2010 NFL Predictions: NFC Division Winners, Wild-Card Teams

As our 2010 NFC predictions show, the conference could be wide open this season.

Take the NFC South, for example, where the defending champion Saints will have their hands full holding off a vastly improved Atlanta team -- and where Carolina could rise up and spoil the plans of both. Tensions figure to run high throughout the season in the NFC North and NFC East, too. The former looks like a great race between Green Bay and Minnesota; the latter, a four-team cluster that could go any which way.
And then we come to the NFC West. It's not out of the question that 8-8 -- heck, maybe even 7-9 -- could get the job done there.

More: AFC Picks | Dave Goldberg's 2010 Predictions
Super Bowl XLV Picks

Check out our predictions below:

NFC East Predicted Champion


Josh Alper	Cowboys	This is an overrated team ... but the good news for the Cowboys is that they happen to play in an overrated division. -- Josh Alper They didn't show it -- or much of anything -- in the preseason, but they have fewer holes than any other team in the division. -- Matt Romanoski
Knox Bardeen	Cowboys
Jerry Bonkowski	Giants
Chris Burke	Cowboys
Bruce Ciskie	Eagles
J.J. Cooper	Cowboys
Dan Graziano	Cowboys
Chris Harry	Cowboys
Tom Mantzouranis	Giants
Stephanie Stradley	Cowboys
Matt Romanoski	Giants
R.J. White	Cowboys

NFC North Predicted Champion


Josh Alper	Packers	Fewer holes than their rivals, and even though they're flawed, they have the best quarterback in the division. That counts. -- Bruce Ciskie The Packers would have won the title last year if not for a career year from Brett Favre, who should show signs of his age in 2010. Green Bay is primed to challenge for a title. -- R.J. White
Knox Bardeen	Packers
Jerry Bonkowski	Vikings

Bruce Ciskie	Vikings
Chris Burke	Vikings
J.J. Cooper	Packers
Dan Graziano	Packers
Chris Harry	Packers
Tom Mantzouranis	Packers
Stephanie Stradley	Packers
Matt Romanoski	Packers
R.J. White	Packers

NFC South Predicted Champion


Josh Alper	Saints	New Orleans still has a stranglehold on this division. But if the Falcons stay healthy, the Saints are really going to have to work for the title this season. -- Knox Bardeen Matt Ryan and Michael Turner are healthy. Plus, the Falcons will be better on all levels of defense. They crash the party that's still going in New Orleans. -- Chris Harry
Knox Bardeen	Saints
Jerry Bonkowski	Saints
Chris Burke	Saints
Bruce Ciskie	Falcons
J.J. Cooper	Saints
Dan Graziano	Falcons
Chris Harry	Falcons
Tom Mantzouranis	Saints
Stephanie Stradley	Saints
Matt Romanoski	Saints
R.J. White	Saints

NFC West Predicted Champion


Josh Alper	49ers	I know the Cards have their issues and Derek Anderson is not exactly Joe Namath. But I can't fathom why everyone's loving an Alex Smith-led 49ers team. -- Chris Burke Worst division in the NFL, by far -- kind of a shame someone has to win it. There will be better teams in the NFC that don't make the playoffs. -- Dan Graziano
Knox Bardeen	49ers
Jerry Bonkowski	Cardinals
Chris Burke	Cardinals
Bruce Ciskie	49ers
J.J. Cooper	Seahawks
Dan Graziano	49ers
Chris Harry	49ers
Tom Mantzouranis	49ers
Stephanie Stradley	49ers
Matt Romanoski	Cardinals
R.J. White	49ers

NFC Wild-Card Teams


Josh Alper	Falcons, Panthers	There's too much talent on this Carolina team for people to be overlooking it so willingly. -- Josh Alper Yeah, I said Redskins. I'm betting that Shanahan can coax something out of Portis and figures out the RB situation. I'm also betting on a Donovan McNabb hellbent on vengeance against Philly. -- Dan Graziano
Knox Bardeen	Falcons, Giants
Jerry Bonkowski	Cowboys, Packers
Chris Burke	Falcons, Packers
Bruce Ciskie	Cowboys, Saints
J.J. Cooper	Falcons, Vikings
Dan Graziano	Redskins, Vikings
Chris Harry	Redskins, Saints
Tom Mantzouranis	Cowboys, Panthers
Stephanie Stradley	Eagles, Vikings
Matt Romanoski	Cowboys, Vikings
R.J. White	Eagles, Falcons