Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have broken up. After 20 years and six Super Bowls, the Patriots dynasty is no more.
Brady is leaving New England, the only team he has ever known, for Tampa. Belichick will prepare for the upcoming season without a Hall of Fame quarterback.
There has always been a debate about whether Brady or Belichick contributed more to the Patriots' success. The quarterback is the most important position on the football field, but Belichick is the genius behind the scenes pulling all the strings.
With Brady’s departure we are about to find out who the true GOAT is, and oddsmakers are getting in on the action.
Odds as of Monday at 9 a.m. ET and via FanDuel. Get up to a $500 risk-free bet at FanDuel today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.
More Wins in 2020-21 Regular Season: Patriots vs. Buccaneers
- Patriots -110
- Buccaneers -110
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We make a case for both Brady and Belichick before sharing our projections to find bettors value.
Backing Brady
Last year, Tampa finished 7-9 with Jameis Winston throwing a league-leading 30 interceptions and seven pick-sixes. Brady will be an instant upgrade over Winston from a turnover perspective. TB12 has never thrown more than 14 interceptions in a season and has been picked fewer than ten times in five of the past six seasons.
Brady struggled last season but the Patriots were void of pass-catching talent. Tampa will give Tom Terrific a pair of excellent receivers. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans each had over 1,100 receiving yards in 2019. The Buccaneers and Brady are a perfect match for one another.
Betting on Belichick
It is almost impossible to replace a Hall of Fame quarterback, but it would be foolish to think Belichick & Co. can’t keep winning. For starters, New England had one of the most dominant defenses in football last season, finishing No. 1 in defensive DVOA. Belichick has also shown an ability to win without Brady. In 2008, the Patriots went 10-5 after Brady suffered an ACL injury in Week 1.
Coach Over Quarterback
Clearly, there are reasons to bet on both Belichick and Brady. However, after running 10,000 simulations of the upcoming season we project the Patriots' most likely record to be 10-6 and the Buccaneers to go 9-7.
Our model sees value backing Belichick and the Patriots.
