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The Green Bay Packers won the NFC North title last season, their first since 2016, behind a strong finish.
The Packers earned their first playoff berth in two years with a win over the Chicago Bears in Week 15. The following week, they clinched the NFC North division with a 23-10 over the Minnesota Vikings. Then in Week 17, Green Bay came from behind to beat the Detroit Lions. That victory gave the Packers a sweep of the NFC North for the first time since 2011 and it also gave them a first-round bye in the postseason.
For the 2020 season, Green Bay is a +180 betting favorite to repeat as the NFC North champs. They trail the Minnesota Vikings who are currently the odds on favorite at +160 in the latest odds board.
Let’s take a close look at the 2020 NFC North picture and see the best bets for every team in the division:
*As of 05/17/20 at BetOnline
Green Bay Packers
- Current Betting Odds:
- 2019 season performance:
- Key Additions:
- Key Subtractions:
+2000 To Win Super Bowl LV | +1400 To Win the 2020 NFC Conference | +180 To Win NFC North
13-3 record, 10-6 ATS, 6-10 Over/Under
WR Devin Funchess (FA-Indianapolis), LB Christian Kirksey (FA-Cleveland), OT Rick Wagner (FA-Detroit).
OT Bryan Bulaga (FA-Chargers), LB Blake Martinez (FA-NY Giants), LB Kyler Fackrell (FA-NY Giants), WR Geronimo Allison (FA-Detroit), TE Jimmy Graham (FA-Chicago).
The 2019 Packers had a mediocre offense that averaged just a total of 345.5 yards per game including 233.3 yards in the air. Green Bay ranked only 15th in scoring art 23.5 points per game as Aaron Rodgers completed 62% of his passes for a total of 4,002 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and only four interceptions. His 9.4% passer rating was his lowest in five years.
Davante Adams was Rodgers’ main weapon and he had 997 receiving yards on 33 catches. But Adams played only 12 games due to injury. Green Bay added only Devin Funchess in free agency but he has a history of injuries Instead of taking a WR in the first round, the Packers picked QB Jordan Love from Utah which was one of the most intriguing picks in round one. Green Bay also picked AJ Dillon at #62 despite having Aaron Jones who ran for 1,084 yards at 4.6 yards per carry. Green Bay also selected three offensive linemen in the draft.
Green Bay allowed 352.6 yards per game last season, gave up an average of 19.6 points per game, and struggled against the run by allowing 120.1 rushing yards per game. Green Bay didn’t address their defensive needs until round five of the 2020 draft when they picked linebacker Kamal Martin.
Christian Kirksey was brought in to replace top tackler Blake Martinez. Last year’s top Rashan Gray could start alongside Kirksey. The Packers are set for Edge rushers with OLB Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith combining for 25.5 sacks last season. Up front, nose tackle Kenny Clark 62 tackles and six sacks last season.
Green Bay has a tough schedule that included playing Indianapolis, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Houston on the road. I think they will be hard-pressed to win 13 games but 11 will probably win the division.
Prediction: (+180) To Win NFC North
Minnesota Vikings
- Current Betting Odds:
- 2019 season performance:
- Key Additions:
- Key Subtractions:
+3300 To Win Super Bowl LV | +1500 To Win the 2020 NFC Conference | +160 To Win NFC North
10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS, 9-7 Over/Under
DT Michael Pierce (FA-Baltimore), WR Tajae Sharpe (FA-Tennessee).
WR Stefon Diggs (Trade-Buffalo), WR Laquon Treadwell (FA-Atlanta), DE Stephen Weatherly (FA-Carolina), CB Mackenzie Alexander (FA-Cincinnati), DT Linval Joseph (FA-Chargers), CB Trae Waynes (FA-Cincinnati), S Jayron Kearse (FA-Detroit), S Andrew Sendejo (FA-Cleveland).
The Vikings averaged 353.5 yards per game of offense last season. They were 8th in the league in scoring at 23.5 points per game but were just 23rd in passing at 220.2 yards in the air. Kirk Cousins threw for 3,603 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 69.1% of his passes for a 107.4 passer rating.
Minnesota traded Stefon Diggs to Buffalo after a season where he caught 63 passes for 1,110 receiving yards with six touchdown passes caught. To compensate for his loss, the Vikings picked the second-best receiver in the draft in Justin Jefferson of LSU. He will join Adam Thielen who is coming off an injury-plagued season. Running back Dalvin Cook was the key player on offense with 1,135 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Cook also caught 53 catches for 519 receiving yards. Minnesota also drafted Ezra Cleveland to boost their offensive line.
The Vikings ranked 5th overall in points allowed at 18.9 points per game last season. The team lost Linval Joseph but the addition of Michael Pierce should help at nose guard. If he is in shape, Pierce could end up being better than Joseph. Danielle Hunter is coming off a season where he had 14.5 sacks with 70 tackles while Everson Griffin added eight sacks and 41 tackles.
Harrison Smith is one of the best Safeties in the league at 85 tackles and three picks last season. Minnesota kept Harrison Smith but lost Andrew Sendejo. They also lost Trae Waynes and Xavier Rhodes at cornerback but drafted Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler. 2018 first-round pick Mike Hughes could also offer help at cornerback.
