The preseason favorites don’t always win the Super Bowl.

Sure, the New England Patriots were the top betting pick this time last season, but going on to win it all is actually the exception rather than the rule. Indeed, just three of the last 18 preseason favorites have gone on to win the Lombardi Trophy – the Patriots in 2018 and 2016, and Indianapolis in 2006. That’s it for the 21st Century.

While Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans will be aware, perhaps painfully so, that their team isn’t among the favorites for pretty much anything going into to the new season, there are plenty of markets out there. So, we have scoured high and low for every market we could find on the Bucs. As sportsbooks vary in their prices, we will highlight the biggest value. If you fancy a miracle – major or minor under new coach Bruce Arians – check out the list of free bets for sportsbooks at freebets.co.uk before opening your wallet.

Super Bowl LIV winner

Right. Even the most avid fans will be sceptical about seeing Arians and his men on an open-top bus in February next year. By our calculations, the Buccaneers are 25th favorites for the Super Bowl. The best price we can find is the +8000 (80/1) from Sky Bet. Although, some should take heart from the fact that some sportsbooks are offering just half that price. Indeed, betting exchanges – were the price is determined by money alone – sees the Bucs moving up ahead of teams like the Panthers, Titans and Giants. That’s something to hold on to at least.

NFC Winner

After a dozen seasons without playoff football, an NFC Championship seems just as unlikely as winning the Super Bowl. However, it obviously should never be ruled out. The bookies only see four teams – Redskins, Giants, Cardinals and Lions – as less likely than the Bucs to be crowned kings of the NFC next January. The best price we can find is +3300 (33/1) from Ladbrokes.

NFC South Winner

The Saints are unsurprisingly heavy favorites to win the division, with most sportsbooks offering odds against. The Bucs are outsiders for a first division championship since 2007. The best odds coming at +800 from Coral/Ladbrokes, however, suggest that sportsbooks think it’s improbable, rather than impossible.

Over/Under Wins

We know Arians is a talented and experienced coach, and most will hope that at least he can get some improvement after two consecutive five-win seasons. The sportsbooks have drawn the line at over/under 6.5 wins, with Unibet offering -110 for six or fewer and -110 for seven or more. Here’s the bad news: Oddschecker records that 90 percent of all bets in this market for the Bucs have gone on the ‘below’ market. We’ll see if they can prove the doubters wrong.

NFL Draft Pick

It’s a week until the 2019 NFL Draft, with the Bucs having the luxury of the No. 5 pick. Kyler Murray – the diminutive Heisman Trophy-winning Sooners star – is the hot favorite to be number one pick, with odds of -500. The Cardinals have first pick, so he is tipped to end up in Arizona. If it all goes how the sportsbooks expect it – and it’s a very big if – then the Bucs will end up with Josh Allen (not to be confused with the Bills quarterback) – a line backer with plans to become the next Khali Mack. It’s +3300 (33/1) that Allen is picked first in the Draft.