It's tough to make the argument that the NFC South isn't the worst division in football, but in 2023 it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who finished on top. They got hot to close out the year, finishing the season on a 5-1 run to clinch the division crown.
They proved to the football world they belonged in the playoffs when they took down the defending NFC champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, in the Wild Card Round. They also gave the Detroit Lions a scare, eventually losing by a final score of 31-23.
So after a successful 2023, you'd think oddsmakers are giving them a good chance of returning to the playoffs in 2024, right? Not so far. In fact, sportsbooks seem to be disrespecting the Bucs at this point of the offseason.
Let's take a look at the latest odds for the Buccaneers' to make the playoffs in 2024.
Buccaneers odds to make the playoffs
Buccaneers underrated in 2024 playoff race
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Buccaneers' odds set at +145 to make the playoffs in 2024. If you translate those odds to implied probability, the Bucs have just a 40.82% chance of making the postseason in back-to-back years.
The Bucs have already made two important moves this offseason in re-signing Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, so their offense is going to be in a great spot in 2024. Their main concern is beefing up their defense and they've already taken steps towards doing that by signing Jordan White, Bryce Hall, and re-signing Lavonte David. They also placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Antoine Winfield Jr.
The Bucs' defense was already one of the best scoring defenses in the NFL, allowing just 19.2 points per game, the fifth-fewest in the league. If they can build on that, they'll return to being one of the best units in the league next year.
Baker Mayfield found his groove in the second half of the season and now that he has another year in this system and a full offseason with work with Evans and the rest of the offense, look for him to have another strong campaign in 2024.
Even if the Falcons can win the NFC South behind Kirk Cousins, there's no reason why the Buccaneers won't be competing for a wild card spot at worst. There's some great value in betting on them to make the playoffs. If you bet $100 on them at +145 odds, you'd win a profit of $145 if they're able to achieve the feat.
If you want to bet on the Bucs to make the playoffs, then click the link below to sign up for an account at DraftKings Sportsbook. If you do, you'll receive $150 in bonus bets if you win your first $5 wager.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.