Sunday's final preseason game between the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals brings together two teams who have plenty to look forward to, although neither Kyler Murray nor Bo Nix will be in action today.
That means my Broncos vs. Cardinals predictions are for a low-scoring preseason game in our NFL picks for August 25.
Broncos vs Cardinals Prediction
- Under 35, bet to 33.5
The best line for this NFL preseason bet is available at DraftKings according to our live NFL odds page.
Broncos vs Cardinals Odds
| Cardinals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -115 | 35 -110o / -110u | +130 |
| Broncos Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -105 | 35 -110o / -110u | -155 |
- Broncos vs Cardinals point spread: Broncos -3 | Cardinals +3
- Broncos vs Cardinals total: Over/under 35
- Broncos vs Cardinals moneyline: Broncos -155 | Cardinals +130
The spread for Broncos-Cardinals has moved from -2.5 at open to Denver -3 thanks to the Broncos' impressive win last week. Meanwhile, the total had fallen from 36.5 to 35.5 but has now come back up to 35 at some books, which is good news for our under bet.
Broncos vs Cardinals Betting Trends
- 79% of bets and 84% of the money are on the Broncos to cover the spread.
- 54% of bets and 44% of the money are on the over.
All data via Action Network's public betting percentages.
Broncos vs Cardinals Preview
Coming into this matchup, the Arizona Cardinals are 0-2 in the preseason. Their losses have come to the Saints in a close 16-14 matchup, and the Indianapolis Colts 21-13. Clayton Tune looked good in his first matchup against the Saints, throwing for 163 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. The Cardinals outgained the Saints, but it wasn’t enough to ward off the Saint’s deep quarterback room. Well, for preseason standards at least.
The next week we saw a bit more of Desmond Ridder and less of Tune. Tune will get the start against the Denver Broncos, but I am not sure how much time he will see on the field. He seems to have solidified his spot as the back-up to Kyler Murray, so I expect the Cardinals to give Ridder plenty of time to see live action against the Broncos.
The Broncos just named rookie Bo Nix as their starting quarterback, and it has been made public that we will not see him in this matchup. Stidham will start for the Broncos and Zach Wilson will “get a lot of snaps.” If you have watched Zach Wilson at any point over the last three seasons, you know this is a very concerning quote. The possibility of Zach Wilson and Desmond Ridder facing off is disgusting, but this is likely a reality come the second quarter.
Bo Nix carried this offense throughout the first two weeks of the preseason, totaling 205 passing yards and two touchdowns. This will be replaced with Sitdham and Wilson, who have a combined one passing touchdown and two interceptions. The Denver offense has regressed this preseason as soon as you remove Bo Nix from the equation. Since we will be seeing a combination of Stidham and Wilson against the Cardinals, can we expect much offense at all?
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My Broncos vs Cardinals Prediction
Cardinals vs Broncos Pick
It will be backup quarterbacks galore in this matchup, and that is enough to convince me that offenses will stall. Aside from Tune, neither Ridder, Stidham, nor Wilson have impressed with their offensive acumen. I expect a low-scoring game to round out the preseason for Denver and Arizona this Sunday.
Broncos vs Cardinals Best Bet: Under 33.5
How to Watch Broncos vs Cardinals Live: Start Time, Channel, Location
| Location: | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO |
| Date: | Sunday, August 25, 2024 |
| Time: | 4:30 p.m. ET |
| TV Channel/Live Streaming: | CBS |
This NFL preseason game will be broadcast live on CBS, as well as local television coverage. Cardinals-Broncos is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
