2024-25 NFC North Division odds: Lions favored to make franchise history
The reigning NFC North champion Detroit Lions are favored to claim the division title at the end of the 2024 NFL season.
Last year, Detroit won its first conference title since 1993 and is now looking to repeat as division champions for the first time in franchise history.
Its odds have shortened to +130 from +155 since March.
Second on the board are the Packers at +230. Green Bay opened slightly shorter at +225.
The Lions and Packers both went 4-2 in the division last season, splitting their two matchups. Detroit won the tiebreaker via overall record.
Let's take a look at the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 1.
NFC NORTH DIVISION WINNER ODDS
Detroit Lions: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)
Green Bay Packers: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
Chicago Bears: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total)
Minnesota Vikings: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Let's take a look at the key points to know regarding each NFC North squad.
DETROIT LIONS
2023-24 division finish: 1st (4-2)
Bottom line: Last season was the season of "It's been forever" for the Lions. They won their fourth division title in franchise history — the division has been around since 1967 — and made it to their first NFC Championship Game since 1991. Detroit has never won the division two years in a row, and the odds suggest it will have some stiff competition, going up against a rising Packers team and a Bears squad that features No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
2023-24 division finish: 2nd (4-2)
Bottom line: Green Bay won six of its last eight regular-season games last year, before blasting the Cowboys in the wild-card round and nearly knocking off the mighty 49ers in the divisional round, which has its stock at an all-time high entering next season. Jordan Love's ascension figures to be the key to the Packers' success, and in their last matchup with Detroit, Love torched the Lions on their home field. Green Bay also brought in former first-team All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs via free agency.
CHICAGO BEARS
2023-24 division finish: 4th (2-4)
Bottom line: Over the last several months, Chicago's odds shortened to +280 from +300. Will Caleb Williams be the answer for the Bears? If he lives up to the hype, the rookie could very well help lift the team to being a competitive force in the division.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2023-24 division finish: 3rd (2-4)
Bottom line: The Vikings will have to semi start over at quarterback, with Kirk Cousins bouncing to Atlanta in free agency. Their response was drafting J.J. McCarthy and signing Sam Darnold to a one-year deal. But now that J.J. McCarthy is out injured for the season, the pressure falls squarely on Darnold at QB to lead Minnesota's offense in a scrappy NFC North.
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