After odds had been set at +400 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make the playoffs a month ago, those odds have somehow worsened to +500 now.
Just about a month ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were set at steep +400 odds to make the playoffs. Now as five days of training camp have come and gone at One Buc, the Buccaneers’ odds to make the playoffs have worsened, now sitting at +275 according to Bovada.
The Buccaneers are practicing with their hair on fire, as a handful of standouts are already making plays in Tampa. Rookies and veterans alike are making plays for the Buccaneers who are looking to crawl out of the NFC South after back-to-back 5-11 seasons under former head coach Bruce Arians.
Guys like Vernon Hargreaves and Noah Spence, who were on their last leg with the old coaching staff, seem to have been rejuvenated under Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles. They have both stood out this preseason as the Buccaneers are looking to make the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.
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Rookies Sean Murphy-Bunting and Mike Edwards have been the talk of the town, playing so well that first round pick Devin White continues to fly under the radar at training camp. This does not even include the steady nature of guys like Lavonte David, Mike Evans, and Ali Marpet who will bring it week in and week out.
The offensive line remains an issue and could be the reason for the decreased odds for the Buccaneers to make the playoffs. Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson have missed a practice, right guard remains a worry, and Caleb Benenoch remains the backup at tackle after an atrocious year at right guard a year ago.
Alex Cappa is set to get right guard reps with the ones, and it seems like it is his job to lose, but is he developed to the place to win the job? Center Ryan Jenson is also in need of a bounce back year after failing to live up to his $10 million annual salary.
If there is anyone out there who is certainly confident in the Buccaneers’ ability to make the playoffs this season, then worse odds could make you a richer person. It is up to the Buccaneers to put a season of transition behind them in order to prove the doubters, including the oddsmakers in Las Vegas, wrong.