Minnesota had a great offseason where they did a solid job. That’s why they are the odds on favorite to win the NFC North. But like Minnesota, they have a tough schedule and they lost as much as they gained during the offseason. The Vikings had 15 draft picks but even those who can contribute right away will take time to adjust.
Bets Bet: Over 9 Wins (-110)
Chicago Bears
- Current Betting Odds:
- 2019 season performance:
- Key Additions:
- Key Subtractions:
+5000 To Win Super Bowl LV | +2000 To Win the 2020 NFC Conference | +325 To Win NFC North
8-8 SU, 4-12 ATS, 6-10 Over/Under
CB Artie Burns (FA-Pittsburgh), QB Nick Foles (Trade-Jacksonville), WR Ted Ginn Jr. (FA-New Orleans), TE Jimmy Graham (FA-Green Bay), OLB Robert Quinn (FA-Dallas).
OG Kyle Long (retired), TE Trey Burton (FA-Indianapolis), CB Prince Amukamara (FA-Raiders), S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (FA-Dallas), DT Nick Williams (FA-Detroit), LB Nick Kwiatkowski (FA-Oakland), OLB Leonard Floyd (FA-Rams), OLB Kevin Pierre-Louis (FA-Washington), QB Chase Daniel (FA-Detroit).
Chicago finished 29th in offense at 296.8 yards per game. They were 25th in passing at 205.7 passing yards per game and 27th in rushing at 91.1 yards per game. Mitchell Trubisky threw for 3,138 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with an 83 passer rating. The Bears signed Nick Foles who struggled with injuries at Jacksonville last season. Although he’s not the long-term answer, he’s favored to start over Trubisky.
David Montgomery rushed for 889 during his rookie season. They didn’t have a first-round pick as a result of the Khalil Mack trade and their first pick was tight end, Cole Kmet, at #43. They also traded up to get wide receiver Darnell Moore in the sixth round. Allen Robinson led the receiving corps with 98 catches for 1,147 yards with 7 touchdown passes caught.
The defense was a strong part of their game and it got even better with the addition of Robert Quinn who had 11.5 sacks for Dallas. The Bears drafted two cornerbacks in Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor. They also drafted DE Trevis Gibson in the fourth round.
The Bears have two talented inside linebackers in Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan who had a combined 171 tackles.
Artie Burns was added from Pittsburgh to replace Prince Amukamara who became a free agent. At free safety, they have one of the best in the business in Eddie Jackson who had 60 tackles and 2 picks last season.
Foles is an upgrade over Trubisky and he will be an asset if the Bears make the playoffs. However, he’s been hounded by injuries and it’s uncertain if he can play 16 games for Chicago this year. If Foles can stay healthy, they might have a shot at taking one of the wild card spots.
Bets Bet: Over 8.5 Wins (+120)
Detroit Lions
- Current Betting Odds:
- 2019 season performance:
- Key Additions:
- Key Subtractions:
+8000 To Win Super Bowl LV | +5000 To Win the 2020 NFC Conference | +700 To Win NFC North
3-12-1 SU, 6-10 ATS, 10-6 Over/Under
LB Jamie Collins (FA-New England), QB Chase Daniel (FA-Chicago), DB Duron Harmon (Trade-New England), S Jayron Kearse (FA-Minnesota), S Darryl Roberts (FA-Jets), DL Danny Shelton (FA-New England), CB Desmond Trufant (FA-Atlanta), OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai (FA-Philadelphia).
CB Darius Slay (Trade-Philadelphia), DT A’Shawn Robinson (FA-Rams), OT Rick Wagner (FA-Green Bay), OL Graham Glasgow (FA-Denver), CB Rashaan Melvin (FA-Jacksonville), OLB Devon Kennard (FA-Arizona).
Detroit’s passing game was solid last season. Matthew Stafford completed 64.3% of his passes for 2,499 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions for a passer rating of 106. But he was injured last season and Jeff Driskel and David Blough combined 8 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Lions averaged 103.1 rushing yards per game with Kerryon Johnson leading the way with 403 yards with three touchdowns in just eight games.
D’Andre Swift was drafted in the second round and he could emerge as a star if he has a good offensive line. Kenny Golladay led the receivers with 65 catches for 1,190 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns while Marvin Jones had 62 catches for 779 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. The Detroit offensive line lost RT Ricky Wagner but picked up Halapoulivaati Vaitai who could be an upgrade.
The Lions gave up 400.4 yards per game and ranked 31st in the NFL in that department while they also ranked last against the pass at 284.4 yards. Top cornerback Darius Slay was traded to the Eagles but they drafted the top cornerback in the class in Jeff Okudah from Ohio State. Okudah should play right away and join Desmond Trufant.
Patricia also added nose tackle Danny Shelton, linebacker Jamie Collins, and safety Duron Harmon. Their pass rush only produced 28 sacks so they drafted Julian Okwara from Notre Dame in the third round. Free safety Tracy Walker led the team with 103 tackles.
The Lions don’t have a tough schedule and if Stafford stays healthy and De’Andre Swift can contribute, they should have a slightly better season. However, they still need a lot of work with their defense. I think Detroit wins two more games this year.
Best Bet: Under 6.5 Wins (+100)
