After a second straight four-win season, there will be pressure on the ArizonaCardinals to show progress. Kyler Murray will be fully healthy as head coach Jonathan Gannon takes on his second season as an NFL head coach.
Here's everything you need to know about the Cardinals.
Odds via FanDuel and as of Aug. 17.
Market | Odds |
---|---|
Super Bowl | +8000 |
NFC Champion | +3500 |
NFC West | +1300 |
Make/Miss Playoffs | +350 / -480 |
Win Total | 7.5 (+124 / -152) |
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2023 Cardinals Betting Records
- 9-8 against the spread (+0.9% ROI)
- 10-7 to the over (+12.1% ROI)
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Past Cardinals Win Totals
Season | Win Total | No. of Wins |
---|---|---|
2021 | 8.5 | 11 |
2022 | 8.5 | 4 |
2023 | 4.5 | 4 |
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Important Cardinals Betting Stats
In his NFL career, Murray is 34-30-2 against the spread. Backup Desmond Ridder is 6-11 against the spread and Clayton Tune was 0-1 in his lone start last season.
Last season, Gannon was 9-8 against the spread.
After a shaky season in Gannon’s debut campaign as a head coach, it’s time for the Cardinals to show that they can take a significant step forward.
The Cardinals weren’t expected to compete last season with Murray missing most of the season as he recovered from a torn ACL. He returned and looked like his old self eventually, which was a good sign heading into this season.
The Cardinals offense especially should take a step forward this season. Paris Johnson Jr. was the sixth overall pick in the draft back in 2023, and then Arizona took Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth pick this year. When investing that kind of draft capital in your offense, positive results should be expected.
Johnson needs to take a big step forward after grading 59th of 85 offensive tackles on Pro Football Focus, allowing a team-high 42 pressures. He’ll get help this year, though, with Jonah Williams taking over at right tackle so he can shift over to left tackle.
That offensive line needs to hold up its end of the bargain, because the playmakers in Arizona look pretty capable.
Harrison is joined by Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson in a wide receivers room that has strong potential, while running back Trey Benson will challenge James Conner in the backfield for carries. Also, tight end Trey McBride broke out toward the end of last season and has star potential with Murray under center the entire season.
Defensively, there could be issues for Arizona. The good news for them is that is the side of the ball where Gannon has an expertise. The Cardinals could be a potential spoiler if they can contain opposing offenses enough.
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How To Back the Cardinals This Season
Expectations are high for the Cardinals this season, with a win total set at 7.5. The expectation is they'll go below that since the over is priced at +124, but those are still lofty expectations in a potentially difficult division.
If you believe in Arizona, that's the best way to back them from a betting perspective. The Cardinals will also be a popular underdog to bet this season.
In your fantasy football league, Cardinals skill-position players could be popular sleeper picks if the offense does get going this season with Murray back under center.
According to Action Network's Sean Koerner, the Cardinals will face the 20th-most difficult schedule in the NFL this season.
Arizona will face two playoff teams in its division in the 49ers and Rams, but it also has matchups against 2023 playoff teams in the Bills, Lions, Packers and Dolphins. After playing Miami in Week 8, Arizona has just two games in its final nine against playoff teams from last season, and those games are in Weeks 17 and 18.
The Cardinals are the second-biggest underdog in the NFL in Week 1. They’re a 6.5-point ‘dog on the road against the Bills. The game total is 48.5, which is tied for the second biggest of the week.