NFL Week 11 Opening Odds: Looking at the NFC South with Bucs on a bye

The Buccaneers — and the Panthers as well — are on their byes this week and both teams have arrived to this point in different ways with the Bucs forgetting how to win and the Panthers discovering how to win. But we won't go there, at least not yet.

But two other teams from the NFC South have important games this week so we'll take a look at the odds for their respective matchups.

The 3-7 New Orleans Saints will play host to the 2-7 Cleveland Browns in a game that will see the return of quarterback Jameis Winston to the Big Easy as he was named Cleveland's starter for the third straight game. And oddsmakers feel this matchup could be a close one, with the Saints favored by 1.5.

Point spread: Saints -1.5 Point total: 44.5 : Browns +100, Saints -118

The other NFC South team, the division leading 6-4 Atlanta Falcons , are coming off a tough loss in New Orleans this past week and will be in Denver to play a tough 5-5 Broncos team. Denver took the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs to the final seconds of regulation over the weekend before getting their game-winning field goal attempt blocked. So for their effort, oddsmakers are awarding them with being the favorite this week at home against the Falcons.

Point spread: Broncos -2.5 Point total: 44.5 : Falcons +110, Broncos -130