NFC North teams all favored to advance

Betting markets now favor all four NFC North teams to reach the NFL playoffs. Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit, and Minnesota all hold the odds to make the 14-team field. This is the first time since the league expanded the postseason six seasons ago that a division has all its members favored to advance.

The shift occurred after the Bears defeated the Seahawks in Week 8. That loss dropped the Packers to the second favorite in the division. Chicago now sits as the top choice at +160 odds to win the NFC North. The Bears are also -600 favorites to reach the postseason for a second year in a row.

The Packers remain in a playoff spot but are now -110 favorites to win the division. Detroit is +210, while Minnesota is +250. The Vikings fell to third place after losing to the Lions in their first defeat of the season. Despite the drop, Minnesota remains -180 to make the playoffs.

Week 9 offers a rare chance for all four teams to improve their standing. None of the NFC North teams play each other this week. However, the betting data suggests only a 22% probability that all four will qualify. The Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams are the main contenders for the remaining wild card spots, both hovering near 50-50 odds to advance.

The Vegas pick'em column lists specific games for this week's slate. The Bucs are a +6.5 pick at Chicago. The Eagles are +3.5 against the Giants. The Patriots are -2.5 at Green Bay. The Vikings are +3.5 at Buffalo. The Browns are +3 at New Orleans. The Jaguars are -9.5 at Baltimore.

Other selections include the Colts at +6.5 in Dallas. The Commanders are +5.5 at the Rams. The Cardinals are +13 at Seattle. The Bengals are -3 in Atlanta. The Chiefs are -9.5 at New York. The 49ers are -9.5 against the Raiders. The Dolphins are +7 at Detroit. The Panthers are +3 at Denver. The Chargers are +4.5 in Houston.

The year's record for picks against the spread stands at 70-44-1. The column went 7-7 in the previous week. The current slate reflects the tight race in the NFC North and the varying levels of confidence in the listed games.