Thursday night’s gut-punch loss to the Falcons knocked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of first place in the NFC South. And for the first time this season, the Bucs are officially out of the NFL playoff picture – while the Carolina Panthers have clawed their way in.

But here’s the twist: Vegas still believes in Tampa Bay.

Despite sliding in the standings, the Bucs remain the betting favorites to win the NFC South. According to the latest odds, Tampa Bay sits at -130, while Carolina trails close behind at +110. It’s now a two-horse race — with both the Falcons and Saints officially eliminated.

The NFL schedule gods knew what they were doing. The Bucs and Panthers are set to face off twice — in Week 16 and again in the Week 18 season finale. And the stakes couldn’t be higher.

If either team sweeps those two games, they win the division — no matter what else happens.

So yeah, buckle up. The NFC South is far from settled. The Bucs have blown their lead but still control their fate — and betting markets haven’t flinched. Whether that faith is well-placed will be decided on the field over the next few weeks.