Easy Schedule?
June 18th, 2021
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
Warren Sharp is known to many handicappers as a man who knows what he’s talking about when it comes to football numbers.
Sharp is a big-time stat geek, but only because he’s digging for an edge on his investments. Sharp is a heavy wheeler/dealer in the football handicapping world and often rails against articles citing the strength of schedule — unless it is his own :).
Basing a strength of schedule on a team’s record the prior season is very shaky, per Sharp, but this is what most people do. Instead, he bases his strength of schedule mostly on Las Vegas sportsbooks’ season-win totals, among other data.
Using his criteria, Sharp has the Bucs with the fifth-easiest schedule. (Sharp has Chucky and the Raiders with the hardest schedule. Poor Chucky.)
However, Sharp points out two elements that could trip up the Bucs, despite the perceived walk in the park.
The first is the Bucs face two teams coming off a bye week. Only the Belicheats face more (three).
Also, based on how the NFC South plays the NFC West this season, the Bucs and the rest of the NFC South teams will log a lot of travel miles. Sharp has the Bucs with the fourth-most net travel miles this fall. Given how the Bucs have so many good players over 30 and the team just played 20 games last season, this may be something to keep an eye on.
The Dixie Chicks, slimy Saints, Bucs and Stinking Panthers have the Nos. 2-5 most net travel miles this season. The team that will travel most is San Francisco.
Remember boys and girls, 12 weeks from last night, the Bucs open the season against the Cowboys.
The 2021 NFL Season kicks off Thursday September 9 with the Cowboys at Buccaneers.
Home teams are 15-3 in the TNF season openers (11-3-4 ATS). pic.twitter.com/Wdlz2NixVa
— Sharp Football Analysis (@SharpFBAnalysis) May 12, 2021
June 18th, 2021 at 8:20 am
No Morning Cup, Joe? You know I’m not going to just “distract” myself!
June 18th, 2021 at 8:24 am
Today is a holiday. Juneteenth. The President just signed it in to law within the last day or two.
June 18th, 2021 at 8:33 am
Oh my goodness! Only 12 weeks until the first game! That is the best thing I’ve read in a long time. Never have I craved an NFL football season like this one. I plan on watching every down of every game this year. Watching TB12 perform in his 2021, in his 21st season is simply amazing. I don’t care who you root for, watching Brady play at this age is rooting for the best of humanity! Sooooo excited for this season. Please please please stay healthy every single Buccaneer.
June 18th, 2021 at 8:46 am
It’s been moved to Joe’s new website which is called JoeConspiracyFan dot com.
June 18th, 2021 at 9:08 am
Long overdue.
Forgot to hit the all-important “publish” button last night. It’s up now.
June 18th, 2021 at 9:09 am
Guys, Cup is back. Have at it.
June 18th, 2021 at 10:32 am
Forget Strength of Schedule. Every game TB plays will be tough and needs to be treated seriously. We’re Super Bowl Champions and will have a bullseye on us.
June 18th, 2021 at 10:33 am
I deplore the “strength of schedule” arguments. Few teams return the next year the same as they were previously. WE are the exception and WE are the Champions!
Regardless of the “strength”, you still have to play the games.
June 18th, 2021 at 10:41 am
The good teams relish the fact that they are the Champs and will get everyones best shot. BA talked about it, that is what you want. Bring it on baby, this Brady led team is putting a bullseye on every team they play. It works both ways with this World Champion Bucs Team.
BRING IT ON NFL, AND STARTING WITH LITTLE D, COME ON DOWN COWPOKES AND TAKE YOUR WOODSHED WHOOPIN LIKE A MAN!!
GO BUCS!!!!
June 18th, 2021 at 10:46 am
I was pretty excited to not see Morning Cup of Joe since it meant today was a holiday.
June 18th, 2021 at 10:53 am
Also, based on how the NFC South plays the NFC West this season, the Bucs and the rest of the NFC South teams will log a lot of travel miles. Sharp has the Bucs with the fourth-most net travel miles this fall. Given how the Bucs have so many good players over 30 and the team just played 20 games last season, this may be something to keep an eye on.
This is why Joe needs an Editor.
NFC South plays the NFC East and the AFC East this season.
NFC South will each only play one NFC West team this season.
June 18th, 2021 at 11:00 am
Bucs farthest road trip is to L.A. early in the season
The Bucs only play 2 road games outside of their time zone @The Rams and @ Saints
I like all the info Joe posts but I don’t see much of a issue with the schedule. Especially all those 30 year old players will have rested their bodies from March until late July. 5 months, they will play sparingly in the pre season and have a nice bye in the middle of the season.
June 18th, 2021 at 11:15 am
As a 20+ year road warrior, I don’t think 8 one-night road trips per season is very taxing. Especially when they are all non-stop charters with first-class seats and flunkies to handle your luggage. And you’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton.
June 18th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Don’t forget that last road trip to Inglewood, CA for Super Bowl LVI.
June 18th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Fun fact: Winston played the hardest schedule in the NFL between 2015-2019, in addition to having the worst defense and worst kicking game.
It really is amazing — reminds me of how Brady and Mariota would go back and forth each year on who had the easiest schedule. Now the divisional matchups and natural up and downs of teams gives the Bucs a fairly easy schedule last year, and what might be the easiest schedule next year. In any case, if it means a SB, I’ll take every day of the week.
June 18th, 2021 at 5:04 pm
We ain’t won sh!t. And it’s true. That’s how Brady and BA have these guys focused and everyone is drinking it in. This is a very mature team all around that i guarantee is putting in work and not State Farm commercials. Brady said he loves the haters, and the times when he is the underdog, and even these stupid little stats that makes it look like he can’t beat it.
June 19th, 2021 at 7:41 am
even though i’ve been an NFL fan for over 6 decades, i’ve only been a Bucs fan since Tompa “wet the paper” I challenge the writer that is constantly being the “whiner on the playground” You know, Bilicheat, Bilicheat, Bilicheat. COME ON MAN. Pretend you are a coach, ANY COACH. They pay you to do ONE THING…WIN….PERIOD. If you will just stop and REALLY think, yes think about those accusations. In my 6 decades, I didn’t know the balls were put up on a rack and the mechanics checks the PSI. Take a breath. THE GOAT player and the GOAT coach, (????) “OK, lets let 1 psi out of the balls.” Who whined first? A LINEBACKER!!!!!!!!!!! At halftime they “corrected the psi” and Brady clobbered them even worse. Filming another team in order team have an advantage? Well Mr writer, who was that team? The BENGALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF ANYBODY says they wouldn’t do this to win, (and get paid $millions?) Come on Mr. Writer, you’re better than this
June 19th, 2021 at 11:23 pm
Amen