Packers Payout Sweet Deal for Green Bay DiehardsWhen online bookmakers opened odds on the Green Bay Packers winning the NFC North at 6/1, that appeared to be somewhat generous. After all, this was a division that featured the likes of the Chicago Bears who played in last year's Super Bowl.
The payout, if bet early in the season, will be $600 for every $100 bet. We say "WILL BE" because the deal is pretty much sealed. Stranger things have happened of course. There are 7 games left and the surprise Detroit Lions are still breathing down Green Bay's back. But the Lions, while looking brilliant at times (their squashing of Denver) have looked equally as mediocre (in Arizona last weekend).
The Packers remaining schedule has the team facing four teams with losing records and a final week's game in frigid Green Bay against domed-stadium team Detroit, which may or may not matter to either franchise should the Pack dominated down the stretch.
So what are Packers fans thinking now?
SUPER BOWL!
At +805 odds to win the 2008 Super Bowl, this is an even better deal than the +600 odds offered at the beginning of the season to win their respective division. The payout: Just over $800 for every $100 bet at Bookmaker.com
"While everybody and their mother is already betting New England to win the 2008 Super Bowl, the Patriots are in the tougher conference with a big target on their heads," comments Dan Shapiro of Gambling911.com. "The Packers have been playing real well under the radar in a conference that is anybody's to win."
Their competition in the NFC really only consists of the Dallas Cowboys, who hold the same 8-1 record as the Green Bay Packers.
"The Packers have won against good teams, even on the road," says Shapiro.
They managed to beat Philadelphia, the Giants and San Diego their first three games in what most would have considered the "schedule from Hell".
All three of these teams are very much contenders for the Playoffs.
Even more impressive perhaps is that Green Bay won two of its first four games on the road in both New York and Minnesota. A few weeks later, the Packers solidified their role as top contenders in the NFC by beating the Broncos in Denver.
"It's a good bet, Green Bay winning the Super Bowl. The odds of them getting there are especially good but Brett Favre is a warrior who already has played in the big game."
And it's not just the Brett Favre factor. Green Bay's defense has what it takes to beat the best AFC opponent.
"In many ways this Packers team is like last year's Bears, only with a quality veteran quarterback," Shapiro stated.
Filed Under: 2007 Week 11 NFL Betting
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
Originally published November 16, 2007 11:09 am ET
