Buccaneers: Updated win totals has Tampa as a playoff lock

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to be one of the hottest teams in the league this coming season. Here’s a look at the updated NFL win totals.

It’s a strange dynamic to see both Vegas and NFL analysts alike favoring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that’s exactly what’s happening.

For the first time in 12 seasons, the Buccaneers are expected to be legitimate contenders for the playoffs and that is being seen in the latest win totals from Vegas.

According to the Action Network, the Buccaneers have a win total listed at 10, the highest preseason mark in quite some time for the franchise.

Here’s a look at the teams across the league with the highest win totals and what’s expected for the teams in the NFC South division, according to the latest win totals.

• Baltimore Ravens (11.5)
• Kansas City Chiefs (11.5)
• New Orleans Saints (10.5)
• San Francisco 49ers (10.5)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10)
• Atlanta Falcons (7.5)
• Carolina Panthers (5.5)

You can see from those numbers just how much Vegas is favoring the Bucs this season. Only four teams- two in the NFC- have higher win totals than Tampa Bay at this point in the preseason and the Bucs are now considered heavy favorites to be, really, the lone competitors with the Saints in the NFC South division.

The addition of Tristan Wirfs to that offense, which is led by Tom Brady, is certainly a prospect that led to Vegas favoring the franchise even more than it had in the past.

Just looking at that win total, it tells me one thing: Though it’s surreal, the Bucs are legitimate contenders, at least in the minds of those setting win totals for the season.

Tampa Bay is no longer considered this franchise on the outside-looking in. No, this team has the talent and ability to be in the Super Bowl picture and it’s going to be interesting to see just what happens this coming season.