NFC North 2011 Betting Preview
The Green Bay Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions, and they're also high on the odds lists at the sportsbooks to win the big game again this season. Here's how the NFC North breaks down.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers' playoff run began on a modest note last season as they slipped into the postseason as a Wild Card team in the NFC, but four consecutive victories later they were the Super Bowl champions and Aaron Rodgers was being hailed as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Rodgers should be at the top of his game again this season as the Packers strive for back-to-back championships.
The oddsmakers at Bodog like Green Bay's chances to repeat, putting them high on their Super Bowl odds list at 7/1 to take the title. The Packers are also at 15/4 on the NFL betting lines to win the NFC Championship Game this season, and their OVER/UNDER for wins sits at 11.5 (they won 10 games in 2010). Like Rodgers' chances of winning the MVP award? At Bodog you can get that wager at 11/2 odds.
Chicago Bears
It's easy to forget that it was the Bears, and not the eventual-champion Packers, that actually won the NFC North division title last season. Chicago knocked off Seattle in their first playoff game, but lost at home to the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. That has the Bears and quarterback Jay Cutler out for revenge this season.
And out for some respect at the sportsbooks as well – the Bears are well back of the Packers at 25/1 odds at Bodog to win the Super Bowl this season, and they sit at 14/1 to make up for last year and win the NFC Championship Game. The oddsmakers are also less optimistic about the Bears' win total for 2011, pegging their OVER/UNDER at 8.5. Cutler is a longshot on Bodog's MVP props board at 50/1 to earn that honour.
Detroit Lions
The Lions ended last season on a four-game winning streak, which partially masks the fact that they began the campaign 2-10 and were once again written off early. Detroit will be looking to start winning much earlier this season, and they'll need quarterback Matthew Stafford to avoid injury – he played just three games in 2010.
At Bodog the Lions aren't as far back as they usually are on the Super Bowl odds, as they sit in the middle of the pack at 30/1 to win the big game next February. Detroit also has 16/1 odds to win the NFC Championship Game, and their OVER/UNDER for wins at Bodog is sitting at 7.5. Stafford is sitting at 40/1 on the MVP board, while wide receiver Calvin Johnson is at 50/1 on that NFL prop bet.
Minnesota Vikings
A 6-10 campaign last season kept the Vikings well out of playoff contention, but they're hoping that the addition of veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb to the roster can return them to respectability in 2011. The team's offense, though, should still live and die by the feet of Adrian Peterson, one of the league's most dynamic players.
Still, it's a humbling start for the Vikings on the NFL odds board at Bodog, as they have the worst line of all the NFC North teams to win the Super Bowl at 35/1. Minnesota also sits at 15/1 to win the NFC Championship Game this season, with their wins OVER/UNDER at 7. Peterson is at 20/1 at Bodog to win the MVP award.