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Last year, the Buccaneers failed to make the playoffs for the 10th straight season. After so much disappointment over the past few seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers betting odds remain stagnant for yet another year; our NFL sportsbook predicts them to finish towards the bottom of the NFC standings. That does not mean that there is no hope whatsoever. Despite the bleak outlook, there are reasons to get excited about Buccaneers betting odds in 2018. The Bucs have set things up to allow for improvement in some important areas. Improvements on the offensive side of the ball include the addition of former Ravens veteran linesmen Ryan Jensen at the center and third-round pick Alex Cappa at guard, plus running back Ronald Jones II as their first pick in the second round. Defensive line additions are former Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul, former Eagles Vinny Curry and Beau Allen, first round pick Vita Vea, and journeyman DT Mitch Unrein. Carlton Davis, M.J. Stewart and Jordan Whitehead were also drafted to build depth in the secondary. The Bucs are hoping that these tweaks go a long way in correcting a defense that was dead last in the league last year in terms of yards given up. Offense was a little better last year, as the team ranked 4th overall in passing yards. Rushing was another story, as they were down at 27th in the NFL.
These changes may not sound like a whole lot, but upon closer look, not much change is really needed. Despite having lost 94 games since 2008, 52 of those losses have been by one possession. That would seem to indicate that the Bucs problem isn't lack of talent or depth, but rather fortitude and resolve. If the coaching staff can find the right message to give to the players and get a response from their younger players buying into the system, the Bucks can break out of their funk at any given time. Easier said than done, right?
Coaching has certainly been part of the problem. This team has been through 4 different coaches in the last 10 years, and if this year doesn't show some improvement, current skipper Dirk Koetter may be on his way out sooner than later. So far he has a record of 14-18 with the Bucs. Prior to that, he coached at Boise State and Arizona State, where he had a combined record of 66-44. Koetter obviously isn't to blame for the mess of the past 10 years, but he is responsible for the current incarnation of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In their first season under Koetter, they did manage a winning record at 9-7, so last year may have just been an anomaly. Either way, it puts a lot of pressure on him for this year. Koetter the Bucs will have to get things together fast, as their first three games of 2018 are against New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. If they lose all three of those games and aren't able to climb out of the hole afterwards, it's easy to imagine Koetter getting bucked out of Tampa.