Last Updated on August 16, 2010 12:01 pm by Anthony Rome
Bucs Season Odds
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to be one of the improved teams in 2010, but do they have enough talent to compete in a tough NFC South?
Like most teams this past offseason, Tampa Bay was quiet in free agency. They brought back restricted free agent linebacker Barrett Ruud and also inked former Carolina guard Keydrick Vincent to a deal. Former Browns and Eagles’ safety Sean Jones was also signed.
Heading into the draft, the Bucs wanted to upgrade their defensive line, cornerback, safety, offensive line and receiver positions. With the third overall pick in the first round, the team selected Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy, then followed that pick with another DT in the second round in UCLA’s Brian Price. In the third and fourth rounds, the Bucs nabbed receivers (Illinois’ Arrelious Benn and Syracuse’s Mike Williams), and in the third round they chose Vanderbilt cornerback Myron Lewis.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com currently list the Buccaneers at 200/1 to win the 2011 Super Bowl and 100/1 to win the NFC. They’re also +1200 on the money line to win the NFC South and have an over/under win total of 5.5 games this season.
Now that Raheem Morris is expected to make all the play calls for the defense this season, the Bucs should be improved on that side of the ball. It also doesn’t hurt adding such a dynamic talent in McCoy to a defensive line that already features productive end Stylez G White. Quarterback Josh Freeman is also heading into his second-year, which is when young signal callers start to exhibit more confidence in their game.
That said, the Bucs play in the same division as defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans and an up-and-coming Atlanta team, so wins will be hard to come by. Carolina should once again be somewhat competitive this year, so Tampa will have to dig deep for victories in 2010.
Of course, if the offensive line plays much better than it did in ’09, Freeman makes strides in his development and the young receivers produce, the Bucs could surprise this season. It’s doubtful that they’ll come anywhere close to making a playoff run, but you can never tell which NFL team will surprise from year to year.
2011 Super Bowl Odds: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 200/1
Odds to win NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 100/1
Odds to win NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers +1200
2010 NFL Season Win Totals: Tampa Bay Buccaneers O/U 5.5
Posted: 8/16/10 12:00PM ET