NFC North Win Total Over/Under Predictions For 2017 NFL Season

Will the Chicago Bears pay on the field for giving up an arm and a leg to get quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in this year’s NFL Draft? Will the Minnesota Vikings actually put some points on the board to match their powerful defense?

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Can Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions reach the playoffs for the second straight season in 2017? Are Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers locks to win the NFC North for the umpteenth time? Let’s find out the answers right now.

NFC North Win Total Over/Under Predictions For 2017 NFL Season

   

NFC North

Green Bay 10 Wins

Home: Bears, Lions, Vikings, Saints, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Ravens, Bengals Away: Bears, Lions, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Cowboys Analysis: I like the Green Bay Packers to open up with a huge home win over Seattle before going on to Atlanta to beat the Falcons and then returning home to beat the Bengals and Bears. I then like Aaron Rodgers and company to march into Dallas to steal a win from the Cowboys. Now, sitting at 5-0, I think Green Bay falls in Week 6 at Minnesota before coming back home to beat Drew Brees and the Saints in a shootout. Following their Week 7 bye, I like Green Bay to win at home against Detroit before hitting the road to spank Chicago in Week 10. The Packers will then come back home to beat Baltimore before hitting the road to take on Pittsburgh (loss) and then returning home for a date against the Buccaneers (win). I then like Rodgers and the Pack to close out the regular season with a blowout win in Cleveland, a loss at Carolina, a home win against the Vikings and a season-ending loss at Detroit to finish at 11-5. I will however, admit that the Packers could win 10 games for the second straight season if they don’t improve their 20th-ranked rushing attack and 21st-ranked defense (24.2 ppg). Pick: Over 10 Wins

Minnesota 8.5 Wins

Home: Bears, Lions, Packers, Saints, Buccaneers, Rams, Ravens, Bengals Away: Bears, Lions, Packers, Falcons, Panthers, Redskins, Steelers, Browns (in London) Analysis: The Vikings were phenomenal defensively last season in ranking third in total defense and sixth in points allowed (19.2 ppg), but they need to improve their offense in a big way after ranking dead last in rushing and 23rd in scoring (20.4 ppg) and I’m not sure they’ve done that so far this offseason. Minnesota opens the 2017 season with a home win over New Orleans before losing at Pittsburgh and at home against Tampa Bay. I then like the Vikes to pick up wins at home against Detroit, at Chicago and back at home against Green Bay. Minnesota’s winning ways will come to a halt at home against Baltimore in a nail-biter but they’ll get back on track a week later at Cleveland. Following their Week 9 bye, I like the Vikings to fall at Washington before coming home to beat the rebuilding Rams by punishing young quarterback Jared Goff. Unfortunately, I think it’s quite possible that the Vikings could go into a nosedive with five straight losses at Detroit, Atlanta and Carolina, back at home against Cincinnati and on the road at Green Bay. Thankfully, the Vikings will finish with a home win over Chicago to end up at 7-9. Pick: Under 8.5 Wins

Detroit 8 Wins

Home: Bears, Packers, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Cardinals Away: Bears, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Buccaneers, Giants, Ravens, Bengals Analysis: The Lions went 9-7 last season, but fell apart down the stretch when they had a really good shot to win the NFC North. Now, heading into 2017, the Lions look like a tough team to read after ranking a modest 20th in scoring (21.6 ppg) but a fairly respectable 13th in points allowed (22.4 ppg). Matthew Stafford and company open the 2017 campaign with a home loss against Arizona before going on to New York where they’ll lose to the Giants in a close affair. I’ve got Detroit winning a shootout at home against the Falcons in Week 4 (maybe) before losing at Minnesota and at home against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers and suffering another loss at New Orleans. Following their Week 7 bye, the Vikings will lose at Pittsburgh and at Green Bay before coming home to pound Cleveland in Week 9. Jim Caldwell’s squad will then win in Chicago and at home against Minnesota before going on to lose at Baltimore and Tampa Bay. The Vikings will then close out the 2017 campaign by sweeping the Bears at home before falling at Cincinnati and coming home to beat the Packers in Week 17 (again, maybe) to finish at either 7-9 or 8-8 in a best case scenario. Pick: 8 Wins

Chicago 5 Wins

Home: Packers, Lions, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, 49ers, Browns, Steelers Away: Packers, Lions, Vikings, Saints, Buccaneers, Eagles, Ravens, Bengals Analysis: The Bears are a complete mess and have a long way to go to bounce back from their 5-11 campaign in 2016 after finishing last season ranked a pitiful 28th in scoring (17.4 ppg) and equally discouraging 24th in points allowed (24.9 ppg). I’ve got Mike Glennon and the Bears losing home games against the Packers, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers and Steelers and road dates against all three of their NFC North division rivals in addition to falling to the Buccaneers, Eagles, Ravens and Bengals to finish at 5-11 for the second straight season. In what could be John Fox’s last season in the Windy City. Pick: 5 Wins