Things are heating up in the NFL‘s most storied division as the NFC North looks to be more competitive than ever in the 2024 season. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers once again have their sights firmly set on returning to the playoffs, and the Chicago Bears are also hungry to make their first postseason appearance since 2020.
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With the Lions nearly punching their ticket to the Super Bowl last season, after making some necessary upgrades to their team, they once again look like title contenders in the NFC. Led by the dynamic duo of Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, the high-powered offence of the Lions is projected to lead them to a top finish in their division.
Not far behind them in terms of division championship odds is the longtime juggernaut of the NFC North in the Packers. With the Jordan Love-era in full-swing, the Packers will aim to build upon their stellar 2023 season that saw them pull off the first-ever seven-seed upset over the heavily-favoured Dallas Cowboys.
Sporting an entirely new cast of talent heading into the 2024 season, the Bears look like a legitimate threat within the NFC this year. With top draft selections in Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze set to serve as franchise cornerstones, alongside big offseason acquisitions in Keenan Allen and Kevin Byard, the new-look Bears may make some noise in the NFC North this season.
Rounding out the NFC North is the Minnesota Vikings, who while they may not have as complete of a squad in compared to years past, they are still a competitive group that shouldn’t be slept on this season. Rolling out a strong defensive unit as well as the top wide receiver in the game in Justin Jefferson, the Vikings could be a weekly upset waiting to happen.
There’s no shortage of intrigue to be found in the NFC North this season, so be sure to check out our division betting preview to learn the latest odds, as well as get the best expert analysis ahead of the regular season kickoff.
Here’s our NFC North betting preview featuring odds from bet365.
Detroit Lions to win the Super Bowl
Detroit Lions
Super Bowl odds: +1200
To Win Conference odds: +550
Division odds: +130
Odds to make the Playoffs: Yes (-250), No (+200)
Season Win Total: Over 10.5 (-130), Under 10.5 (+100)
2023 record: 12-5
Key additions: EDGE Marcus Davenport, DT DJ Reader, G Kevin Zeitler, CB Carlton Davis, S C.J. Moore, EDGE Mathieu Betts
Key subtractions: WR Josh Reynolds, DB CJ Gardner-Johnson, G Jonah Jackson, LB Anthony Pittman, CB Will Harris, T, Matt Nelson
Most important game on the schedule: While this game may be well down the line of their upcoming seasons schedule, there is no bigger matchup for the Lions this season than in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers. In a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game, the Lions will look to assert themselves as the top dogs in the NFC as they take on the top contenders to win the conference.
The Lions nearly had the win secured last year and there’s no doubt that Dan Campbell and company are hungrier than ever to redeem themselves. Be sure to circle this marquee matchup on your calendars as the Lions vs. 49ers will take centerstage in primetime on Monday Night Football in Week 17.
Prop to watch: A stellar prop bet that holds great value heading into the Lions 2024 season is Aidan Hutchinson to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award (+1400).
After finishing last season with 11.5 sacks, the elite pass-rusher has quickly built a reputation as one of the top edge threats in the game. Possessing freak athleticism and a versatile skillset, Hutchinson is able to be plug-and-played anywhere within the front-seven. While he was left outside of the top 10 in last year’s voting, look for Hutchinson to garner ample attention from voters this season as he leads the way on what is sure to be a formidable Lions defence.
Potential breakout player: Selected with the Lions first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, cornerback Terrion Arnold is poised to make a name for himself quickly in the Motor City.
Sliding into a secondary in desperate need of a lockdown corner, Arnold is set to be thrust into the spotlight as he will be tasked with locking down the top receivers on the opposing sideline on a weekly-basis. Having compiled a spectacular collegiate career at the University of Alabama, Arnold led the SEC in interceptions with five in his junior season, good enough for sixth in the nation to boot.
Set for a major role on a title contender, look for Arnold to make his presence felt early on into his NFL career as he emerges as a breakout player in the NFL.
Betting projection: After their surge in success from the 2022 to 2023 seasons, all indications point toward this trend continuing for the Lions in their upcoming campaign. Oddsmakers seem to have hit the nail on the head with their current outlook, with the Lions holding one of the most favourable odds to emerge as the top team in the NFC this season.
With young stars such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta, all primed to continue their rapid development, the Lions could be a scary team to face for any opponent this season. While there are still some question marks surrounding their defensive unit, as well as the long-term role of quarterback Jared Goff at the offensive helm, the Lions are certainly the team to beat in the NFC North this season.
Bettors should pounce on the profitable odds currently available on the Lions as they sit with +130 odds to win their division, as well as the over on their total wins this season as they will comfortable exceed 10.5 wins, just as they did last year.
