For the better part of the last decade, when trying to determine who would win the NFC North, the choice has come down to two teams – the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The Packers have been the dominant team, but Minnesota has been the most dynamic and the 2020 odds from BetMGM.com bears that out.
However, this season is going to be a year of change in the NFC North and nine wins might win the division. Below, we look at the futures odds to win the NFC North.
2020 NFC North odds: Green Bay Packers (+135)
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, March 2 at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Green Bay is the slight favorite (+135) over Minnesota. The Packers showed defensive improvement last year, but they aren’t in the position to be viewed as an elite defense. They have depth issues at all three levels. Offensively, Green Bay still has the best QB in the division (and have for the last 25 years), but aside from WR Davante Adams, the Pack don’t have a legitimate No. 2 receiving threat and their offensive line is injury prone. They’re coming off a 13-win season, but many analysts thought they were a fraudulent 13-3 – and may have been right.
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2020 NFC North odds: Minnesota Vikings (+140)
Minnesota is at a crossroads. The Vikings have the best top-to-bottom roster, but their commitment to keeping their own players has led to a huge disparity in player contracts and has pressed Minnesota tight against the salary cap. Throw in that three of their top five defensive backs are set to hit free agency and one of the other two (cornerback Xavier Rhodes) could be asked to take a pay cut or get released because his play dropped significantly.
2020 NFC North odds: Chicago Bears (+400)
Chicago, 8-8 last season, took a huge step back after running away with the NFC North title in 2018. One of the reasons (aside from injuries) was that the offense didn’t have the security blanket of the power run game that RB Jordan Howard provided to close out games they were leading. Much more onus was laid at the feet of QB Mitch Trubisky and he struggled. Without defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the defense also took a step back, despite having arguably the best linebacker corps in the league.
2020 NFC North odds: Detroit Lions (+1100)
Detroit hasn’t won the division since 1993, when it was the NFC Central and had five teams. Pedigreed coaches have come and gone without any success and, in his first two seasons, former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has a record of 9-22-1. The Lions need to build through the draft and have many more hits than misses to compete.
2020 NFC North odds: The Pick
When it comes to wagering on who will win the NFC North, most money will be bet the way of the Packers and the Vikings. But in a division where no team may end up winning more than 10 games, our money is going with the BEARS (+400). They appear to be the only team in the division that is on an upward trajectory and can get better by continuing to add young talent and a couple of key free agent signings.
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