Will the Detroit Lions remain the class of the NFC North in 2024 after an iconic Super Bowl run last season? Will Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love continue to impress during his 2nd full year as a starting QB? Will Minnesota and Chicago both still be in rebuilding mode?
Those questions and more will be answered in our 2024 NFC North betting preview. Let's have a look at each team's odds to win the division and their season win total predictions. Of course, we'll also give out a best bet! Enjoy!
Detroit Lions: NFC North Title (+150) / 10.5 Season Wins
A lot of teams experience Super Bowl hangovers the following season, but it's hard to imagine Dan Campbell letting that happen with this Lions squad. Though many question his riverboat gambling style of decision-making, there's no denying that Campbell is one of heck of a motivator. The smart money says he'll have Detroit ready to roll for another deep playoff run.
You just have to admire the resilience of Jared Goff. He was run out of town by Sean McVay and the Rams but has turned himself into a legitimate MVP candidate in Big D. Goff will once again have an embarrassment of riches to throw to in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams.
The Lions defense will also look better, especially after spending their first and second round draft picks on solid corners. Rookie Terrion Arnold will fit right in with former Alabama teammate Brian Branch in the secondary. The pass rush will once again be solid with Aidan Hutchison wreaking havoc.
After notching 12 wins a season ago, there's no reason to think that Detroit won't win at least 11 this year. Give me the Over 10.5 at -112 over at FanDuel. This should be a no-doubter!
Green Bay Packers: NFC North Title (+210) / 9.5 Season Wins
The Pack only went 9-8 last year but one shouldn't underestimate this team in 2024. Green Bay enjoyed a huge win over Dallas in the playoffs, which was a sign that this team had turned a corner. The emergence of Jordan Love was pretty remarkable, and I don't anticipate any type of sophomore slump for him this season.
Love will have a brand-new weapon to hand the ball to in RB Josh Jacobs. The former Raiders star is one of the few every down backs in the NFL and will provide a major spark for Matt LaFleur's playbook. The entire receiving corps of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed also returns intact.
My main concern with the Pack is their defense, which struggled to stop the run for most of last season. Even with that concern, I still envision a pretty solid year for the Cheese Heads!
Chicago Bears: NFC North Title (+265) / 8.5 Season Wins
The Justin Fields experiment is finally over in Chi-Town, and it'll be a while before we know if that was the right decision. Former Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams will take the reins and it remains to be seen if he's really ready for primetime. The young gunslinger has a ton of talent, but will he have the mental toughness to endure NFL defenders each week?
Williams will love throwing to veteran superstar WR Keenan Allen, who came over from the Chargers in a trade. DJ Moore and Rome Odunze will join with Allen to form a very formidable receiving corps for Chicago. Also, don't sleep on Cole Kmet, who has very quietly become one of the best receiving tight ends in football.
Chicago's defense wasn't all that bad last season. They ranked 4th in yards per rush allowed and 13th in yards per pass attempt. Veteran free safety Kevin Byard should help out quite a bit in the secondary. 'Da Bears could have a decent season, but I never like to expect much from a rookie QB.
Minnesota Vikings: NFC North Title (+1000) / 6.5 Season Wins
Oddsmakers aren't expecting much from the Viks this season, especially since they've made a ton of changes. Minnesota will also miss having TJ Hockenson for much of the season, as he continues to heal up from a gruesome knee injury. The biggest question Minny faces is who will be the starter under center?
Most reports say that veteran journeyman Sam Darnold will be starting, at least early on in the season. The former USC standout is still just 27 years old, but you just have to wonder how much he has left in the tank. Something tells me that head coach Kevin O'Connell will want to see what JJ McCarthy can do before the calendar turns to October.
The combo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will make plenty of opposing defensive coordinators nervous. The addition of RB Aaron Jones is also promising for the offense. All in all though, I never want to bet on a team that's likely to feature a QB carousel.
