NFL Predictions – NFC North is a Two Horse Race

NFL Predictions in July are often difficult and with Brett Favre pulling his all-too-familiar “maybe act”, the NFC North could be the most difficult division to call. Many in NFL circles feel that Favre will indeed return from off season surgery and the NFL odds reflect this sentiment. The Green Bay Packers are slight favorites with the Minnesota Vikings a close second, while the Chicago Beards and Detroit Lions offer little or no value from a betting perspective.

Green Bay Packers: +125

The NFC North boasts two of the top four teams in the NFC. If most NFL Predictions come true, the Green Bay Packers look like they will have to slug it out once again with the Minnesota Vikings for the crown. The Packers will have largely the same team as they had last year with a few key additions via the draft.

Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and Jeremichael Finley return this year as weapons for the back-to-back 4000 yard man, Aaron Rodgers. With the addition of Bryan Baluga in the draft, the Pack have gone a long way in shoring up their leaky offensive line. Ryan Grant will be the man in the backfield once again and hopes to attain his fourth straight 1000 combined yard season.

The defense is still strong. Opposing teams will still have Clay Matthews and Rod Woodson to deal with. They are young fast and one more year experienced going into 2010. 248 total yards allowed and 83 rushing yards allowed per game last year could be eclipsed this year.

A top offense and a top rushing defense makes the Green bay Packers a scary team. The Vikings are a good all around team too but my NFL predictions are not unlike most that follow the sport. The Green Bay Packers will win the NFC North and should be one of the last teams standing this upcoming season.

Minnesota Vikings: +130

For the third year in a row, Brett Favre is making his team wait on a decision to play or not to play. For this reason, it is difficult to make a definitive NFL prediction on the Minnesota Vikings. In either scenario, the Vikings should be a competitive team with dangerous players on both sides of the ball.

Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and V. Shiancoe make up a scary offensive team, but the Vikings will be forced to play without a key cog – Chester Taylor who left via free agency this year. The offensive line was exposed in the playoffs last year and their concerns were not really dealt with in the off season.

Jarred Allen, Pat and Kevin Williams and Ray Edwards form a defense that should be dominant once again this upcoming year. They were a top unit last season and have suffered no significant drop off coming into the 2010 season.

Brett Favre is obviously the X-factor for the Minnesota Vikings. But how much can we depend on a 41 year old guy who appears to be questioning his own desire to return. Most NFL predictions are predicated upon his return but even if he does come back, an off season surgery, the memory of a post season pounding and the fact that Favre is another year older makes the Vikings a little less attractive. They could win the NFC North but second place is more realistic.

Chicago Bears: +350

The Bears made some necessary moves in the off season. They brought in Mike Martz to co-ordinate the offense, they acquired Julius Peppers for their already stacked defense and they stole Chester Taylor away from the Vikes to back up and often ineffective Matt Forte.

When making the 2010 NFL predictions, it is easy to see the one glaring hole in the Bears game – receiving threats. Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Greg Olsen are a third tier corp. and until a legitimate threat emerges for an emotionally fragile Jay Cutler, this team is a .500 club or only slightly better. Third place in the NFC North seems about right!

Detroit Lions: +2000

The Detroit Lions are moving in the right direction but are in no way ready to challenge for a division title. The Lions are doing a great job building through the draft but a look at any NFL predictions shows that there is not much hope for them this season. 5-6 wins would be a success.

The NFC North still depends on – guess who? Brett Favre. Even if he returns, I still think the Packers did enough to shore up their offensive line to be the team to beat this year. Minnesota is still a playoff team, but my NFL prediction is that Green Bay will take the division.