first half, they got hot at the end of the season, going 6-2 both SU and ATS after their bye week to unexpectedly win the AFC South title. Now, Houston hands over the quarterbacking reins to yet another unproven (but costly) commodity, former Broncos QB Brock Osweiler. It does, however, return the third-ranked defense in the league.
Jacksonville Jaguars (+6600)
The Jaguars haven’t posted a winning season or made the playoffs since 2007, but they will go off as a trendy pick to click this season. Jacksonville only went 5-11 SU and 7-8-1 ATS last year, but that was an improvement over each of the last three seasons. And more than the wins and losses, Jacksonville made strides on the field while continuing to upgrade on talent. The Jags also used their top five picks in the just-concluded draft to bolster a 24th-ranked defense.
Tennessee Titans (+10000)
If one Heisman Trophy winner is a good start, two should be even better, right? For the second year in a row the Titans drafted the reigning Heisman winner, adding Alabama running back Derrick Henry to a backfield that already features 2014 honoree Marcus Mariota. They also added former league rushing champion DeMarco Murray, who should be fresh after toting the ball just 190 times in Philadelphia last season. Tennessee won just three games last year, going 4-11-1 ATS in the process, so there’s nowhere to go but up, right?