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With the NFL regular season fast approaching, we at SportsUntapped are taking our crystal balls out of storage and examining each team’s full 16-game schedule to prognosticate how the 2011 season will play out. We’ll look at all 32 teams and reveal each one’s final record. Next up: Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last year’s record: 10-6.

Vegas Over/Under on 2011 Regular Season Wins: 8.

First four games:
Sept. 11 Detroit, 1 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Sept. 25 Atlanta, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 3 Indianapolis, 8:30 p.m.

A 2-0 start looks likely for the Buccaneers, and then can they steal one of their next home games against the Falcons or Colts. Probably, so we’ll put Tampa Bay at 3-1 after their first four contests.

Second four games:
Oct. 9 at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Oct. 16 New Orleans, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 23 Chicago at London, 1 p.m.
Oct. 30 BYE
Nov. 6 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

All of these games could be tough or winnable, but I’m not convinced this team can win consistently away from home, so I think they only win one of these and fall back to .500 at midseason.

First four games of the second half:
Nov. 13 Houston, 1 p.m.
Nov. 20 at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Dec. 4 Carolina, 1 p.m.

The Packers game is a definite loss, the Panthers at home should be a definite win, so a split of the other two keeps them even at 6-6 through 12 games.

Last four games:
Dec. 11 at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Dec. 17 Dallas, 8:20 p.m.
Dec. 24 at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Jan. 1 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

There’s probably two more losses in these last four games, putting the mediocre Bucs closer to reality than last year with an 8-8 record.