2026-27 NFL Betting Odds: NFC North Best Bets & Predictions

The NFC North is the only division in the National Football League where every team had a winning record last season. But that success has been local but not nationwide, if you will.

In the last five seasons, all four of the NFC North teams have won the division at least once. But, none of these teams have been able to advance to the Super Bowl. The NFC North is the only division to not have a team in the Super Bowl the last five seasons, the last 10 seasons, even the last 15 seasons.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

If that's going to change, the defensive side of the game will need to improve for the best teams in the NFC North. If that happens, the NFC will be on notice.

NFC North Breakdown

The Chicago Bears floated to the top of the division under new head coach Ben Johnson. Drama was big with this team: 7-2 in games decided by five points or less or overtime. The Bears were only 2-4 against division rivals. This is not a team that scares opponents. Much has to do with the gap between how good Caleb Williams thinks he is and how effective he really is.

Williams finished 32nd out of 33 qualifying NFL quarterbacks in pass completion percentage (58.1%). He was 26th in passing success rate (42.9%), which measures ability to gain important yards through the air and avoid being sacked. Contrast that with Jared Goff (68% completion rate) and Jordan Love (50.2% passing success rate) in his own division.

Thanks in large part to an early-season tie against the Cowboys and a pair of wins over the Lions, the Green Bay Packers backed into the playoffs, making it into the postseason despite four consecutive losses to end the season.

The Minnesota Vikings used their seventh-ranked defense to reel off five straight wins to end the season (and spoil the playoff hopes of a specific division rival). Only the Buffalo Bills allowed fewer yards through the air, and the Vikings led the NFL in fewest first downs allowed by pass plays.

Bears fans calm down: the NFC North still runs through the Motor City. Yes, Chicago had many highlights last season, but a lot of things went right for it. The Detroit Lions "off year" still produced nine wins. Only a pair of disappointing losses to Minnesota kept Detroit in the division cellar.

Kalshi: Pros and Cons

• CFTC-regulated
• Transparent pricing
• Low fees, no house edge
• Diverse event markets available

• Possible loss from volatility or market uncertainty

Visit Kalshi

Odds in this betting preview are from DraftKings.

Odds for NFC North Champion

• Detroit Lions ... +170
• Green Bay Packers ... +225
• Chicago Bears ... +305
• Minnesota Vikings ... +510

NFC North Best Bets & Predictions for 2026-27

Before you start submitting your betting slips for the NFL season, consult our list of the best sports betting offers. Make this season your best at the bottom line.

The Favorite

• Detroit Lions (+170)

Only one last-place team is a betting favorite to win its division: the Lions, who went 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs.

The Lions had the most games lost to injury by its defense for the second season in a row. Overall, Detroit lost 274 games to injury, the second-most in the NFL for the 2025-26 season. Injuries have hounded this team in recent years, but the Lions have still managed 36 wins since 2023, tied for the most in the NFL with the Bills and Eagles.

Oddsmakers place the Lions as favorites to win the NFC North because Goff is still there to pass the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the backfield is manned by Jahmyr Gibbs.

The best way to quickly measure the quality of a football team is the GM/HC/QB/LT method: that's the general manager, head coach, quarterback, and left tackle. The Lions are better suited in those four areas than the other teams in the division. Brad Holmes has built this team into a winner, Dan Campbell is a proven leader that almost every player in the NFL wants to play for, Goff is averaging 4,500 yards and 32 TD passes the last four seasons, and Penei Sewell is one of the five best O-linemen in the game.

Why Detroit Is Favored

The Lions get to play a last-place schedule. They will have nine games against teams with a losing record a year ago. The .467 winning percentage of its opponents ranks sixth-easiest for the 2026-27 season. Here's the strength of schedule rankings for the NFC North, ranked by hardest:

• Chicago ... .550 (1st)
• Green Bay ... .538 (4th)
• Minnesota ... .519 (11th)
• Detroit ... .467 (27th)

Chicago faces the toughest schedule in the league with one of the least efficient passers in the NFL. How many fourth quarter miracles can you get in the Windy City? The challenge will be difficult for Williams and Johnson: schedule, health, and QB play are crucial for success in this league. The Bears have the biggest question mark at quarterback of the four teams in this division. And that includes a new signal-caller in Minnesota.

Kalshi: Pros and Cons

• CFTC-regulated
• Transparent pricing
• Low fees, no house edge
• Diverse event markets available

• Possible loss from volatility or market uncertainty

Visit Kalshi

The Sleeper

• Minnesota Vikings (+510)

The Vikings (9-8 a year ago), are banking on a team defense that creates chaos in the middle and secondary. A strength like that means the offense can "manage" its ways to wins. Moving on from J.J. McCarthy is a good start at the QB position.

The biggest news for Minnesota this offseason was the signing of Kyler Murray. Undersized he may be for an NFL QB, but Murray consistently completes the passes needed, and he has learned to mitigate disaster. Murray can still scoot out of the pocket, and he won't be asked to be a savior by Kevin O'Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips. Somewhere near his career 66% completion rate, and twice as many TD passes as interceptions will be just fine for this team.

As far as the important LT position: the Vikings are anxious about Christian Darrisaw, who has missed long stretches of playing time the last two seasons with knee injuries. Darrisaw's uncertain status, as much as any concerns about Murray under center, is a reason to be cautious about an offense that ranked 26th in points, 27th in first downs, and 28th in yards last season.

My NFC North Prediction

• Detroit Lions (+170)

The Lions are much more likely to get close to their 12-15 win level of the 2023- and 2024 seasons than struggle to nine wins again. DraftKings prices them at -115 for Over 10.5 wins. That may be the best Wins Total odds you can find for the upcoming NFL season.