2018 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Win Totals Predictions and Expert Picks

2017 Record: 5-11

2018 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Las Vegas Season Win Total: 6.5*

2018 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Win Total Picks NFL Football: 'Over'

Florida is the strangest, weirdest, and most bizarre state in America. And not good weird, either. Bad weird. Scary soul weird. I'm not sure what it is about that state and professional football. But the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been three of the worst teams in the NFL over the course of the past two decades, with the Bucs leading the way as the biggest losers.

The Bucs are coming off yet another losing season, their fifth in the last six years, and another last-place finish, their sixth in the last seven seasons. They have been outscored by their opponents seven straight seasons - including their one winning year, a modest 9-7 mark in 2016. Tampa Bay hasn't played in the postseason in 11 years.

To make matters worse, Tampa Bay's 2018 season had a dark cloud cast over it before it even began thanks to its "franchise" quarterback. Jameis Winston, alleged rapist, was suspended for three games thanks to an alleged sexual assault. That means that Ryan Fitzpatrick's beard will be in charge of the offense for Tampa Bay's first three games against three of the best teams in the NFL: at New Orleans, versus Philadelphia and versus Pittsburgh.

Fitzpatrick, and then Winston, have plenty of weapons to work with on the offensive side of the ball. Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Adam Humphries and Chris Godwin offer a plethora of receiving options. Tampa Bay also has a trio of young running backs, led by Peyton Barber, that looks to improve on a running game that averaged just 90.6 yards per game and just 3.7 yards per carry last season.

However, as good as the offensive skill players can be, the weakness on this team - and it has been a weakness for this entire decade - is a wet-paper-towel-thin offensive line. They are already dealing with injuries. And they lack both depth and quality at the point of attack.

Then there is Winston. I think he is a loser. Winston is a turnover machine that has negative intangibles. He is not a leader and, frankly, I just don't think he is any good. Now in his fourth season, Winston owns just an 18-27 career record as a starter.

Defensively, Tampa Bay has some decent talent in the front seven. Gerald McCoy is a beast. Linebackers Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander are above average. And the Bucs hope offseason additions Jason Pierre-Paul and Vinny Curry can improve the pass rush.

But any team that starts Chris Conte at safety is going to be one of the worst in the league. And that's exactly where the Bucs were last season: No. 32. Conte and Co. had the worst pass defense in the NFL, allowing 260.6 yards per game and a stunning 67.6 percent completion rate.

There obviously is not much to like on this rag-tag team. The coaching staff is on the hot seat. The franchise is walking sideways from its "franchise" quarterback. And there are glaring holes on both sides of the ball.

So why would anyone think this team could go 'over'? Because it's the NFL, that's why.

Tampa Bay underachieved against its Pythagorean Win Total in a range that suggests a turnaround. Their stats were actually closer to a seven-win team last year than a five-win team. The same goes for their offensive yards per point. But one of the most glaring numbers was their 2-7 record in games decided by six points or less last year. Four of those losses came against 2017 playoff teams. That is an anomaly and suggests that this team was better than the final record suggests.

I am going to go against the public on this one. I think Tampa Bay will actually get to .500 this year, and I see them finding a way 'over' this total - somehow.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past seven years, earning nearly $28,000 in total football profit. He has also posted seven of nine winning seasons (including back-to-back winning years) and produced 26 of 41 winning football months and an amazing 45 of 70 winning football months over the past decade. Robert has eight of 10 winning NFL preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 900 totals picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted three of five winning seasons. Robert is looking for a third straight winning football year and wants more profit this fall. SIGN UP HERE TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 3-FOR-1 FOOTBALL SPECIALS!

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