Overview
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Green Bay traded away future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in April, 2023, then fielded the NFL’s youngest roster a year ago. Most believed the Packers would take a step back.
Instead, Green Bay reached the playoffs, upset Dallas in the Wild Card round and had eventual NFC champion San Francisco on the ropes before fading in the divisional playoffs.
Now, everyone inside the organization understands things will be different in 2024.
“One of the things I re-iterated to our guys is just understand, the expectations going into (2023) are not going to be the same going into next season,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And they’ve earned that, but with that you better put in the work because nothing’s guaranteed.”
What does that mean for 2024?
Well, here’s a few predictions — and three bets that could win you some money.
Jordan Love Wins MVP: +1200 at topbet.eu
Love was arguably the MVP of the league in the second half of 2023.
Love, Green Bay’s first-year starter at quarterback, was also the biggest key to the Packers’ growth last season. Love struggled early and Green Bay was just 2-5 in November. Love was one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks in the second half of the season, though, when the Packers went 7-3 and rallied to make the postseason.
Love made all 19 starts, threw 37 touchdown passes and just 13 interceptions. During a two-month window between Week 11 and Green Bay’s NFC divisional playoff game at San Francisco, Love had a stretch where he threw a remarkable 23 touchdowns and just one interception.
Love’s passer rating eclipsed 108.0 in eight of his final 10 games, and in four of those his rating was at least 125.0. He had four games with three touchdown passes and no interceptions.
If Love plays anywhere near that level again, he’ll be in the MVP race.
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes begins the year as the favorite at +650. Houston’s C.J. Stroud is second at +700, while Love and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow have the third-best odds at +1200.
Interestingly, Rodgers currently ranks 10th at +2000.
Bet: Yes, +1200
Green Bay’s win total — 9.5 at BetMGM
Over -130, Under +110
As outlined above, the Packers — who went 9-8 last season — are a team on the rise.
The NFL youngest group in 2023 finished the year red hot, and should be poised for bigger and better in 2024.
Green Bay faces seven playoff teams from a year ago, but four of those will be home games and a fifth is a neutral site contest against Philadelphia in Brazil.
The Packers will also be extremely motivated following their season-ending loss to San Francisco in the NFC Divisional playoffs.
Green Bay upgraded the roster in free agency and had a productive draft. The Packers seem well positioned to win more games than a year ago.
“I think (Super Bowl) always has been (the expectation). I don’t think it ever left,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “You know, with 5 minutes to go in that (San Francisco) game, I think we were squarely thinking that’s where we were headed. So, I don’t think that’ll ever change here. I mean, that’s really the only goal. We’re not interested in much else.”
Bet: Over, -130
Packers Win NFC North: +200 at Betus.com
Defending division champion Detroit is the favorite here at +160. Chicago is at +275 and Minnesota is +750.
Detroit’s reward for winning its first divisional title in 30 years is a much tougher schedule that includes eight games against teams made the playoffs in 2023. The Lions also face the first-place teams from the NFC East, NFC South and AFC East.
After years of mediocrity, the NFC North seems like one of the strongest divisions in football. Green Bay and Detroit are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and Chicago seems poised to make a major jump.
So the race for divisional title will be intense all season.
With Green Bay on the rise, though, and the Lions facing a tougher road than they’re accustomed to, don’t be surprised to see the Packers win this division.
Bet: Yes, +200