Aidan Hutchinson to win Defensive Player of the Year
Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl odds: +1800
To win conference odds: +800
Division odds: +200
Odds to make the playoffs: Yes -170, No +140
Season win total: Over 9.5 (-145), Under 9.5 (+115)
2023 record: 9-8
Key additions: S Xavier McKinney, RB Josh Jacobs, K Greg Joseph, T Andre Dillard
Key subtractions: RB Aaron Jones, S Jonathan Owens, S Darnell Savage, G Jon Runyon Jr., LB De’Vondre Campbell, T David Bakhtiari
Most important game on the schedule: The Packers will have one of their biggest matchups of the 2024 season early in their upcoming campaign as they head to Brazil for their Week 1 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Taking on a legitimate Super Bowl threat within the NFC to open their season, the Packers will have a massive opportunity to put the league on notice with a dominant performance. With questions still revolving around the Packers’ legitimacy after last year’s surprising finish, this will be a major matchup that could set the tone for the year to come.
Prop to watch: Looking to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, Packers quarterback Jordan Love should be viewed as a serious candidate for the league MVP in 2024. After breaking out in the second-half of the year in 2023, Love has seemingly hit his stride in the NFL and may terrorize defences for years to come.
The Utah State product threw for over 4,100 yards and 31 touchdowns in his first season as the starting quarterback for the Green-and-Gold, continuing his stellar play into the postseason which saw him decimate a sensational Cowboys defence to the tune of 273 passing yards and three touchdown passes.
With the best yet to come in the 25-year-old’s career, look for Love to continue to elevate his play and take the Packers to the next level. At +1400 odds, Love holds the sixth-best odds to claim the league MVP in 2024, a favourable spot that possesses tremendous value for advantageous bettors.
Potential breakout player: While Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur has stated that there is no “true number-one receiver” within their wideout corps, look for second-year player Jayden Reed to cement himself as the alpha in the Packers lineup.
After compiling a solid rookie campaign that saw him haul in eight touchdown passes, as well as two rushing touchdowns, the versatile wideout threat uses his breakneck speed to torch secondaries routinely. With reliable hands that allow him to be effective in both short routes and deep balls downfield, Reed could be poised for a massive 2024 season as he continues to serve as Jordan Love’s favourite target.
Betting projection: Holding the second-best odds to win the NFC North, the Packers hold solid value for all bettors. They should have no trouble cracking into the postseason this year with -250 odds to accomplish the feat. After surging back from a 2-5 season start last year, the Packers will have no problem exceeding their projected win total set at 9.5 wins, even amidst a competitive NFC North.
At +1800 odds to win the Super Bowl, the Packers could be an attractive look for bettors looking for a dark horse contender to strap themselves to. After nearly defeating the NFC Champion 49ers in the divisional round last postseason, as well as sporting a victory over the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Packers could be one of the top moneymaking picks in 2024.
 | To win Super Bowl | To win division | To make the playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | +1200 | +130 | -250 |
| Green Bay Packers | +1800 | +200 | -170 |
| Chicago Bears | +3000 | +330 | -115 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +8000 | +950 | +300 |
Chicago Bears
Super Bowl odds: +3000
To win conference odds: +1400
Division odds: +330
Odds to make the playoffs: Yes -115, No -105
Season win total: Over 8.5 (-160), Under 8.5 (+130)
2023 record: 7-10
Key additions: WR Keenan Allen, QB Caleb Williams, RB D’Andre Swift, TE Gerald Everett, S Jonathan Owens, S Kevin Byard, WR Rome Odunze
Key subtractions: QB Justin Fields, DT Justin Jones, WR Equanimeous St. Brown
Most important game on the schedule: As the new-look Bears may take some time to find their identity in the current NFL landscape, look for their most important game of the season to come in Week 11 when they take on their longtime division rival in the Packers.
One of the top teams in their division that sports a youthful roster, the Bears and Packers may be destined to lock horns in competitive clashes for years to come. With the matchup set to be their first meeting against an NFC North opponent, the Bears will need to pick up the win if they hope to crack into the postseason in 2024.
By Week 11 the Bears should have hit their groove and will be prepared to put their best foot forward against a formidable opponent in the Packers.
Prop to watch: Set to be the top receiver on the Bears this season, look for Pro-Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen to make an instant impact on his new squad. With a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams needing time to learn the ropes of the league, you couldn’t ask for a better veteran mentor than the sure-handed Allen.
Able to dissect defences with ease thanks to his elite route-running ability and glue-like hands, Allen will be his new quarterback’s best friend as he serves as a dependable target on each and every down. With projected lines of 875.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receiving touchdowns, the over is an attractive look on both of these prop markets.
Allen has racked up over 875.5 receiving yards and more than 4.5 touchdowns in six of his last seven seasons, the only outlier stemming from a season in which he only played 10 games. With a prominent role in a potentially potent offence, hammer the over on these Keenan Allen prop bets this season.
