Week 9 of the NFL season is fast approaching. The Arizona Cardinals will hit the road and take on the San Francisco 49ers. It's time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Cardinals-49ers prediction and pick.
These two teams have been having very different seasons. The Cardinals are 7-1 and coming off their first loss of the season. The 49ers are 3-4 and coming off their first win since Week 2. This should be an interesting matchup.
For our conversation about Cardinals-49ers on the Establish the Pass podcast, click below:
Here's how the bookmakers have set the odds for the Cardinals-49ers matchup.
NFL Odds: Cardinals-49ers Odds:
Arizona Cardinals: +2.5 (-110)
San Francisco 49ers: -2.5 (-110)
Over 45.5 (-110)
Under 45.5 (-110)
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Why The Cardinals Could Win
The Arizona Cardinals have been the best team in the NFL this season. They have dominated most of their opponents, winning the majority of their games by more than one possession. Arizona is coming off their first loss of the season. The Cardinals lost to Green Bay on Thursday Night Football by a field goal. They will look to regroup and bounce back from this loss against an easier team. These two teams have met once before this season with the Cardinals getting the win. Arizona will look to repeat that success in this game.
The biggest question heading into this game surrounds Kyler Murray. Murray has been having a phenomenal season. He has been dominating opposing defenses and is huge reason that this Cardinals team has been so successful. Murray suffered an ankle sprain on Thursday night. While he has had a longer time than usual to recover, he is still day-to-day. If Murray plays then the Cardinals should have no problem winning this game. If the starting quarterback sits, however, this game gets a lot closer. Things are looking promising though and his status should be monitored closely.
On the other side of the ball, the Arizona defense has been having a great year. The Cardinals rank fourth in the league in total yards allowed. Arizona allows less than 320 yards of offense to opposing teams. They have managed to shut opponents down and give the offense the opportunity to run away with games. And this team has done just that. The combination of an explosive offense and a shutdown defense is what makes this Cardinals team so dangerous. Even if Murray doesn't play, the Arizona defense should keep this team in the game.
Why The 49ers Could Win
The San Francisco 49ers are 3-4 heading into this game and are looking to turn things around. They took a step in the right direction last week when they got their first win since Week 2. The 49ers took down the Chicago Bears by 11 and will look to carry that momentum into a tough Week 9 matchup. If San Francisco can stay competitive for four quarters then they could win this game. The team needs to come together and step up as they face their toughest opponent yet.
Leading this 49ers team is Jimmy Garoppolo. Jimmy G is a very solid quarterback and he is finding his groove again. He has only played six games this season an has thrown for over 1400 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. His biggest problem has been finding the end zone. If San Francisco wants to compete with the Cardinals then they will need to score. If Jimmy G can continue his production and toss a couple touchdowns then this 49ers team could compete and get a win against Arizona.
The San Francisco defense has been having a great year. They rank fifth in the league in total yards allowed and have kept this team competitive through their offensive woes. Their have been injuries for this team on the offensive side, but the Niners defense has kept this team in games. San Francisco's defense will play a big part in this game. If they can manage to limit Arizona's offense and give Jimmy G an opportunity to get ahead, then the 49ers could win this game.
Final Cardinals-49ers Prediction & Pick
This game is going to be an interesting one. The line is set where it is because of the questions surrounding Murray's health. Once he is listed as healthy or injured then the line will likely be changed. With that said, if Murray plays on Sunday, then the Cardinals are definitely the correct pick. Arizona is a different caliber of team than the 49ers. The Cardinals have legitimate super bowl ambitions. If Murray doesn't play then the under could be a good choice. The offense will be stunted without the star quarterback and this could turn into a defensive battle. Pick the Cardinals to cover if Murray plays or pick the under if Murray is out.
FINAL CARDINALS-49ERS PREDICTION & PICK: If Kyler Plays, Arizona Cardinals +2.5 (-110), If Kyler Doesn't Play, Under 45.5 (-110)
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