NFC North Division Futures

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The Chicago Bears have won back-to-back NFC North titles, and they're the clear favorites again this year to win this division. But Chicago certainly isn't invincible.

We all know about the struggles of QB Rex Grossman, and the pressure of playing with your starting job seemingly on the line all the time must be nerve-wracking. Plus, after the release of DT Tank Johnson, the ongoing off-the-field battle with LB Lance Briggs and the injury situation surrounding S Mike Brown, there are some questions about that great Bears defense. Still, thanks to the overall weakness of the rest of this division, Chicago is expected to be the class of the North again in 2007-08.

The Bears, though, have a bit of history to contend with. Namely, the fact that just two of the last seven Super Bowl losers have even come up with a .500 record the following season.

Last year Chicago went 13-3 to win its second straight North title. And Green Bay won its last four games to finish at 8-8 and in second place, ahead of Minnesota and lowly Detroit.

In 2005, it was the Vikings who finished in second place behind the division-winning Bears. And before that, from 2002-04, the Packers won three straight North Division crowns, with Minnesota placing second each season.

Heading into this season, the combination of another Chicago win and a Green Bay placing is deemed by BetUS oddsmakers to be the most probable eventual outcome, at +150. A Bears win and a Minnesota place is getting +200, and a Chicago win combined with a Detroit second-place finish is offered at +400.

For a little perspective, the Bears are heavy -300 favorites to win the North this year. Green Bay is listed at +500, the Vikings at +600 and the Lions at +800.

The Packers are trying to position themselves for one more run with QB Brett Favre. And, while Green Bay won eight games last year, the only victory they came up with against a team that finished .500 or better was the season finale vs. the Bears, who had already locked up the top seed in the NFC playoffs and had very little to play for.

A Green Bay division title this season and a second-place finish by the Bears is listed at +600. Keeping the Packers in first and putting the Vikings second inflates the odds to +3500. And substituting the Lions for the Vikes in that combo proffers out at +5000.

For the record, both Green Bay and Chicago went 5-1 in North Division play last season. The Vikings went 2-4, and Detroit was a perfect 0-6.

Minnesota is a team in transition, with a second-year head coach and likely a first-year starter at QB. The Vikings can stop the run, but not the pass, and while they can run the ball themselves, they'll probably have trouble throwing it. Add it up, and 8-8 would have to be considered a success in Minneapolis this season.

The Minnesota/Chicago exacta for this season is listed at +700, Vikings/Packers at +4500, and Vikings/Lions is listed at +6500.

And on the real longshot end of things, considering their recent history of futility (six straight seasons of double-digit losses), a Detroit/Chicago finish is listed at +950, Lions/Packers at +6000, and Lions/Vikings at +8000.

With 2007 NFL games still a ways away, we at the BetUS.com sportsbook will keep your interest high throughout the NFL offseason with the most exciting and innovative NFL props and NFL futures on the online sports betting market. In the Sportsbook in the Future / Props section, you will see NFL Futures, Specials and Week One NFL Lines for all your favorite NFL teams.

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