Is there any reason to doubt Rodgers, Packers in NFC North?

What erstwhile seemed to beryllium a chaotic NFC North contention came into crisp absorption erstwhile Aaron Rodgers ended months of offseason play and declared that helium would instrumentality to Green Bay this season.

With Rodgers astatine quarterback, the Packers are intelligibly the champion squad successful the part and a Super Bowl contender. It’s arsenic elemental arsenic that.

“The worth of Rodgers is conscionable truthful significant, and cipher other successful that part has what the Packers person with him,” Circa sportsbook manager Chris Bennett said.

The Packers are -215 favorites astatine Circa to triumph the NFC North, and their play triumph full is 11 (under -115). They are -330 to marque the playoffs and +1,150 to triumph the Super Bowl, down lone Tampa Bay (+425) and Kansas City (+500).

BetMGM reported taking a $19,000 stake to triumph $266,000 connected the Packers to triumph the Super Bowl astatine 14-1, placed astatine the Bellagio connected Aug. 22.

Rodgers was named The Associated Press NFL MVP past play aft starring Green Bay to a 13-3 grounds earlier a nonaccomplishment to eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay successful the NFC title game.

In an epoch successful which Tom Brady is inactive winning Super Bowls astatine 43, Rodgers seemed to person galore much productive years up of him astatine 37.

Then the rumors started. Rodgers wanted retired of Green Bay, with a beef dating backmost astatine slightest to the drafting of backmost Jordan Love successful the archetypal circular successful 2020. The Denver Broncos’ likelihood dropped for a clip connected reports they mightiness commercialized for Rodgers.

In July, the Westgate SuperBook took the Packers’ play triumph full and part likelihood disconnected the committee aft it got connection from what it called “a reliable source” that Rodgers would retire.

A fewer days later, Rodgers announced that helium would play this play nether a restructured declaration that clears the mode for him to beryllium moved retired of Green Bay adjacent year.

Red Rock Resort sportbook manager Chuck Esposito views that “last dance” script arsenic a imaginable stumbling artifact for the Packers this season.

“There’s a batch of added unit connected Green Bay this twelvemonth due to the fact that of the full soap opera that the offseason was,” helium said. “… The large question people would be, what if they struggle? What if they’re disconnected to a 2-2 commencement oregon they’re 3-2 oregon 4-4? You conscionable wonderment what the full dynamic becomes.

“On the flip side, they’re bully capable to triumph the Super Bowl.”

Here’s a speedy glimpse astatine the remainder of the division:

Minnesota Vikings

— Season triumph total: 9 (u-120)

— Make playoffs (yes/no): +120/-140

— Super Bowl odds: 40-1

During the Rodgers status rumors, Circa concisely made the Vikings the +125 favorites to triumph the division, and they’re the astir apt squad to situation the Packers’ supremacy with Rodgers.

Bennett notes that during a disappointing 7-9 season, 1 of the Vikings’ wins was a 28-22 triumph astatine Green Bay.

“That was a truly awesome effect for them,” helium said. “But, yeah, I can’t get them truly anyplace adjacent to the Packers arsenic agelong arsenic Rodgers is healthy.”

Chicago Bears

— Season triumph total: 7½ (u-135)

— Make playoffs (yes/no): +265/-315

— Super Bowl odds: 125-1

There’s 1 question among Bears fans oregon those looking to stake connected oregon against Chicago this season: When volition Justin Fields commencement astatine quarterback?

For now, the first-round prime is backing up seasoned Andy Dalton, but Esposito said that can’t past for long.

“Unless the Bears are 4-0, I deliberation we spot Fields highly fast,” Esposito said. “I deliberation there’s a anticipation we spot him astatine halftime of Week 1.”

Detroit Lions

— Season triumph total: 4½ (o-135)

— Make playoffs (yes/no): +795/-1,200

— Super Bowl odds: 500-1

It’s hard to find anyone to accidental thing bully astir the Lions. Sharp bettors respect caller manager Dan Campbell arsenic a catastrophe successful waiting with his evident “old school” mindset and a backmost the Rams rejected successful Jared Goff.

“Detroit is intelligibly the fourth-best squad successful the NFC North close now,” Esposito said.

Best bet

Lions implicit 4½ wins (-135): Let’s beryllium contrarian. Campbell’s attack volition astir apt enactment champion successful his archetypal season, offering a caller dependable and enthusiasm. The Lions person winnable location games against Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Chicago and Arizona, and the Packers could beryllium resting their starters successful Week 18 astatine Detroit.

Contact Jim Barnes astatine jbarnes@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0277. Follow @JimBarnesLV connected Twitter.