NFL Futures Odds, Bets: Can Green Bay Packers Win Wide-Open NFC?
In contrast to the top-heavy AFC, loaded with elite quarterbacks, the NFC always looked like the wide-open conference coming into 2024. I tried to take advantage of it about halfway through the season, adding Rams to win the conference to my NFL bets at a pretty long price. Today, I’ll explain why Packers +700 also made it into my account earlier this week.
See below for the best odds on all Packers futures, and click on any of the odds to make a wager at betting apps near you. Don’t forget to take advantage of any sportsbook promo codes before doing so.
Lions Coming Apart At The Seams On Defense
A few weeks ago, the Lions were the clear favorites in the NFC and the entire NFL. Bettors could find them at around +300, a historic moment for one of the league’s most inept franchises.
However, the team has sadly come undone due to injuries. At least 13 rotation defensive players have hit the IR, a staggering number. That includes some of their most impactful players, including EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, CB Carlton Davis, and DT Alim McNeill.
While the offense remains elite, and offense tends to drive winning in the NFL, Detroit may have reached a breaking point where it can no longer expect to beat top-quality opponents consistently. The Lions allowed 79 points combined to the Bills and Packers in their last two games. That’s a challenging way to live.
Can the Packers Take Down Philly?
Philadelphia is the only team in the NFC that the market has power-rated above Green Bay, per data collected by industry watchers like Jeff Fogle and Kevin Cole. Remember that Detroit closed around -3 at home against the Packers a couple of weeks ago and has only suffered more injuries since. Assuming that line would be closer to a pick now is reasonable.
We’ve already seen the Packers and Eagles play once before. It’s hard to take anything away from that game: a 34-29 Philly win. It was a sloppy season opener played on a non-functional playing surface. But it was essentially a toss-up, with the Packers significantly outgaining the Eagles, 7.1 YPP to 5.5.
While the Eagles have the better defense by far, quarterback play and the quality of a team’s passing offense gain even more importance in the pressure cooker of the playoffs. Jordan Love is fourth in EPA/play this year. In my opinion, he’s a step above Jalen Hurts. With a top-flight offensive coordinator directing him in Matt LaFleur, Love can make the Packers the best offense in the NFC and go toe-to-toe with the Eagles.
Time and again, we’ve seen teams centered around running the ball and defense disposed of by better QBs in the playoffs. There’s a reason Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady keep collecting rings.
Mo’s NFL Bets: Packers +700 To Win NFC
Offense hasn’t been the question with Green Bay since Love emerged as a top QB in the latter half of 2023.
The defense got trucked, but it never lacked talent. Moving on from the defensive coordinator was overdue, as he was repeatedly cooked and never put together a unit that could stop the run.
Jeff Hafley has brought competence to the unit. Green Bay entered Week 15 ranked 11th in defense DVOA and eighth in EPA/play allowed. Competence is all you need when you have a high-level offense, and I think the Packers meet that bar.
Aside from Philly, the Packers are the only NFC playoff team without a clear question mark. Detroit’s defense has collapsed. I don’t trust Sam Darnold in a playoff setting. Washington has a rookie QB and a poor defense. The Bucs can’t stop anyone from passing the ball. The Rams also can’t get many stops, and their offense loses teeth playing outdoors.
The Packers have the talent, coaching, and quarterback to get it done. They gained valuable playoff experience with last year’s run and are one drive away from an NFC championship appearance.
Yes, the Eagles look scary, but they’re also priced that way. The Packers certainly look as though they will have a fighting chance, at the least against Philly, and I like them against anyone else. That’s why I’ve added them to my NFL bets at +700. Bettors with bet365 accounts can get an even better price of +800.
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