Potential breakout player: Not a surprise for bettors, but the Bears’ season will rest on the shoulders of franchise-quarterback hopeful Caleb Williams. One of the most highly-touted prospects ever, Williams has high expectations ahead of his rookie season.
With the Bears front office going all-in this offseason to equip him with a competitive squad, Williams will have all the tools necessary to succeed at the pro-level. After amassing 3,600 passing yards with 30 touchdown passes in his last season at USC, Williams has shown he has the arm talent to best tough secondaries, as well as tuck and run with the rock, evident by his 11 rushing scores in 2023.
All of the hopes and prayers of Bears’ faithful will hope to be answered in the form of their new saviour, Caleb Williams. Only time will tell if he will finally be the player to bring them back to glory, or just another name in a long list of QB disasters for da Bears.
Betting projection: While the Bears hold terrific upside and potential heading into the 2024 NFL season, there are simply too many unknown variables to justify them being a reliable betting option.
With their odds to make the playoffs currently a pick’em, this indicates that the Bears’ season could fall on either end of the win-loss spectrum this year. While bettors who get in on the Bears’ upside early could wind up looking like geniuses, the smart money would be to hold onto your bankroll until we see some definite output on the gridiron.
Avoid any of the Bears futures betting markets as there is not enough evidence that can help determine a safe wager on their 2024 finish. If anything, I would recommend fading their win total projection of 8.5, scoring you a juicy +130 win for your NFL bets.
Caleb Williams to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
Minnesota Vikings
Super Bowl odds: +8000
To win conference odds: +4000
Division odds: +950
Odds to make the playoffs: Yes +300, No -400
Season win total: Over 6.5 (-150), Under 6.5 (+120)
2023 record: 7-10
Key additions: QB Sam Darnold, RB Aaron Jones, EDGE Jonathan Greenard, CB Shaquill Griffin, DT Jerry Tillery, DT Jonah Williams
Key subtractions: QB Kirk Cousins, EDGE Danielle Hunter, RB Alexander Mattison, LB Jordan Hicks, WR K.J. Osborn
Most important game on the schedule: Set for an international clash against one of the top contenders in the AFC, the Vikings will square off against the New York Jets in Week 5 in London, England. Playing out of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, this matchup will not only be an important game early on into their new campaign, but will also serve as a revenge game of sorts for new starting quarterback, Sam Darnold.
After a tumultuous tenure with the Jets that saw him compile a weak 13-25 record highlighted by 39 interceptions thrown in 38 games played, Darnold will look to exorcise his demons in this matchup. Thrust into the starting job after first-round draft selection JJ McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus that will keep him sidelined for the entirety of the 2024 season, the former third-overall draft pick will have his shot at redemption.
With the Jets hoping to make a run toward the Super Bowl with the return of Aaron Rodgers, watch as this clash gets heated quickly as each down is sure to be personal for the new Vikings passer. A win over the Jets would also do wonders for the morale of the rebuilding Vikings, as they hope to sneak their way into playoff mix this year.
Prop to watch: Arguably the best wide receiver in football, there’s tons of value awaiting bettors who back Justin Jefferson to lead the league in receiving yards in 2024.
After only managing to play 10 games last season, Jefferson is sure to come back more motivated than ever as he looks to continue building upon his already impressive resume. Averaging over 105 yards per game over his last two seasons, Jefferson is truly unguardable off the line. Set to receive the lion’s share of targets on the Vikings offence, watch as J Jetta racks up ample yardage on a game-to-game basis this season.
At +1100 odds to lead the league in receiving yards, a feat he accomplished in his All-Pro season in 2022, this is easily the best prop bet available for the Vikings 2024 season.
Potential breakout player: Coming off of a sensational season with the Houston Texans in 2023, look for newly acquired edge-rusher Jonathan Greenard to be a breakout star for the Vikes in 2024.
After racking up a stellar 12.5 sacks last season, Greenard will slide into the Vikings lineup seamlessly as a replacement for Danielle Hunter. While these are big shoes to fill, the 27-year-old defensive lineman is poised to cement himself as an elite pass-rusher in the NFC this season.
Greenard will be provided ample opportunity to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks, set to be used in aggressive blitz packages often as the Vikings were lacklustre in their QB pressures throughout 2023.
Watch as Greenard emerges as a standout edge threat for the Vikings this season, making his presence felt throughout the NFC North.
Betting projection: More than likely positioned to finish in the basement of the NFC North, the smart money would be to fade the projections set for the Vikings. Set to be led by Sam Darnold, a quarterback known for mediocre play and losing records, this is set to be a down year for the Vikings.
While they still sport solid skill players in Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones, this won’t be enough to make up for their poor supporting cast. This season will be used to help rebuild and look for the future, with little to no expectations when it comes to being competitive this year.
Be sure to hammer under 6.5 wins on the Vikings’ 2024 season for a sizeable +120 payday, as well as a safe bet in them to miss the postseason at -400 odds.
