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The Arizona Cardinals burst out of the gates by rattling off seven straight wins a season ago. They looked like bonafide Super Bowl contenders with triumphs logged against the Titans, Vikings, Rams, 49ers, and Browns. Then the injury bug flew in and took a major bite out of the roster when it sunk its teeth into Kyler Murray’s ankle in the Week 8 opener against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. That defeat would be the first of six games the Cards would drop the rest of the way which saw them limp into the playoffs before being easily disposed by the eventual hoisters of the Lombardi Trophy in the Wildcard round.
Kliff Kingsbury’s first venture into the playoffs isn’t expected to be repeated when going by what the linemakers over at SugarHouse Sportsbook have to say. Along with being expected to finish third in the division when going by the futures odd to win the NFC West (+400), Arizona is a slight +115 underdog to return to the postseason. That being said, the win total is a full game higher than it was last year. That speaks volumes about the competitive nature of the division with the Rams (-278) and 49ers (-230) each expected to punch tickets to the second season.
NFL bettors looking to cash in on the over of the Cardinals’ season wins total a third straight time best hope the team can stick to its recent trend under the current regime. Believe it or not, Zona has managed only seven wins through 21 tries from week 11 on under Kingsbury. I’d come away extremely surprised if the team were able to get out to another impressive start in 2022-23. One only has to look at the schedule the first three weeks to understand why. Though Kyler just got paid and he’s been reunited with former OU teammate Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, I’m not at all sold on this team living up to its preseason expectations. Neither is the betting public, evidenced by the win total dropping a full game since hitting the board at 9.5!
Bet the Arizona Cardinals Season Wins Total at SugarHouse Sportsbook
Arizona Cardinals Season Wins Total: 8.5 Over -125
Most impressive about Zona’s impressive start to the 2021-22 campaign was that they continued to rattle off wins against what turned out to be the third toughest schedule in the NFL. However, they still only went on to win three of their seven games decided by a touchdown or less. I’m of the belief that Kingsbury isn’t the guy and will stick to those guns heading into this season. He can’t be with the team just 10-13-1 in one-score games under his watch.
Regardless, Sharp Football Analysis forecasts another tough schedule ahead with it ranked out as the ninth toughest in the league. The departures of Christian Kirk and Chase Edmonds are bothersome, but the six-game suspension of DeAndre Hopkins at the outset of the year could prove to be a season-killer!
Arizona Cardinals Football Schedule
Week 1: Chiefs at Cardinals, Sunday, September 11, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 2: Cardinals at Raiders, Sunday, September 18, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 3: Rams at Cardinals, Sunday, September 25, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 4: Cardinals at Panthers, Sunday, October 2, 4:05 p.m. ET
Week 5: Eagles at Cardinals, Sunday, October 9, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 6: Cardinals at Seahawks, Sunday, October 16, 4:05 p.m. ET
Week 7: Texans at Cardinals, Thursday, October 20, 8:15 p.m. ET, PRIME
Week 8: Cardinals at Vikings, Sunday, October 30, 1 p.m. ET
Week 9: Seahawks at Cardinals, Sunday, November 6, 4:05 p.m. ET
Week 10: Cardinals at Rams, Sunday, November 13, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 11: 49ers at Cardinals, Monday, November 21, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN*
Week 12: Chargers at Cardinals, Sunday, November 27, 4:05 p.m. ET
Week 13: Bye Week
Week 14: Patriots at Cardinals, Monday, December 12, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Week 15: Cardinals at Broncos, Sunday, December 18, 4:05 p.m. ET
Week 16: Buccaneers at Cardinals, Sunday, December 25, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Week 17: Cardinals at Falcons, Sunday, January 1, 1 p.m. ET
Week 18: Cardinals at 49ers, Sunday, January 8, 4:25 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals Season Win Total Analysis
Last year’s success which resulted in the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2015 finds the Cardinals appearing in four prime-time games. I got an inkling PRIME, ESPN, and NBC won’t be too thrilled once those games come up on the schedule. The start to Zona’s regular season is laughable. They open with a visit from Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, head to Sin City for the new-look Las Vegas Raiders home opener, and then return to the desert to host the reigning Super Bowl champs. It’s not entirely out of the question that they enter Week 4’s road trip to Carolina 0-3! After that, Jalen Hurts and a Philadelphia Eagles team I believe wins the NFC East invades the desert. The Cards first win could be logged as deep into the season as week 6 or 7 when they lock horns with the Geno Smith led Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans, respectively.
“Nuk” will have a game under his belt when the team travels to the Twin Cities for a bout with a Minnesota Vikings squad that I believe gives Green Bay a major run for the NFC North title. Of their first eight games, five will be played against potential playoff teams. It doesn’t get much better moving forward either. From Week 10 on, Arizona will be forced to run up against seven teams currently favored at SugarHouse to punch a ticket into the second season!
On paper, the Cardinals have the look of a team that will compete for division bragging rights and with it, a return trip to the playoffs. I’m selling that frame of mind and doing so in a big way! It’s crazy to me that the current schedule isn’t the toughest of all 32 teams, as nasty as it looks right now. While things will undoubtedly change over the course of the season, I’m still not buying what Arizona is selling. Don’t look for the team to live up to its recent “MO” under the current coaching staff. They won’t get out to a scorching hot start, and it will likely snowball into Kingsbury getting axed by GM Steve Keim before the season’s end. I’m buying Kliff to be the first coach fired at 12-1 odds and will also hit their alternate win total under 7.5 at a +195 return. Look for them to battle Seattle for the basement of the final standings.
Arizona Cardinals Season Win Total Prediction: Under 8.5
