NFL Betting Futures: Division Odds Heading into Week 11

With the NFL season past the mid-point many division leaders appear to have a clear path to a division title. The AFC East, NFC East and AFC North stand out in this fashion and the odds on the latest NFL division futures agree with that.

What about the divisions where there’s still a legitimate fight for top spot? Are there any value wagers for bettors looking to add some cash to their bankroll through an NFL division futures bet?

Let’s start in the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings appear to have a comfortable lead atop the division at 7-2, but the oddsmakers aren’t sold and have tagged them as only a -325 favorite. By comparison the 7-2 New England Patriots are -10000 favorites to win their division.

It looks like the only team the Vikings have to worry about are the 5-4 Detroit Lions, listed at +300 on the futures. Minnesota already beat Detroit once this season and they meet up again in Week 12 where a win by the Vikings could possibly lock up the division. The wild card in the division are the 5-4 Green Bay Packers, listed as a +1200 longshot. Are they worth a couple bucks just in case Aaron Rodgers can make a miraculous comeback?

Shifting to the NFC South, it’s a tight race for first place between the 7-2 New Orleans Saints and the 7-3 Carolina Panthers. The oddsmakers currently favor the Saints at -125, while the Panthers are at +175. The Atlanta Falcons are also getting odds at +425.

The Saints may be the favorite, but they don’t have an easy road with a road game against the Los Angeles Rams coming up, another matchup with Carolina and two games left against Atlanta. The 5-4 Falcons may be well back right now, but with two games left again New Orleans and their season finale against Carolina they could be a worthwhile underdog bet.

The NFC West is a tight two-team race between the Rams and the Seattle Seahawks. The upstart Rams at 7-2 are the favorite right now at -140, while Seattle is listed at even money. If the Rams do win the division they will definitely have earned it with a tough schedule the rest of the way that includes games against Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Seattle and Tennessee.

Speaking of 6-3 Tennessee, heading into their Week 11 Thursday night matchup with Pittsburgh they were co-favorites in the AFC South with the 6-3 Jacksonville Jaguars. Both teams were listed at -110. Jacksonville might have the easier schedule the rest of the way with five of their next six games against teams under .500. It could all come down to a Week 17 matchup between the Titans and Jaguars in Tennessee. The Titans took the first meeting 37-16 as a 1.5-point favorite in Week 2.