NFC North Futures And Betting Angles For This Season

It used to be referred to as the black and blue division.

Chris Berman called it the NFC Norris (brilliant, shoutout old NHL). Back in the day before realignment it was the NFC Central. Now it’s the North featuring the original four (shoutout old NHL). Yes, Tampa Bay was in the Norris. Not particularly wild when you think Atlanta was once in the NFC West. The ACC has west coast schools now. USC is in the Big 10. School failed a lot of us I guess. But I digress.

The North could be the strongest division in the NFL or an example of parity run amok. All four teams are legitimate playoff contenders but none of them are legitimate Super Bowl threats, save one team. More on them in a minute. The division is wide open and, as always, schedule strength, quarterback play and injuries will play a part in who wins and who left in the cold (it is the North remember) come January.

Here are my odds and previews for the NFC South,AFC South,NFC East and AFC East.

Odds courtesy of Caesar’s Sportsbook.

Detroit Lions +170 to win
Win total over 10.5 -130

If this team can manage to stay healthy they are the biggest threat in the division to make a lot of noise in the playoffs. The Lions have great skill players (Gibbs, St. Brown, Laporta), a tested veteran at quarterback and an absolute madman (in a good way) as head coach. Dan Campbell is a treasure and should be protected at all costs.

Aidan Hutchinson anchors a good defense. The back end is a question and having two projected starters on the PUP list adds to the concern. Still, the Lions are talented and have enjoyed some success the past few years. Losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson last year affected them as production and imagination in the game plan was down from previous years. Back to basics is the way to go here. Give Jahmyr Gibbs the ball a lot. Throw it to Amon-Ra St. Brown a lot. Use Sam Laporta in the red zone a lot. Win games and stay healthy. Detroit matches up with the big boys in the NFC. When the time comes to play for keeps let’s hope injuries haven’t handicapped them.

Prediction: 12 wins and the division title.

Green Bay Packers +235 to win
Win total over 10.5 +160

Green Bay doesn’t do anything that jumps out at you. They have a good but not great offense a pretty good defense, well coached. Maybe it’s the bland uniforms. Maybe it’s Lambeau Field, the venerable old stadium lost in the 1960’s. Or maybe it’s because Jordan Love, as good as he is, reminds no one and I mean no one of Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers. It’s almost impossible to replace a legend at quarterback. Rodgers did it. Steve Young did it. Mac Jones couldn’t (Brady). Danny White couldn’t (Staubach -- do your homework). Indianapolis is still looking to replace Peyton Manning over a decade later.

Love is doing a good job however so as he goes, Green Bay goes. One team in the division will not meet expectations this year and for no other reason but a gut feeling I’m going with the Pack to take a step back.

Prediction: Nine wins and out of the playoffs.

Chicago Bears +320 to win
Win total over 9.5 +110

Similar to my thoughts on Green Bay, I’m just not a believer in this team. The receivers don’t scare me, D’Andre Swift at running back won’t change my defensive game plan and (hot take) Caleb Williams is not elite. He’s good, a bona fide starter in this league. Big arm, competitive as hell. No arguments here. Talking heads drooled over him before he was drafted, in unison shouting that he has IT. Nah fam you all missed this one. He’s just good enough to break your heart. He’ll get you to the playoffs, win one here and there but no. This is not all on him. When Rome Odunze, who I really like, is your big play receiver, yikes.

The Bears have Ben Johnson running the show and honestly if I was starting a team he is my head coach. He’s fantastic and will give them a chance. I also don’t believe their defense measures up. Sorry Bears.

Prediction: Seven wins

Minnesota Vikings +450 to win
Win total over 8.5 -120

The Vikings will be the surprise team not only in the North but the entire NFC. I’ll start with the defense here. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is a great coach. He knows defense. They’re young and getting better. The interior line is very young but has great potential to be among the best in the division. Keep an eye on Dallas Turner. He’s a superstar in waiting (you heard it here first). Offensively any team that has Justin Jefferson has a chance to put up points. Jefferson is sure handed, a complete route runner and is deceptively fast. He’s almost unguardable. And don’t look now but the quarterback position has been stabilized. Kyler Murray was named the starter on Tuesday less than two weeks into camp and the JJ McCarthy experiment looks to be over. Do the Vikings keep him as the backup or is the former 4th overall going to be traded? He’s needs out of Minnesota but that a discussion for another day.

I like Kyler Murray and he may fall into the Darnold/Baker Mayfield category of former highly drafted quarterbacks who resurrect their career someplace else. Or, and this is entirely possible, he will be another Justin Fields/Mitch Trubisky disaster. Time will tell but he’s got a great coach in his earpiece. Kevin O’Connell is (supposedly) a quarterback whisperer. This will be a great story to follow. Hopefully he just says “throw it to Justin." That works. Minnesota will overachieve this season. Take the over on the win total.

Prediction: Ten wins and in the mix for a wildcard.

The smart money is on Detroit to win the divison and be over the win total. Take the over on Minnesota’s win total. Stay away from the Bears and Packers.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com