The biggest story of the NFL off-season is Tom Brady’s departure from the New England Patriots. Brady played in nine Super Bowls for the Patriots, winning a record six of them.
But after his last game for the franchise ended in defeat in February’s Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, the quarterback is heading to new pastures.
Floridian pastures in fact. Tom Brady is off to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a response to the Brady move, bookmakers have slashed the Buccaneers to win the 2021 Super Bowl into 14/1* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 08:43 GMT on Thursday, 19th March 2020)
Super Bowl Winner 2021
Kansas City Chefs 6/1
Baltimore Ravens 13/2
San Francisco 49ers 8/1
New Orleans Saints 11/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14/1
Dallas Cowboys 6/1
Philadelphia Eagles 16/1
Seattle Seahawks 17/1
Minnesota Vikings 17/1
New England Patriots 17/1
Green Bay Packers 18/1
Buffalo Bills 18/1
LA Rams 20/1
Indianapolis Colts 20/1
25/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 08:43 GMT on Thursday, 19th March 2020)
Charges or Buccaneers?
Apparently, 42-year-old Tom Brady put forward packages to the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he could not get negotiations going with the Patriots. It is down to the Sunshine State that he goes.
It is fascinating to see that the bookmakers believe that he is going to make the Buccaneers a contender. It is a two-year deal with the Buccaneers that Brady has gone for.
Big Odds Cut
The Buccaneers were out at about 50/1 odds before the Brady news broke. Now they can be backed at 14/1 odds to win the Super Bowl 2020. Last season the Buccaneers posted a W7 L9 record and finished third of four in the NFC South.
They have jumped up to a position of being second favourites behind the New Orleans Saints to win next season’s NFC South, trading at a quote of 2/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 17:12 GMT on Thursday 19th March).
2021 NFC South Winner Odds*
New Orleans Saints 4/5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/1
Atlanta Falcons 11/2
Carolina Panthers 12/1
The last time that Tampa Bay won the NFC South was in the 2007 season, which was also the last time that they reached the postseason. Since moving to the NFC South for the start of the 2002 season, the Buccaneers have claimed the divisional title three times, but all between 2002 and 2007 and nothing since.
Just once in the last twelve seasons have they finished higher than third in their division.
The last time that they made the play-offs was back in 2007. So will the arrival of Brady help them to success? History wouldn’t be on the side of Tampa Bay winning next year’s Super Bowl.
That is because they are hosting the event and never before has a team hosting a Super Bowl, won it.
2021 NFC Winner Odds*
San Francisco 49ers 15/4
New Orleans Saints 5/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8/1
Philadelphia Eagles 8/1
Green Bay Packers 8/1
Seattle Seahawks 9/1
Dallas Cowboys 10/1
LA Rams 12/1
Minnesota Vikings 12/1
Chicago Bears 16/1
Atlanta Falcons 22/1
New York Giants 33/1
Carolina Panthers 33/1
Detroit Lions 40/1
Washington Redskins 50/1
* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 17:12 GMT on Thursday 19th March)
Will the Brady factor add more?
But punters will argue that this is Brady, one of the legends of the game, who is looking for a 7th Super Bowl ring. If anyone can, he can.
There could be bigger things at play too.
Already rumours are circulating that other players are contacting the Buccaneers because they want to play with Brady so the roster could get bolstered even more.
The Buccaneers are 10/11 to record Under 9 regular season wins with Unibet* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 17:12 GMT on Thursday 19th March).
The last time that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won more than nine games in a regular season was back in 2010. In the seasons since then, they have never won more than seven games in a campaign. Even in that 2007 season when they made the postseason, they won nine exactly.
