2013 Record: 4-12

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 7.0

2014 Season Win Total Prediction: 'Over'

I'm not sure what it is about football in Florida but it is just not working out for the Sunshine State. Take Tampa Bay, for instance, as the Buccaneers won just four games for the second time in three years and failed to reach .500 for the fourth time in the past five campaigns.

Lovie Smith was brought in this offseason and charged with returning the Bucs to respectability. If his track record in Chicago was any indication he will be up to the task. Smith went 81-63 during his nine years in the Windy City and finished with fewer than seven wins just one time. Smith will employ a disciplined, don't-make-more-mistakes-than-our-opponent, Cover-2 system that will have Tampa Bay playing more technically sound football. The results may or may not be immediate. But they will come.

Lovie cut loose several players with discipline problems and imported veteran quarterback Josh McCown. He also restocked the defense with guys better suited for his scheme. This team has several Pro Bowl caliber players on both sides of the ball and if you squint you can see a similar setup to what Kansas City had working for them prior to their breakout 2013 season.

The Bucs have their first two games at home before a rugged three-game road swing that includes divisional rivals Atlanta and New Orleans. They have another stretch late in the season featuring four of five on the road and how Smith navigates those two sections of the schedule will determine this club's progress in the win-loss column.

This season win total is shockingly high. However, I think the fact that it did come out here is an indicator that this team is much better than the betting public realizes. I think Tampa Bay is going to be feisty. And I think they have several indicators pointing to a team on the rise. The NFC South has been one of the most volatile divisions in football and we've seen worst-to-first turnovers plenty of times. I won't go that far. But I do think the Bucs reach .500 and get 'over' their season win total.

Buccaneers Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, Carolina, 4:25 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, St. Louis, 4:05 p.m.

Week 3: Thursday, Sept. 18, at Atlanta, 8:25 p.m.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, at Washington, 1 p.m.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, Green Bay, 1 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, New Orleans, 1 p.m.

Robert will be releasing his 2014 NFL Futures Picks on Thursday, Aug. 14. Last year's top two picks (8-Unit Play on Arizona 'over' 5.5 wins and 6-Unit Play on Kansas City over 7.0 wins) both won easily and he has hit his top NFL Futures Play (rated 7.0 or higher) in four straight seasons. For more information visit his Insider's Page HERE.

Robert Ferringo is one of the best NFL handicappers in the world and is coming off one of the best football betting seasons in the 43-year history of Doc's Sports. Robert banked nearly $8,000 in profit for his football clients and won a stunning 62.1 percent of his NFL plays (95-58). Robert has won over 70 percent of his last 58 NFL side plays (41-17) and has posted six of seven winning NFL seasons. He has banked $17,400 in football profit, college and pro, over the last 20 months and he is excited about building on his staggering resume. Take advantage of our free, no-strings-attached $60 credit to use toward a purchase of Robert's football selections. You cannot afford to miss out on this great offer - click here.

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