The 3 Most Hotly Contested NFL Divisional Races in Week 11

With just eight weeks to go in the NFL season, the NFL divisional standings are becoming clearer.

BetMGM has the latest NFL odds for who are favorites to win every division and favorites in their games this week.

What are the NFL divisional races that you need to keep an eye on? Here are three that stand out.

3. NFC South

This one barely makes my list, and the main reason it is on here is that all four teams look to be competitive for playoff spots. Of course, that will be a common theme on this list, but the difference here is that the Bucs look like absolute favorites to win, currently with -600 odds.

Tampa Bay leads the division at 6-3, but the Saints are just one game behind at 5-4 with the head-to-head tiebreaker over them. Carolina holds the last wild card at 5-5, and the Falcons may be in last place, but they’re only half a game behind for a playoff birth at 4-5.

Do I believe the Bucs are in any real danger of losing their division? Honestly, no. It is hard to bet against Tom Brady and company, especially as defending Super Bowl champions.

But, thanks to their latest slump, that next game against the Saints in Week 15 could be a crucial matchup.

2. AFC West

This division race has been more fun than expected, with not many predicting at the beginning of the year that it would be this close by Week 11.

The main culprit here is the Kansas City Chiefs, with many arguing that they have been underachieving so far at just 6-4. But, they are now the favorite to win the division at -110 odds.

However, thanks to a Week 10 victory on SNF against the Raiders, they have taken over the division lead. The Chargers are right behind at 5-4, but they have the tiebreaker thanks to early victories over the Chiefs and Raiders.

Las Vegas is technically only a half a game behind, but their recent slump and previous division losses may signify that things are going in the wrong direction. The Broncos are last in the AFC West at 5-5 but are respectable. This division is one of only two in the NFL where every team in it is .500 or better.

How you feel about this race may depend on whether you think the Chiefs have found their spark yet. As for me, I need to see more, and I think the Chargers are a good enough team to make this division compelling for a while.

1. AFC North

I think this is the best division in football this year, and all four teams in this division have very realistic chances of making the playoffs.

Baltimore currently leads the division at 6-3 and is the favorite to win the division with -140 odds.

Pittsburgh holds the top wild card at 5-3-1. But Cleveland and Cincinnati sit just on the outside of the playoffs right now at 5-4.

The big thing about this division is that so many divisional games are left to be played. The Ravens still have five divisional games left, and the Browns will face them two games in a row with a bye week between them.

Cincinnati’s game this week against Vegas could reveal if they are a serious playoff contender.

As for Pittsburgh, they have one of the most demanding schedules left in the NFL, with seven of their eight games against teams over .500. Plus, the one game against somebody under .500 is at Minnesota.

With all of that in mind, this division is the biggest toss-up in the NFL. I expect this race to come down to the final week.

Pick the NFL Divisional Races

These are three of the closest NFL divisional races in Week 11 of the 2021 season. So who will win their divisions?

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