NFC North Futures Odds Preview
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are heavily favored to win a fourth straight NFC North division title this season.
At the Bovada Sportsbook the Packers are -190 favorites on the NFC North futures. Last season Green Bay was the only team in the NFC North with a winning record and easily won the division at 13-4.
Rodgers returns at quarterback for Green Bay but he lost his favorite target in the offseason after Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. Also departing was wideout Marquez Valdez-Scantling. Rodgers is now without an established No. 1 wide receiver and will need someone from Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb, or newly drafted Christian Watson to step up. Rodgers should have strong support out of the backfield from running back tandem Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
Vikings follow Packers on NFC North odds
Following the Packers on the NFC North futures are the Minnesota Vikings at +265. Minnesota is coming off an 8-9 season in which they lost five games by five points or less, including a pair in overtime. Not much has changed on offense for the Vikings. Kirk Cousins returns at quarterback and he’ll mostly have the same weapons including running back Dalvin Cook and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.
The longshots in the NFC North at the Bovada Sportsbook are then the Detroit Lions at +1000 and the Chicago Bears at +1400.
The Lions are the only team in the division that has never won a division title since the NFC North was renamed in 2002. Last year Detroit finished dead last in the division at 3-13-1. Jared Goff remains the Lions’ quarterback and he does have some solid receiving options this season in Amon-Ra St. Brown and D.J. Chark. Newly drafted Jameson Williams could also be a threat but he’s coming off a torn ACL and it’s unknown when he’ll make his NFL debut. We haven’t even mentioned running back De’Andre Swift or tight end T.J. Hockenson, who might be Goff’s best offensive options.
Detroit is also hoping for some improvement on defense after drafting Michigan edge rusher Aiden Hutchinson second overall. The Lions have nowhere to go but up on defense after they finished second last in points allowed last season.
Bears round out the NFC North division odds
If you enjoy throwing money away you can also get the Bears at +1400 on the NFC North odds. Quarterback Justin Fields must hope that wide receiver Darnell Mooney’s breakout season wasn’t a fluke. Mooney, running back David Montgomery, and tight end Cole Kmet are the only notable weapons that Fields has at his disposal in what looks like another disappointing season coming up for Bears fans.