NFL Free Agency Changes Packers’ Odds to Win NFC North
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The first 10 days of NFL free agency have shaken up the NFC North betting odds, though not necessarily because of any moves made by the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
In updated odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Lions are a strong favorite at +130. They are followed by the Packers at +210, the Chicago Bears at +350 and the Minnesota Vikings at +750.
Before the start of free agency, the Lions were +145 to win the division. The Packers weren’t far behind at +230. The Vikings and Bears – neither of whom had any clarity at quarterback at the time – were +420 and +440, respectively.
The big change in terms of personnel and odds is with the Vikings, with Minnesota losing standout quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. The big change at quarterback, with Minnesota going from Cousins to the journeyman Sam Darnold (or a rookie), meant shortened odds for Detroit and Green Bay aside from their own free-agent acquisitions. Chicago also got a boost with the shift from Justin Fields to presumptive No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
By implied probability to win the division, Detroit went from 40.8 percent to 43.5 percent, Green Bay from 30.3 percent to 32.3 percent, Chicago from 18.5 percent to 22.2 percent and Minnesota from 19.2 percent to 11.8 percent.
The Packers made two big splashes at the start of free agency by signing safety Xavier McKinney, which helped cure the biggest weakness on the roster, and running back Josh Jacobs. Jacobs’ over/under rushing total at FanDuel opened at and remains 1,000.5 yards.
“Great organization, great franchise. A lot of history here, a lot of winning,” McKinney told reporters at Lambeau Field last week. “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, something that I’ve done a lot of the time that I’ve been playing football. Just the atmosphere, it’s great. Obviously, this is my first time being here, so it takes me back to my Bama days. That’s a feeling that I love. So far, I love it. It’s going to be fun.”
In the Super Bowl market, the Lions are +1300, the Packers are +2200 and the Bears are +4000. Those are unchanged since the start of free agency, with Detroit having the fifth-shortest odds and Green Bay the 10th-shortest. The Vikings have plunged from +5500 to +8500. Only seven teams have longer odds.
Said Jacobs, who reached the playoffs just once in five seasons with the Raiders: “I just liked what they had going on over here. Going to playoffs and actually competing for the Super Bowl and things like that, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to be a part of.”
