After a terrible 1-4 start to the season, the Minnesota Vikings all of a sudden are back in the playoff picture after beating the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers in two-straight weeks.
I made the argument a few weeks ago that it was the correct time to bet on the Vikings to make the playoffs. Now, I'm taking it one step further. It might just be time to not only bet them to make the playoffs, but bet them to win the entire NFC North.
Vikings odds to win NFC North
I think we can all agree the Packers and Bears are out of the picture. The Packers are stumbling around and trying to find an identity while the Bears will be in contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.
That leaves only the Vikings to challenge the Lions atop the division, and as of writing this article, they're just two games behind their NFC North rival. Not only that, but the Lions' all of a sudden look vulnerable after getting their teeth kicked in by the Ravens.
Let's also take a look at the Vikings' remaining schedule. They have the seventh easiest remaining schedule in the NFC including two games against the Lions. Those two games come in Week 16 and 18, so don't be surprised if those games play a huge role in deciding who wins the NFC North.
The Vikings are a curious case compared to last season. In 2022, there were arguments to be made that they weren't as good as their record. This season, I believe the opposite to be true. Heading into Week 8, the Vikings rank sixth in the NFL in Net Yards per Play. Only the Dolphins, Ravens, 49ers, Chiefs, and Seahawks rank higher.
Meanwhile, the Lions are down at 12th.
Don't get me wrong, the Lions still have a firm grasp on the division, but the Vikings are still very much alive and are certainly worth a bet at their current odds to successfully defend their NFC North crown.
If you want to bet on it to happen, I recommend doing so at DraftKings Sportsbook. Not only do they offer the best odds on it, but if you click the link below to sign up for an account, you'll receive $200 in bonus bets and plenty of sweat-free same game parlays!
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
You can check out all of Iain's bets here!