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August 9, 2023
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Betting against the Arizona Cardinals proved to be easy money last year with the team going on to win just four games coming nowhere close to their 8.5-game season win total odds. Hopefully y’all listened and bought the 7.5-gamer alternative offering I suggested and recouped a near 2-1 pay-off! Fast forward a season and it’s a new era for the franchise with Kliff Kingsbury a thing of the past – as predicted – and former Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon taking over the reins. The NFL betting market is bearish on his prospects in year one of the new regime as evidenced by the Cardinals possessing the lowest season win total odds of all 32 teams and BetRivers Sportsbook attaching heavy -121 juice to the low side of that impost. However, as the new season approaches, there is renewed hope for the team to bounce back and exceed expectations.
Arizona Cardinals: Build Back Better!
The 2022-23 season was a forgettable one for the NFC West reps after securing a playoff berth in 2021. They were hopeful of building on that success but it never came to pass after stumbling to a 4-13 record that came with poor performances on both sides of the ball. The team also struggled in one-score games, finishing with a 2-6 record in such contests. Despite some bad luck and a heavy assault from the injury bug, the Cardinals’ poor performance was indicative of their overall struggles. In the highly competitive NFC West, the Cardinals finished dead last with a sickening -109 point differential. Heading into 2023-24, Arizona is looking to turn things around. With a new coaching staff led by head coach Jonathan Gannon, there is a sense of optimism and a fresh start for the team. Gannon, along with OC Drew Petzing and DC Nick Rallis, will be responsible for implementing a new system and game plan to maximize the team’s potential. This however is clearly a rebuilding year with the future looking much brighter after new GM Monti Ossenfort set the team up nicely for down the road by owning the 2023 NFL Draft.
Bet the Arizona Cardinals Season Win Total at BetRivers Sportsbook
Arizona Cardinals Season Wins Total: 4.5
The Cardinals have what appears to be the same type of challenging schedule that saw them win less than a handful of games a season ago. Last year’s schedule strength ranked out as the ninth toughest heading into the regular season per the folks at Sharp Football Analysis. This year’s ranks out at No. 11! As such, it comes with little surprise to see their win total clock in at just 4.5-games with tough matchups scheduled right out of the chute. Zona had gone over its win total two straight years before coming up short last season. It getting back over the hump this time around will ultimately depend on what upper management wants to do with Kyler Murray once deemed healthy to return to the huddle the back half of the year. The franchise is set up nicely to compete in 2024 with potentially two upper tiered first round draft picks, so it remains to be seen if they think it’s even worth it to march him back out there at all. The Cardinals will run up against 10 teams that had winning records last season, including five that won 12 or more games. Additionally, they will face four teams that had five or fewer wins. This mix of tough and favorable matchups will test the Cardinals’ ability to compete and go a long way in determining which side of the win total ultimately cashes in.
Case for the Over
Despite their struggles in the previous season, there are reasons to believe that the Cardinals can exceed expectations and surpass their 4.5-game win total. One of the key factors is the potential return of QB Kyler Murray, who missed a significant portion of the previous season due to an ACL and meniscus injury. With Murray back in the lineup, the Cardinals’ offense should see a significant improvement. Additionally, the team has made changes to their coaching staff, bringing in new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis. These changes could bring a fresh perspective and improve the team’s overall performance; especially on the defensive side of the ball where the stop unit won’t be as susceptible to big plays due to a much lesser rate of blitz packages being called.
Case for the Under
On the other hand, there are factors that could contribute to the Cardinals falling short of their win total. One major concern is the strength of the NFC West. The division features strong teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks with the Los Angeles Rams a major unknown, making every divisional matchup challenging. Additionally, the Cardinals have a tough schedule overall, facing teams with winning records from the previous season. The combination of a competitive division and a challenging schedule could pose significant hurdles for a team lacking in the talent department that’s being overlooked by a coaching staff only now cutting its teeth as top dogs at the NFL level.
Arizona Cardinals Schedule
Week 1: at Commanders
Week 2: vs. Giants
Week 3: vs. Cowboys
Week 4: at 49ers
Week 5: vs. Bengals
Week 6: at Rams
Week 7: at Seahawks
Week 8: vs. Ravens
Week 9: at Browns
Week 10: vs. Falcons
Week 11: at Texans
Week 12: vs. Rams
Week 13: at Steelers
Week 14: Bye Week
Week 15: vs. 49ers
Week 16: at Bears
Week 17: at Eagles
Week 18: vs. Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals Season Win Total Analysis
When considering betting on the Arizona Cardinals’ win total for the upcoming season, it is important to analyze various factors leading up to the week 1 kick-off against the Commanders. These include the team’s performance in one-score games, their ability to win against tougher opponents, and the potential impact of key players like Kyler Murray, James Conner, and Marquise Brown. If that triumvirate is able to stay healthy and compete in a majority of games played, Zona will have an opportunity to silence its nay-sayers and exceed its win total. If not, they’re going to lose a majority of their games with it entirely possible they don’t go off the board favored on the NFL odds to win a single game. I’m not exaggerating! The QB room minus Murray is a disgrace and one upper management didn’t seem keen on improving during the offseason. Schemes and philosophies will be instilled, but I think this team lies down like the dog it is knowing full well drastic improvement can and will be made in year two of the Gannon regime.
Arizona Cardinals Season Win Total Prediction: Under 4.5 -121
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