2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Predictions and Super Bowl Odds

With the firing of Jon Gruden after the 2008 season in which they collapsed down the stretch after looking like a sure thing for the playoffs in NFL predictions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went with a youth movement that started with the surprising and controversial hire of 33-year old Raheem Morris and continued with an overhaul of the roster that continued this past off season. NFL betting at online sportsbooks have the Bucs as a 150-1 longshot in 2011 Super Bowl odds with an over/under regular season win total of 5.5 OVER (-135).

Tampa Bay was never a factor in the 2009 season as they finished 3-13 straight up and just 6-10 against the spread in NFL odds with 10 games going under the total. While the Bucs are coming off what is being touted as a fine 2010 draft it is not likely to be enough to get them out of the NFC South Division. Both sides of the line struggled with the inexperience last year as Tampa Bay finished 28th overall for total offense while ranking 27th overall for total defense. The Bucs were also bitten by the turnover bug as they ranked 22nd in the league for TO margin.

Heading into NFL predictions for the 2010 season, Josh Freeman will open as the starting quarterback for Tampa Bay and the offense will enter this season with a far better idea of what they want to do which is to run the ball as much as possible with Cadillac Williams, who went over 800 yards last year. Freeman is the quarterback of the future who saw more action than expected last year and struggled with a 10/18 TD/INT ratio. The defense improved after Morris took over from Bill Bates but still has many new faces and will be inconsistent. The Bucs are not going to be a contender but might improve if the new players continue to gel.