NFC Future Odds
The Eagles and Giants have the best odds to win the NFC this season, but there are many other teams that have a legit shot at the title including the new look Vikings and Bears, the Cowboys, and even the Packers and Saints. The NFC is pretty wide open, unlike the AFC, as the defending champion Cardinals even have a shot to repeat even though it is a long shot.
The Eagles, Giants, and Vikings are all at +500 to win the NFC this season.
The Giants had a solid off-season signing a few solid free agents to improve upon last year's 5th ranked defense. 1st round pick WR Hakeem Nicks was though to be the guy to take over for Plaxico Burress for the #1 WR position, but he has been hampered by injuries in the preseason and no other WR has stepped up. With all the good offenses in the NFC East QB Eli Manning will have to have a main target. They re-signed RB Brandon Jacobs in the off-season and he has to have a healthy and productive season.
The Eagles may now have the best offense in the NFC, as they signed QB Michael Vick to provide a spark, they traded for stud LT Jason Peters, and they drafted WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy in with their first 2 picks. Donovan McNabb has to have another productive season and RB Brian Westbrook has to come back from off-season surgery. The Eagles' D should be solid again, but they lost leader Brian Dawkins to Denver. It helps that the Eagles do not play a NFC East game until week 7.
Brett Favre is now with the Vikings, which is why they have a legit shot at the NFC this season. Favre will be counted on to manage the game rather then do it all, as the Vikes have a stellar rushing offense with Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. The Vikings run defense is solid, led by LB Jared Allen, but the secondary needs to improve.
The Bears (+700) have Jay Cutler in the fold and he and 2nd year RB Matt Forte should give Chicago a solid offense, which is something they have not had in many years. The Bears' D ranked 21st last season and their secondary was torched. It should help that LB Brian Urlacher is healthy. With Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers in the division the secondary needs to step up this season.
For the Cowboys (+800) this season comes down to Tony Romo. TO is now gone and Romo, Jason Witten, and new #1 WR Roy Williams will lead the offense. RB Marion Barber has to have a good season to keep teams from only focusing on stopping the passing game. The Dallas' D ranked 8th last season and they will be good again even though they did not make any big name additions.
The Saints and Packers are both at +800 to win the NFC this season. Each team has a solid offense, but concerns on defense. With the offense the Saints have they only have to play decent defense and they should make the post-season.
The Panthers and Falcons are both at +1100. The Falcons have a legit offense, but their D only ranked 24th last season and they need to improve on that. The Panthers are a solid team, but QB Jake Delhomme must be more consistent this season, as he was up and down last season and in the playoffs had 6 turnovers in the loss to the Cardinals.
Other teams that are somewhat long shots, but still have a chance to compete for the NFC title are the Seahawks (+1400), Redskins (+1400), and the defending champion Cardinals (+1400).
Here are the odds to win the 2011 NFC season at Bodog.eu.
- Green Bay Packers 7/2
- Philadelphia Eagles 7/2
- New Orleans Saints 7/1
- Atlanta Falcons 15/2
- Dallas Cowboys 10/1
- New York Giants 12/1
- Chicago Bears 14/1
- Detroit Lions 14/1
- Minnesota Vikings 18/1
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18/1
- St.Louis Rams 20/1
- Arizona Cardinals 25/1
- San Francisco 49ers 25/1
- Seattle Seahawks 40/1
- Washington Redskins 50/1
- Carolina Panthers 65/1