2011 NFC North Odds, Predictions and Picks – NFL NFC North Division Preview

2011 NFC North Vegas Odds, Predictions and Free Picks – NFL NFC North Division Preview and Forecast: Vegas oddsmakers have posted the 2011 NFL futures odds to win the 2011 NFC North Division and the odds and lines for the NFC North plus our NFC North predictions, free picks and preview are posted below courtesy of NFL blogger Brian Polking from NSAwins.com. Enjoy…

There is a lot of talent in the NFC North. After all, the division boasts the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, defending Defensive Rookie of the Year Ndamukong Suh, and elite running back Adrian Peterson. Not to mention Jay Cutler – the quarterback that already considers himself better than John Elway. Joking aside, the division did put a pair of teams in the playoffs last season, and it only got better top to bottom in the offseason. In 2011-12, the NFC North should be one of the top two divisions in the conference.

2011 NFL NFC North Divisions Odds, Expert Picks, Predictions and Preview:

1. Green Bay Packers

It doesn’t seem fair to the rest of the division, but the Green Bay Packers actually got better a year after winning the Super Bowl. Freakishly athletic tight end Jermichael Finley will return after missing most of last season, and the same goes for starting running back Ryan Grant. With Grant providing a little more balance on offense, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will terrorize defenses with his arsenal of receivers. On defense, Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk and Charles Woodson lead a strong, well-rounded unit. The Packers were the best team in the NFL, and they should have no problem winning another NFC North title this year as they try to return to the Super Bowl.

2. Detroit Lions

Playoffs and the Detroit Lions haven’t been mentioned in the same sentence in a long time, but after years of losing, the franchise finally has a solid core of talent. The health of quarterback Matthew Stafford will play a major role in how well the Lions perform, but if he is one the field, the offense is going to be explosive. Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, and rookie Titus Young will all help Stafford and the passing attack, and Jahvid Best can be an explosive force on the ground. The loss of rookie Mikel Leshoure will force the Lions to be a little more one dimensional, but that won’t be a problem if Stafford is under center. Defensively, Detroit’s front seven is downright scary thanks to Ndamukong Suh. The addition of rookie Nick Fairley will only bolster the run defense. The secondary is a major question mark, and Detroit could find itself in several high-scoring contests. In the end, the Lions could challenge for a wildcard spot this year, but they aren’t ready to dethrone the Packers.

3. Chicago Bears

For all his bravado, Jay Cutler was the proud leader of one of the worst passing attacks in the NFL last year. Adding perennial underachiever Roy Williams probably won’t help, and tight end Greg Olsen will be missed. Matt Forte should lead a solid ground game, but the newly acquired Marion Barber is a shell of his former self. The Bears defense is always tough, and Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher are still productive players. Mike Martz is convinced he can transform Chicago’s offense into a high-powered scoring machine, but he simply doesn’t have the weapons on this Bears team that he had in St. Louis back in the day. Unless Cutler suddenly becomes more efficient and cuts down on his mistakes, the Bears will struggle to return to the playoffs.

4. Minnesota Vikings

The good news for the Vikings is that Adrian Peterson is in his prime and is capable of carrying the load on the ground. The bad news is that the team is counting on Donovan McNabb to solve their quarterback issues. Granted, McNabb had some incredible years for the Eagles, but he hasn’t performed at that level in several years, and he doesn’t have many targets to throw to in Minnesota. The once formidable defense is starting to get old as well, and there is only so much Jarred Allen can do. Rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph could become a useful option immediately, but first round pick Christian Ponder probably won’t see the field as he studies under McNabb for a year.

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2011 Vegas Odds to Win the NFC North – 2011 NFL NFC North Division Odds
Green Bay Packers -185
Chicago Bears +325
Detroit Lions +345
Minnesota Vikings +345