Football is finally back, and that means it’s time to make our picks and predictions for the 2023-24 NFL season. We’re going to run through the AFC East, AFC West, AFC North division champions, and NFC championship odds and break down the favorites, the underdogs, and some teams that could surprise fans this season.

Kansas City has dominated the AFC since the Patrick Mahomes era got underway. The superstar quarterback has made it to every single AFC Championship game since he took over as the Chiefs’ starter. Teams such as the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals are hot on Kansas City’s heels and pose some of the biggest threats to the Chiefs’ title defense this coming season.

Let’s dive into the AFC South and make some predictions -- choosing a favorite to win the division. We will look at NFL betting odds and the hottest NFL betting trends across the conference. Let’s begin with the AFC South. 

AFC South Division Odds 2023-24 

Jacksonville Jaguars -175
Tennessee Titans +350
Indianapolis Colts +500
Houston Texans +900

AFC South Odds to Finish Second

Tennessee Titans +200
Jacksonville Jaguars +275
Indianapolis Colts +225
Houston Texans +350

AFC South Odds to Finish Third

Indianapolis Colts +185
Tennessee Titans +225
Jacksonville Jaguars +550
Houston Texans +220

AFC South Odds to Finish Fourth

Houston Texans +100
Indianapolis Colts +225
Tennessee Titans +300
Jacksonville Jaguars +1400

Favorites to win the AFC South Division

Jacksonville appears to be in good hands with Doug Pederson as its head coach and Trevor Lawrence as its franchise quarterback. As a result, the Jaguars’ odds to win the AFC South make them the division favorites.

This is a unique division in which two -- and potentially three -- teams are starting a new era with a new franchise quarterback. The Texans and Colts will both start rookie QBs this year with Ohio State’s CJ Stroud lining up for Houston and the former Florida Gator Anthony Richardson leading the Colts. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans have both Malik Willis and rookie Will Levis right on the heels of veteran starter Ryan Tannehill.

All three of those teams have a lot of question marks this season. Not only do the Colts and Texans have new quarterbacks, but both also have new head coaches and coaching staffs. Tennessee could have entered a rebuilding phase but refused to sell. Instead, the Titans believe they will remain competitive with players such as running back Derrick Henry and safety Kevin Byard still on the roster, along with former Cardinals receiver Deandre Hopkins, who signed with the Titans in July. 

Jacksonville remains the favorite among the AFC South teams, but this is certainly a division to keep an eye on.

2023-24 AFC South Predictions and Picks

We’ll kick off our AFC South predictions with an obvious one – the Jaguars claiming the division title. I liked what I saw from Jacksonville down the stretch last year, and Doug Pederson has QB Trevor Lawrence looking like the talent he was at Clemson before Urban Meyer derailed his rookie year.

The Jags fought back to beat the Chargers in last season’s playoffs and then held their own on the road against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. This Jags team has a ton of talent on defense, its front seven looks fast, strong and dangerous, and its offense is bolstered by the addition of receiver Calvin Ridley.

Jacksonville should dominate its AFC South competition this year and will hope to avoid dropping games against both the Texans and Colts in particular. They have the best AFC South odds, and I’ll back them as the favorite.

The Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars to win the AFC South (-175)

The three remaining teams’ odds to win the AFC South start at +350 with the Titans as the No. 2 favorite, but I’m looking at the Indianapolis Colts as a sneaky underdog.

Anthony Richardson has huge boom-or-bust potential, and this could easily be a very shaky year for him since he’s being thrown in the deep end as a rookie quarterback. However, if he can figure it out early, use his legs to cause a significant threat, and manage the offense with the (hopeful) return of running back Jonathan Taylor, then why can’t the Colts be a part of the division-title conversation?

Of the teams in the AFC South, the Colts are going to be the most fun to watch this year. Richardson will get the chance to play and learn on the job, Also, the importance of adding Josh Downs in the slot has most certainly been underrated.

The Colts need Taylor back, of course, but if they settle things down and focus on the season under head coach Shane Steichen then, in my eyes, they have an outside shot to upset the favorites.

The Pick: Indianapolis Colts to win the AFC South (+500)

Odds are subject to change*

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