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Vegas weighs in on Bucs

Posted Aug 4, 2011 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Aug 4, 2011 at 04:00 PM

By IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—According to the pundits who set odds for a living, the Buccaneers will take a slight step backwards in 2011.

Las Vegas sports books waited until the first wave of free agency passed before posting the NFL’s projected over-under win totals for the upcoming season.

The number for Tampa Bay, coming off a 10-6 season that left the Bucs on the brink of an NFC playoff berth, is 8.5 victories. Defending NFC South champion Atlanta (13-3) is listed at 10.5 and the Saints (11-5) are projected to win 10 games this fall.

The Patriots and the defending Super Bowl champion Packers head the list at 11.5 wins while the Panthers, who are likely to start rookie quarterback Cam Newton, are at the bottom with a projected win total of 4.5.

A year ago, coming off a 3-13 season, the Bucs were listed at 5.5 wins by most Las Vegas casinos. Instead, they posted the league’s biggest improvement (seven wins), ending the season by beating New Orleans on the road for the second consecutive year.

Tampa Bay’s schedule appears more difficult this fall and a home game against Chicago has been switched from Raymond James Stadium to London. The Bucs will also play two prime-time games, adding to the challenge of meeting raised expectations.

In topping last year’s projected victory total by 4.5 wins, the Bucs matched the Patriots and Falcons as the biggest surprises on the Las Vegas board. New England (listed at 9.5) went 14-2 while the Falcons were listed at 8.5.