The NFC North is the most difficult division in the NFL from a sports betting perspective right now, because of the uncertain future of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Pack were -250 favorites when the odds opened, but that dropped to -110 before rising back to -121, its most recent level, as Rodgers continues to show no signs of returning. A news story this week reported that Rodgers had refused an extension that would have made him the league’s highest paid quarterback. We have a preview and the NFL odds of the division — but bear in mind that we do not recommend locking in money until Rodgers either joins the Packers or gets his wish and is traded.
NFL News: Picks to Win the NFC North
Team Odds
Green Bay Packers -121
Minnesota Vikings +225
Chicago Bears +350
Detroit Lions +2000
Green Bay has made it to the last two NFC Championships, getting routed in San Francisco two years ago and losing late to Tampa Bay last season. Coach Matt LaFleur took a considerable amount of heat for attempting a late field goal inside the 10-yard line instead of letting Rodgers have a chance to provide what would have been a go-ahead touchdown. The Packers never got another chance with the ball, and the Packers lost at home — and Rodgers’ frustrations boiled over. If Rodgers does not play, the team would turn to the inexperienced Jordan Love. Most of the other Packer starters are returning, including tailback Aaron Jones. The Packers could get to the postseason without Rodgers, but it’s hard to see them winning this division.
Minnesota has wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen running routes for Kirk Cousins, and they have Dalvin Cook to carry the ball. Cousins is a gifted quarterback — and when he is consistent, the Vikings are hard to beat. The team upgraded the O-line in the off-season. The defense struggled last year, but veteran Patrick Peterson joins a young secondary, and edge rusher Danielle Hunter is healthy after spending a lot of 2020 on the shelf. The Vikings should take a wild card and, if Rodgers is somewhere else, should win this division.
Chicago is an intriguing team, as they have Justin Fields from Ohio State, Andy Dalton from Dallas and Nick Foles on their quarterback depth chart. Fields will have a learning curve, while Dalton starts in the early going. The team has a stout defense, and if Dalton can continue his realtively solid play from the last half of 2020, when he filled in for Dak Prescott in Dallas, the Bears should push for a wild card.
Detroit has a new head coach in Dan Campbell, and two new stars on offense in Amon-Ra St Brown and Penei Sewell. They swapped Matthew Stafford to the Rams for Jared Goff and some draft capital. Can Goff get back to his prior form? Or will he continue to struggle. It’s hard to see the Lions contending unless Goff can really turn back the clock — and the defense overperforms.
NFL Betting Odds
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