Former Buccaneers HC Jon Gruden Boldly Predicts Super Bowl Winner Ahead of NFL Season

Get ready, Buccaneers fans! The NFL season is just around the corner, and training camp is heating up. Former Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden is arguably the most pumped for the new season.

After stepping away from coaching in 2021, Jon Gruden has kept his finger on the pulse of football through his work with Barstool Sports, staying plugged into the NFL and college game.

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In a recent rapid-fire Q&A with Peighton Tubre, Jon Gruden confidently picked his ‘sleeper’ team for the 2025 NFL season – and boldly predicted they’d take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. According to Gruden, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are poised to make a deep playoff run, citing the team’s strong roster and divisional setup as key factors.

“Sleeper team for this year,” Gruden was asked by Tubre. “Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gonna win the Super Bowl.”

Baker Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick, will lead the Buccaneers’ offense for the third consecutive season. Despite Tampa Bay’s consistent competitiveness in the NFC and dominance in the NFC South, the team has struggled to make a deep playoff run, often falling short when it matters most.

The Buccaneers are poised for a strong 2025.   With Baker Mayfield building on his career-best season, veteran wideout Mike Evans gearing up for his 12th year, and Bucky Irving taking strides in his second season as a running back. Add to that the impressive start from rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and Tampa Bay has a legitimate shot at dominating their division after a 10-7 finish last season.

The Buccaneers have odds of +2800 to win Super Bowl LX, according to DraftKings. Which translates to a 3.5% chance of winning. Other sportsbooks have similar odds. With FanDuel listing them at +3000 (3.2% chance) and BetMGM at +2700 (3.6% chance). ESPN Bet has the Buccaneers at +3500. These odds rank the Buccaneers around 12th in the league. With the top contenders being the Philadelphia Eagles (+650), Baltimore Ravens (+700), Buffalo Bills (+750), and Kansas City Chiefs (+750).

Here are some additional odds for the Buccaneers

• Odds to Win NFC Championship Game: +1300 (7.1% chance)
• Odds to Win NFC South Division: -105 (51.2% chance)
• Odds to Make Playoffs: -170 (62.9% chance)
• Projected Win Total: Over/Under 9.5 wins (-105/-115)