Packers Still Getting +150 Odds to Win NFC North; Bears Listed at +225, Vikings at +275
- Packers are off to 2-0 start with wins over Bears and Vikings
- Mitch Trubisky struggling early as Chicago tries to defend its division crown
- Who’s the best bet to win the NFC North?
Not all 2-0 starts are created equal.
Take the Green Bay Packers, for example. They’re 2-0 with divisional wins over both the Bears and Vikings, and built themselves a nice little cushion early in the NFC North.
But new head coach and noted offensive guru Matt Lafleur and the Pack haven’t exactly been lighting the league on fire, even with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
Still, oddsmakers have shortened their odds atop the Norris.
Odds to Win NFC North
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | +150 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +225 |
| Chicago Bears | +275 |
| Detroit Lions | +700 |
Odds from 17/09/19.
That’s an improvement from Green Bay’s previous average NFL divisional odds of +170, but the question remains: is this the bet you should be making or should you be looking elsewhere for greater value?
Green Bay D Holding up Early
In each of his last two starts, Rodgers has thrown for just over 200 yards in each, and the offense has been spotty at best. Against the Bears to kick off the season, he really only came alive on Green Bay’s lone touchdown drive in the second quarter.
Jimmy Graham still matters! Aaron Rodgers finds his TE for a TD in the second quarter of #PackersvsBears pic.twitter.com/kUzKIMjrRR
— Nitrogen Sports (@NitrogenSports) September 6, 2019
Meanwhile, after looking lights out in building a 21-0 lead over the Vikings, the offense went into hibernation as Minnesota closed to within five points. It also got a little heated on the sideline between the star pivot and his new head coach.
#Packers cooling off after hot start. Aaron Rodgers not thrilled. Voices frustration to Matt LaFleur. pic.twitter.com/Ad8ciS0aJu
— Mike Cianciolo (@MikeCianciolo) September 15, 2019
While he faces the growing pains in real time, the defense has shown up in a big way to hold up their end of the bargain. In the first game, the new Smith offseason acquisitions, Preston and Za’Darius, compiled 2.5 of the team’s five sacks to help hold the Bears to a field goal all game.
https://twitter.com/_SteveFrederick/status/1169815693107163138
In Week 2, the young and hyped Packers secondary clutched up, as Kevin King shut down a would-be Vikings score with an interception, one of the two that the Packers forced out of Kirk Cousins.
📽 Kevin King intercepte Kirk Cousins dans l’end zone ! #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/L83ULmj2Je
— NFL France (@NFLFrance) September 15, 2019
Through two games, Green Bay is second only to the Patriots in points allowed per game at 9.5 – they’re one of only two teams to hold the opposition to under double-digit points per game. They’re also tied for eighth in sacks, and share a spot in fourth for interceptions on the year.
If they stay stout and allow their all-world QB to start cooking, the Pack can be going places.
Who Else Can Challenge for the Division?
After watching their 10-point lead turn into a 14-13 deficit with less that a minute to play in Denver, it appeared Chicago was dropping to 0-2. Alas, Eddy Pineiro played hero, banging a 53-yarder as time expired to escape with a win in Denver.
PARKEY WHO??? EDDIE PINEIRO NAILS A 53 YARDER TO WIN THE GAME!!! It’s a push for everyone -2 and if it’s lower it covers! pic.twitter.com/70MONV5Fqv
— Path's End Gambling (@PathsEndGamblin) September 15, 2019
That should do wonders for the team as a whole, but individually for Mitch Trubisky, who has looked plain awful in two games to start this season. He tallied just 120 yards passing in a game where he wasn’t sacked. If he can give Chicago even average QB play, they can challenge the Pack.
Mitchell Trubisky NFL ranks thru two games in YEAR 3:
*33rd in TD(0)
*32nd in Yds Per Att(4.8)
*32nd in Net Yds Per Pass Att(4.26)
*32nd in Yds Per Comp(8.3)
*31st in Passer Rating(65.0)
*29th in QBR(22.1)
*29th in Passing Yds Per Game(174)
*27th in Comp Percentage(58.3)— Joe Ostrowski (@JoeOstrowski) September 16, 2019
Dalvin Cook delivers one of the best running attacks in Minnesota, but Cousins hasn’t been able to compliment the stud back. In their Week 1 win over Atlanta, the coaching staff called up just 10 passes all game.
HE GONE 🏃♂️💨
Dalvin Cook goes 75 yards for the TD!#MINvsGB (via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/cbZLu2MvdH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 15, 2019
Asked to carry more of the load in Week 2, Cousins was just 14-for-32 for 230 yards and two interceptions.
What’s the Best Bet?
Even if he started slowly, Rodgers is healthy and the best player in a division he dominates.
.@aaronrodgers12's last 15 games versus division rivals have been…
…prettayyyy pretty good. pic.twitter.com/Fpl8tT9kNF
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 15, 2019
He also has now has a defense that he can trust to hold its end of the bargain late in games. I don’t envision Green Bay’s offense turning into the 2007 Patriots for the foreseeable future, but Rodgers can do just enough mistake-free things to allow his defense to carry him home most weeks this season.
It’s that combo of reliable offense/lights-out defense that has them on the inside track to NFC North title.
The pick: Packers (+150)
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
