NFL Odds to Win 2008 NFC North
TweetJimmy Boyd’s 2008 NFC North predictions see the Minnesota Vikings sitting atop the division at season’s end. Jimmy’s discloses the odds to win the NFC North of each team below and provides you with his sleeper bet as well.
Favorite – Minnesota Vikings: +100 to win the NFC North at Sportsbook.com
With Brett Favre no longer in the black and blue division, oddsmakers feel that opens the door for the Vikes to take over in 2008. Minnesota came on strong in the second half of last season, winning five straight games to put themselves in the playoff picture before bowing out with a pair of losses to close out the season. Adrian Peterson proved to be worth Minnesota’s first round draft choice as he quickly became one of the most feared backs in the league. The Vikes already boasted one of the best defenses against the run in football and now their pass defense figures to improve with the addition of 2007 NFL sack leader Jared Allen. Young QB Tarvaris Jackson could be the only real weak spot, but in a division filled with unproven signal callers, he shouldn’t cost the Vikes.
Sleeper – Chicago Bears: +300 to win the NFC North at Sportsbook.com
The Bears don’t appear ready to get back to the winning ways we saw in 2006 when they reached the Super Bowl, but it is not out of the realm of possibility now that Brett Favre has moved on. Many feel the Packers are still talented enough to win with Aaron Rodgers, but it’s all speculation until he proves himself. Rodgers is also going to have to show that he can stay healthy as he has endured injuries in limited action over the past couple seasons. Neither Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton appear to be promising prospects at this point in their careers, but Orton took the Bears to the playoffs and a division title in his rookie season and Grossman took the Bears to the Super Bowl. Chicago has won without much offense because of big plays on defense and in special teams and they could do it again.
The Green Bay Packers are listed at +200 to win the NFC North and the Detroit Lions are listed at +600. As long as Green Bay takes care of the football, that means Aaron Rodgers not making too many costly mistakes, this team can still win the North because of its strong defense. Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman is one of the best sack men in the league and veteran corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson provide savvy instincts that young corners don’t show across the NFL. If Rodgers goes down for a third straight season and Brian Brohm or Matt Flynn have to be thrown to the wolves, it could get really ugly and this is not as big of an if as I would like it to be. Because of the QB spot, the running back position becomes huge and Ryan Grant must prove that he was no one year wonder.
The Lions are starting over again as they make the transition from a pass-happy attack to a more balanced one under Jim Colletto. Another setback is inevitable in the Motor City.
Odds to win NFC North at Sportsbook.com
Minnesota Vikings even
Green Bay Packers +200
Chicago Bears +300
Detroit Lions +600
BetUS 2008 NFC North Odds
Minnesota Vikings +150
Green Bay Packers +190
Chicago Bears +325
Detroit Lions +650
Bookmaker’s Odds to Win the 2008 NFC North
Minnesota Vikings +175
Green Bay Packers +200
Chicago Bears +280
Detroit Lions +570
BodogLife 2008 NFC North Betting Odds
Minnesota Vikings 11/10
Green Bay Packers 2/1
Chicago Bears 7/2
Detroit Lions 6/1
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