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NFL football betting is a crazy place this year, especially when you look at who’s expected to throw for what team. This is no more slap-you-in-the-face apparent than the NFC North. Not one team has a familiar face at QB, but half the names are as “household” as they come. What’s a sports gambler to do? Well, if you’ve been following the off-season drama, you know what’s going on, but certainly not what to expect. What we can do is try to predict some numbers and place who might finish in first place here.

Let’s just quickly run through the QB names and teams. It’s worth it for a good laugh. Jay Cutler on the Bears – OK not that unheard of, we know Chicago made a nice pickup during the off-season. What’s surprising is that there’s actually a person who’s name you know from the NFL and not from college currently occupying that #1 spot. Next we’ve got Daunte Culpepper – OK, nothing unusual – oh wait, he’s back? And he’s on the Lions? Actually, it’s sort of fitting. This will be such a miserable failure it’ll be par for the course for Detroit. Well if Culpepper isn’t the Vikings’ QB, it must be – oh yeah, Brett Favre. That’s right, assume it’s going to happen, because it probably is. And rounding out this laugh factory is Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, perhaps the most consistent and solid option in this division until Cutler proves he can make something out of the Bears’ receiving core. There’s no Donald Driver here in Chicago yet – and if the Bears don’t land one of those names that’s been going around – I have a feeling Jay’s going to get tired of Hester dropping the ball once every five plays by Week 3.

Here’s how you can expect the division to shake out. Bears will win it. Forget about Cutler’s yardage for a second (but expect him to hit at least 3,500 and throw at least 22 TD’s), just the threat of Cutler will continue to open things up for Forte, who should explode this season. The Packers will finish a game behind according to the latest NFL odds and challenge for the Wild Card. Not even Adrian Peterson will save the Vikings, who will end the year at 8-8. And Daunte will free his butt off losing in Detroit, although to give him some credit, they may win 2 games this year.

If you’re betting on NFC North Division games, don’t stray from that game plan. Expect the Bears to be favorites during every divisional home and away game, with the exception of the Packers possibly getting the money line when they’re in Green Bay. The Pack should be a favorite in every other game outside of Soldier Field.