Massive Favorites
March 25th, 2021
Ex-QB explains
For those who like to wager in states that are smart enough to offer legal sports betting, the Bucs are currently a -159 favorite to win the NFC South on DraftKings, one of the major online sportsbooks.
That means if you bet $100, your return would be $163 if the Bucs win their first division crown since the 2007 season.
Seems like a great bet, right? Former NFL QB Brady Quinn, one of the big voices on SiriusXM NFL Radio, was bellowing yesterday about the Bucs being monster favorites to win the NFC South now that Drew Brees is gone.
More important, Quinn thinks the Bucs will be better in 2021, mostly because the offense didn’t peak until December and the defense brought the hammer late as well.
Quinn delivered his glorious take in various ways, and he’s confident it’s a huge reason the Bucs re-signed so many of their free agents.
Not only was general manager Jason Licht able to sell Tom Brady, the Super Bowl and what a crappy year it is to hit the free agent market, per Quinn, but Tampa Bay’s potential free agents all truly believed the team would be significantly better in 2021.
Quinn pointed to the passing game as one example, noting Chris Godwin and Mike Evans had rough patches during over the course of the Bucs’ 20-game season.
“The truth of the matter is, and anyone will tell you; you ask any wide receiver that played with his quarterback in his first year versus the second year, how much more comfortable he is anticipating stuff and seeing things,” he said. “Just the more reps you get, the more comfortable you get, the easier it is to anticipate.”
Damn, Joe’s football life now feels like one long and glorious fantasy.
It’s fun to imagine the Bucs coming out next season and pouring five touchdowns per game on opponents routinely while jumping out to a 7-1 start.
To Quinn’s point, remember that Mike Evans had just six games of more than 70 yards receiving last season, including playoffs.
March 25th, 2021 at 11:56 am
@Joe – thanks for the tip. Virginia legalized sports betting this past April. I’m about to drop $500.00 on the Bucs to win the division.
March 25th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
Let’s pump the brakes a little… Play hard, respect your opponent that is getting paid too and maybe things will turn out alright. Go into the season expecting to put 5 touchdowns on everyone and that 7-1 will turn into 4-4.
March 25th, 2021 at 12:39 pm
A Brady injury will tone things down.
March 25th, 2021 at 12:43 pm
Stop with the Brady injury bs and the one hit away bs. The guys a f###ing iron man. Where have u idiots been for the last 20 years.
March 25th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
I just can’t see any NFL South Team beating us, especially now that Brees is gone, can you ?
March 25th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
Man I was in the archives all morning. How do some of the posters show their faces here is beyond me. I’m not even going to name them it’s hilarious 🤣
March 25th, 2021 at 1:03 pm
Joe must not be a gambler. Minus 159 means you have to wager 159.00 to win 100.00. Joe I am available to write a weekly wagering article if you need some seasoned help in that area .
March 25th, 2021 at 1:03 pm
The Panthers would have been at minimum, “interesting” had they landed Deshaun “Quagmire” Watson. I’ve still would’ve been favorites, but long term Panthers future would’ve been bright. Thank you Deshaun Watson for being a massive weirdo – your upcoming suspension is our gain
March 25th, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Chris Apple. I havent even seen the schedule yet but the Saints are already the one team that scares me the most. A Sean Payton coached team seems to me like the type that has been ticked off every day since we ended their season.
I do like the Bucs to win the division. But I think our toughest games will be vs the Saints. I think we play the Pats too. That might be another tough battle.
March 25th, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Of course the Buccaneers are the favorites because only the Packers and Rams are as complete as the Buccaneers are and even those teams do not have as much talent at every position as the Bucs do 🙂
March 25th, 2021 at 1:20 pm
Bucs can win the south. The only unknown is how the falcons will respond to Arthur Smith.
Hopefully Mike doesn’t have any knee, ankle, or hamstring injuries this year. He played through injury over half of last season including the playoffs.
March 25th, 2021 at 1:35 pm
I can see a first round bye, and I can see home playoff games. Both of those things are huge advantages
March 25th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
All I know is this is awesome fun and I do not want it to ever end.
March 25th, 2021 at 1:56 pm
Evans and Godwin both had off years.
March 25th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Watch out, NFL. One more year together for this club, you all are not ready for what’s coming. You ain’t seen nothing yet!!
March 25th, 2021 at 2:22 pm
When was the last time the Bucs had any expectations beyond maybe 9-7? It’s been a long time. Not sure I can handle it.
