It's that time of year again, where we start making predictions in earnest for the upcoming season. It's been a long offseason, and each team has undergone significant change - for better or worse. We'll run through each division and give you our opinion and those of the oddsmakers. You can then make your own prediction about who will win each division in our team season predictions page by clicking here.

We've already covered the AFC North, you'll be glad to know...

[caption id="attachment_3453" align="aligncenter" width="430"]john fox A man who won't be smiling in December[/caption]

NFC North
The Betting:

Green Bay Packers 4/11

Detroit Lions 5/1

Minnesota Vikings 8/4

Chicago Bears 16/1

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Considering we live in a post-Jordy Nelson world, the betting on the Packers is INSANE. If the Packers start even remotely sluggishly, the Lions will be in prime position to win the NFC North, and the odds will come right in on the other 3 teams. This is one of those 'one horse races' that is actually wide open, and the betting is all wrong.

Even before Nelson's injury, I would have suggested the Lions and Vikings could surprise people. I even think the Bears are not the worst team in the NFL (my friend Brad disagrees) or even the NFC. Remember, if Teddy Bridgewater is legit, this will be the first time in living memory that all 4 NFC North teams have had a good starting QB. I'm genuinely excited, and as I say, this is not a division where any team should be 4/11 to win.

Team by Team

DET Detroit Lions (11-5 in 2014)

What is it about the Lions that makes people forget them so quickly? I think you could make a case for Detroit as the pound for pound best team in the division, and that's exactly what I'm about to do.

On Offense, I probably don't need to mention Stafford to Megatron, but what about Golden Tate? Eric Ebron? They lack a little depth beyond those three, with Ryan Broyles and Lance Moore likely to be in or around the conversation for WR 3-4. but a solid RB situation with Joique Bell and rookie Ameer Abdullah just reinforces that this team should be contending on paper.

The offensive line is quiet and will miss C Dominic Raiola, but Riley Reiff, Manny Ramirez and Larry Warford should be good enough to hold it together. I certainly don't think they're going to be a revolving door, so when you add an average O-line to an excellent offense? I say you're going to be hard to beat.

Defense has been a traditional weak spot for Detroit until Ndamukong Suh came in and turned them into an incredibly lineman heavy team. Now the likes of Suh, Nick Fairley and Cliff Avril have departed, they'll be reliant on new blood. Haloti Ngata is arguably the best Defensive Tackle of the last 10 years, which is pretty good news for a team looking to replace the guy who will likeoly own that title in 2020. Meanwhile Ziggy Ansah continues to improve at end, alongside a rotation of Jason Jones, Corey Wooton and Darryl Tapp.

The really tough questions for the Lions D have generally been around the defensive backfield. Corner has been a weak spot even when a top level D line was in place, and the fact that an ageing Rashean Mathis will currently start in one spot doesn't inspire confidence. I think they'll rely heavily on James Ihedigbo and Glover Quin at Safety to nullify deep balls, which may leave them slightly exposed to the run.

*Key player on Offense: Eric Ebron *- A disappointing rookie outing for a talented player. Having a dependable, healthy TE would push this offense over the edge.

*Key player on Defense: Haloti Ngata *- Simply the best right now at his position. How long can he remain there? Have the Lions got a bargain, or overpaid for a player past his prime?

Predicted record: 10-6 - I don't think any one team will dominate the NFC North, and the final standings may reflect that.

GBGreen Bay Packers (12-4 in 2014)

I don't want to get hung up on Jordy Nelson's injury too much - if this were a one man team, it wouldn't be Nelson's - but it is worth pointing out the attrition that has hurt the Packers roster over the last few seasons may have reached tipping point.

Nelson's loss leaves a combination of Davante Adams and Randall Cobb at receiver. Next up? Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis... you get the picture. At TE, Richard Rodgers will start, although Andrew Quarless may also feature heavily again. the lone area of quality depth is at RB, where Eddie Lacy and James Starks are a good 1-2 punch who can both be every-down backs.

Of course, the x-factor is Aaron Rodgers. A solid O-line means he has ample protection, it really is simply a case of whether the guys he is throwing to have the ability to replicate Nelson's success. Cobb is a known commodity and a solid, dependable and explosive player, but he is someone who is best used, however, as a slot receiver or an explosive deep option. He isn't an outside threat, and I don't see anyone near the packers roster who is.

Incredibly, it's not the offense that I think is the weak link here. I think the front 7 for the Packers D is a problem. BJ Raji is not a premier DT (if he ever was), while Letroy Guion was their best lineman last season but is suspended 3 games. At LB, Clay Matthews hopped around to MLB last year but who the hell knows where he will play once things get troublesome again. Otehrwise, it's Sam Barrington and Nate Palmer inside, with Julius Peppers getting mega-props from announcers merely for taking the field again.

