The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have been the biggest surprise of the 2023 NFL season. With defensive head coach Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield leading the helm, the Buccaneers went 9-8 and captured the NFC South division title. Not only that, but they won a playoff game, dominating the Philadelphia Eagles in the WildCard round of the playoffs!
Are the Sportsbooks sleeping on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers again, heading into the 2024 season? We sure think so!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Over 7.5 Season Wins (-150 FanDuel)
What makes this Play interesting is that the Buccaneers can actually have a worse season in 2024 than they did in 2023 and STILL go Over 7.5 wins! There are a few reasons to think they can surprise teams once again. First and foremost, they play in the worst division in football. The NFC South, quite simply, is awful. The Panthers are shaping up to be one of the worst teams in the league after finishing as the worst team in the league last year. The Saints always seem to underperform their expectations, and the Falcons can’t seem to get it together either.
The Buccaneers have 6 games against underwhelming or downright bad teams right off the bat. They also have favorable out of division games too. Games against the Commanders, Broncos (at home), Giants, Raiders, and Chargers are very winnable as well.
Furthermore, while offenses tend to fluctuate year over year, defenses tend to be more constant. That’s where the strength of the Buccaneers truly lies. They have some nice offensive pieces, but the Buccaneers are led by defensive stalwarts like Vita Vea, Lavonte David, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Jordan Whitehead. If the defense can keep games close, it’ll obviously give the Buccaneers a chance to win tough games against the Eagles, Cowboys, 49ers, and maybe even the Chiefs!
Don’t be surprised to see Tampa Bay hover around .500 and quite possibly win their division again. They have the best overall roster in the division and quite possibly the best QB and Head Coach as well! If they can stay healthy, they’re more than capable of being “dangerous” once again and going Over this win total!