2018 NFC North Betting Preview

The Minnesota Vikings moved to the top of this standings last season in the NFC North with a straight-up record of 13-3. Their run ended in a loss to Philadelphia in the NFC title game in what was one of the team’s most successful seasons in recent memory.

BetAnySports has listed Minnesota as a +125 favorite on its NFL futures board to win the NFC North again in 2018.

The concern with actually cashing in on that bet is twofold. The first concern is Minnesota’s lack of consistency from one season to the next going back to a 12-4 record in 2009. It slipped to 6-10 the following season. The Vikings posted a 10-6 record in 2012 before stumbling to just five wins in 2013. They got back on top in the division with 11 victories in 2015, but that stay was also short-lived with an even 8-8 mark in 2016.

Where Can I Bet The 2018 NFC North NFL Games From My Mobile Device?

The other concern is Green Bay as a +150 second-favorite. While Minnesota decided to turn its fortunes on offense over to Kirk Cousins as a free-agent acquisition from Washington, the Packers have future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers back in the saddle after missing over half of last season due to injury. The result was a slide to 7-9 that kept Green Bay out of the postseason for the first time in nine seasons. It had won the NFC North title five times in that eight-year run.

Next on the list at BetAnySports is the Detroit Lions at +550 betting odds to win their first division title since 1993. The Lions have finished second the past two seasons at 9-7 each year. However, it remains to be seen if they can find a way to take that next step given the level of competition in the NFC North. Detroit will still rely heavily on Matthew Stafford at quarterback to move the team downfield through the air and it is hoping that second-round draft pick Kerryon Johnson can help boost the ground game at running back.

2018 NFC North futures list is the Chicago Bears as +800 longshot

Bringing up the rear on the 2018 NFC North futures list is the Chicago Bears as +800 longshots. The Bears’ last winning season was in 2012 when they went 10-6 and their last division title was in 2010 with 11 victories. After going 5-11 in 2017, Chicago decided to go with Matt Nagy as its new head coach in place of John Fox. Heading into this season, the Bears have officially turned the keys to the offense over to second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

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