Green Bay Packers still the favorites in the NFC North
By Dan Zinski
The Green Bay Packers are favored to win the NFC North according to Las Vegas oddsmakers.
Contrary to what ESPN is saying, the Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North last year by beating the Green Bay Packers on the last day of the regular season.
ESPN didn’t get the memo about the Vikings being the reigning divisional champs and apparently neither did Vegas.
According to the latest odds courtesy of Bovada, 2015 divisional runners-up Green Bay at 2/3 are the favorites to win the division.
The Vikings’ odds of winning the NFC North for a second straight season sit at 9/4. The Bears and Lions are both at 9/1.
More from The Viking Age
- 6 biggest draft steals in Minnesota Vikings history
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
So at least the Vikings are getting more respect than the Bears and Lions.
As annoying as this development may be to some fans, I have a funny feeling Mike Zimmer would be happy to hear that Vegas is disrespecting his team.
As a big-time believer in the power of underdog psychology, Zimmer likely would prefer that his team always come in second according to prognosticators.
If you want to dig a little deeper into why people still aren’t entirely sold on the Vikings, you can probably start with the quarterback situation.
Teddy Bridgewater was okay in 2015 but a lot of people are still not sold on him as a QB who can consistently lead a team.
The Vikings are perceived as having a good defense, a solid running game and a great coaching staff but the quarterback situation gives people pause.
In my mind, offensive line uncertainty and doubts about the depth of the receiver corps are equally as important as any concerns about Bridgewater. But of course in our current landscape the quarterback is always going to get the majority of the attention.
Next: Rudolph throws out first pitch at Twins game
Gamblers and the oddsmakers who reflect where gambling money is going also clearly are not on-board with Bridgewater. More doubters for Teddy to hopefully prove wrong.
Packer fans, enjoy your favorite status while it lasts. We’ll see what the oddsmakers say after the two teams square off Sept. 18 in U.S. Bank Stadium.