[](https://www.joebucsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cash.jpg)Joe is sharing this post for the growing numbers of moping Bucs fans.
The sportsbooks have the Bucs as solid favorites to win the NFC South.
There’s a reason. The team with the best offensive line, the best quarterback and playmaker depth on offense almost always wins at least enough games to be competitive in a division, and usually wins the whole thing. Throw in the shaky competition in the NFC South, and it’s understandable why the Bucs are a +160 favorite this morning at the Hard Rock sportsbook, with Atlanta behind them at +250.
Carolina had the 27th-ranked offense last season in points and yards. They lost their best running back in free agency and their only additions on that side of the ball were a stop-gap left tackle, a backup center and Kenny Pickett. Yes, Carolina added two studs on defense. It seems they’ll get a lot of work.
The Saints are still rebuilding and dumped two defensive icons. Bumbling Atlanta is figuring out if it has a quarterback, who is coming off major surgery, while it works in a new head coach and a new GM, and hopes it’s defensive star doesn’t serve time.
The Joe typing here has faith Todd Bowles will do what he usually does coaching the Bucs and that last year’s late-season nosedive was the exception and not the new rule.
Winning the NFC South and going nowhere is nothing to celebrate in any way, shape of form. But it’s still a likely outcome even with Mike Evans out the door for no good reason. If you’re so sure the Bucs are headed for a toilet season, then you’re welcome to bet on that.