Thankfully for Green Bay, the secondary is excellent, and Rodgers is able to extract the maximum from those who surround him. That alone should pull the team to 9-10 victories.

Key Player on Offense: Aaron Rodgers - Is this cheating? It's true though - he'll need to be sharp as ever to maintain the hopes of another NFC North title.

Key Player on Defense: Sam Barrington - Barrington played well enough last year, but the departures of AJ Hawk and Brad Jones mean there's not much behind him if it goes bottom up.

Predicted Record: 9-7 - My head says lower, my gut says 9-7, and my heart says I'm a Bears fan.

MIN Minnesota Vikings (7-9 in 2014)

I think the Vikes will be better than expected this year, but I don't know if it will be enough to earn a playoff berth unless the Packers implode. What I love is that with Adrian Peterson back from knocking children an eighth of his size around, they now have a backfield that looks potentially the bets in the NFL. Both Jerrick mcKinnon and Matt Asiata can do a good job and keep Peterson fresh, but mainly, I think he'll come in like an absolute train and beast the crap out of opponents like they're a lippy 5 year old.

There are two key positions I have questions about. One is QB, where Teddy Bridgewater is in his sophomore year, where reputations are made or broken. For me, the endorsement that matters is that of Norv Turner, who I would trust to unceremoniously hurl Bridgewater under the bus if he even for a second doubted he could run the OC's gameplan effectively. Clearly, Bridgewater isn't Aaron Rodgers, but he's almost certainly better than Jay Cutler at this point, so that might be enough when push comes to shove.

Now then, the other problem: Terrence Newman is a starting CB right now. OOOOOOOOOH Dear Minnesota. Sort that out immediately. Newman is a great guy, a leader in the locker room, etc etc, you know the drill: Things people say when someone is not as good as they once were. I really like Captain Munnerlyn and wouldn't be surprised if the second time Newman gets toasted, The Cap'n is put straight in and Newman cut. Sad times we live in.

Apart from that, solid team. and I genuinely think they have a chance of beating the Packers to second place if things go right.

Key Player on Offense: Kyle Rudolph - Stay healthy and Bridgewater has a better shot at leading this team to victory

Key Player on Defense: Robert Blanton - Blanton is a solid performer and a continued improvement this year will be needed to prevent the secondary being exposed. Sometimes, it's not a star player who is the most critical.

Prediction: 8-8

CHIChicago Bears (5-11 in 2014)

First thing of note: The Bears aren't in a good place defensively, and that will likely be the deciding factor. They're not hugely incapable on offense (not to say, Cleveland standards) but the loss of Brandon Marshall and Kevin White this offseason means all coverage will be directed towards Alshon Jeffery. Eddie Royal is a great pickup, but the reality is that this season has 4-12/5/11 written all over it again.

As for Jay Cutler, this will likely be his last hurrah in Chicago. Certainly it will be the last time he plays there on anything other than a restructured, year-to-year deal. Even if he took the team deep into the playoffs, trust in Cutler must be at a bare minimum at Halas Hall now and they'd not believe he could do it again for 3-4 more years.

I don't think he's done at all, in fact he can still be a top 16 QB on his day, but consistency? None. Royal will help as a slot receiver security blanket, but look, the Bears should have at least attempted to address the QB position in the draft and chose not to. What possible rationale is there for that except to say you're either riding Cutler into the gates of hell, or you somehow believe Jimmy Clausen is a secret top tier QB?

Don't get me started on the D, where the team is stacked at Left Defensive End and will probably end up starting the player with the least upside in the long run (Jared Allen) over Lamarr Houston and Willie Young, the latter of whom may end up cut after notching 10 sacks last year...

Whole thing is a mess and has 'Redskins-style-implosion' written all over it.

Key Player on Offense: Matt Forte - Poor Matt Forte, carrying this team almost bodily on his back for the last 7 years... they'll toss him aside when the rebuilding begins next season.

Key Player on Defense: Christian Jones/Shea McClellin - Lance Briggs is gone, Brian Urlacher is a distant memory. Someone needs to step up to lead this team for the next few years.

Predicted record: 4-12 - The more you look at it, the worse it seems.

Agree or disagree? You can make your own call right here, by selecting which team will win each division, as well as who will win the Super Bowl and who will have the worst record in football. You'll just need to sign up, and we'll track your picks week by week.

Don't forget, when the experts start making their season predictions, we'll have everything right here.