March 25th, 2021 at 2:39 pm
I see DANGER signs when folks label us as ‘Massive Favorites’. Always preferred going into games as the underdog. Seen too many times in life where you go in as ‘The Favorite’ and then proceed to get your butt kicked. And it can happen to any team IMO when players forget what got them to the Big Dance.
The Bucs right now are riding an 8-game win streak. No question in my mind that the last 3 games (Saints, Packers, Chiefs) were brutal & that our team brought its’ A-game, and that each of them was a dogfight. But in the first 5 of those games (Vikings, Falcons twice, Lions & Washington) none of those teams had winning records. It’s not at all that we lucked out; we didn’t. Our guys played some great games in that win streak, but the schedule (and BYE week timing) was certainly ‘fortuitous’ shall we say. Lest folks forget, at one point we were 7-5 and entered the playoffs as a Wildcard.
I get wary when folks talk about NFL teams going undefeated or even winning the division outright BEFORE a single game has been played. It’s great to have high expectations, but I’m confident that BA & company won’t let the Bucs’ players buy into any ‘massive favorites’ notions.
March 25th, 2021 at 3:03 pm
LOL at Joe’s understanding of gambling odds.
March 25th, 2021 at 3:37 pm
Omg all this enthusiasm is making me nervous
March 25th, 2021 at 3:44 pm
D.R.
I hear ya loud and clear! That’s why they play the games.
I also agree that the vast majority of times it’s absolutely true.
Occasionally though teams get so good they can just take names and kick arse.
It’s rare and it doesn’t last in the NFL because of the built in parity and a sport with short careers…the Old Steelers…perhaps an old Al Davis Raiders teams…the Niners at their peak…not many that’s for sure.
I thought New Orleans was right at the edge the past few years but they never put it all together like we did last year.
Wouldn’t it be enormous fun if our current Bucs are those guys who can just line em up and mow em down.
BTW the closest thing I’ve seen to this kind of team recently isn’t in the NFL.
It’s the NHL and it’s our own Lightning.
Even if you’re not a hockey fan you should watch. The Lightning are a very special team this season after winning it all last year. It’s my great hope the Bucs can do the exact same thing in defense of their title.
March 25th, 2021 at 3:53 pm
No need for nervousness or anxiety. This is happening. It’s not a fantasy. The Bucs will be the division champs, and it’s not totally out of the realm of possibility that they go 17-0 during the regular season. There aren’t a lot of things Brady can add to his list of HOF feats. Winning the SB and having a perfect season is one of them. He’s already come very close to doing that in NE. He had a perfect season but couldn’t capture the SB. Maybe this year. That’s where his sights are set.
March 25th, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Almost nobody on this team knows what it’s like to constantly be the heavy favorite to win each game. One guy does though, and he seems to do a pretty good job of leading by example. I don’t believe we will we have to worry about this team reading their own press clippings.
March 25th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Bucsfan76
Beat me to it. I want Joes bookie if thats his return. And joe the real bettors know last season was the time to bet bucs! Betting on the favorite womt do much for us small timers
March 25th, 2021 at 6:01 pm
Hi Joe, I think your math is off, at -159, you have to bet $159 to win $100. GO BUCS!
March 25th, 2021 at 6:05 pm
StPete … “Even if you’re not a hockey fan you should watch. The Lightning are a very special team this season after winning it all last year. It’s my great hope the Bucs can do the exact same thing in defense of their title.”
Played ice hockey for all my years growing up in New England & for 4 years in college St Pete, and yes, I love the Lightning too. My favorite Lightning BTW is Jon Cooper, a very extraordinary coach IMO with a fascinating background. Also happens to be the longest-tenured NHL coach right now so he must be doing something right.
Would love to see both the Lightning and the Bucs repeat as champions. And just for good measure, would love to see the Rays win the whole enchilada this year too. I know, now I’m being greedy.
March 25th, 2021 at 8:32 pm
Have not read posts – but unreal odds! CRAZY! Wild times for us Bucs fans.
March 26th, 2021 at 12:51 am
It’s funny how some of you guys think that Hill is some kind of scrub who can only run trick plays didn’t win any games as a starter and that the Saints don’t have one of the best offense in the league as well as Sean Payton. For as long as I can remember our defense has rarely brought its A game against them plus in two games against Atl the whole team struggled so please thru your enthusiasm temper it with some smarts before crowning us division champs.