ARIZONA CARDINALS

When was the last time the Cardinals were favored to win a football game?

Sep 20, 2019, 11:34 AM | Updated: 2:23 pm

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, speaks with quarterback Kyler Murray in the fi...

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, right, speaks with quarterback Kyler Murray in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

(AP Photo/Gail Burton)

For the first time in the Kyler Murray era, the Arizona Cardinals are favored to win a football game.

Even without a win, the Cardinals have been a pleasant surprise so far this season. Murray impressed in the fourth quarter and overtime of Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, and the team held close against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Arizona has averaged over 100 yards per game more than it did last season.

Now Arizona is vying for its first win of the season.

With Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Kyle Allen likely to start in place of Cam Newton, the Cardinals seemingly have the advantage.

With two-point odds in their favor, Bovada thinks the Cardinals could get it.

It’s one of the few times that Arizona has had the confidence of betting sites heading into a game over the last year.

Last season, the Sam Bradford-led Cardinals were favored by two points over the Washington Redskins in Week 1. Their abysmal performance scared bettors away — for good reason.

Not until Week 11 of last season was Arizona favored to win again. They had a few things going in their favor: In Week 8, the Cardinals managed to take down the 49ers (+3 odds against Arizona in that game). After a Week 9 bye, the Cardinals put together a solid performance against the seemingly unstoppable Kansas City Chiefs and soon-to-be MVP Patrick Mahomes (+17 odds going into the game).

Three straight weeks of primarily positives (and rest) heading into a game against the one-win Raiders seemed like a game Arizona could take. But the Cardinals lost.

Not only were the Cardinals not favored again, they were favored to lose by two touchdowns or more three of their final six games. They were favored to lose by less than one touchdown just once during that span.

This year, the Lions were favored by three over the Cardinals and the Ravens were favored by 13.

Arizona is the two-point favorite over the Panthers in Week 3. Can the Cardinals get their first win?

Array
Presented By
Western Governors University

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals first-round draft picks Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald...

Kevin Zimmerman

With Cardinals eyeing a franchise receiver, let’s look back at Arizona’s history of drafting WRs

The Arizona Cardinals have rarely drafted receivers in the first round of the NFL Draft. In 2024, that rarity should happen.

53 minutes ago

A general view as the Arizona Cardinals make their draft pick during the first round of the 2019 NF...

David Veenstra

All the Arizona Cardinals picks in the 2024 NFL Draft: Full list

The 2024 NFL Draft order is now set after compensatory picks were announced on Friday. The Cardinals have 11 total picks.

2 hours ago

Trey Lance...

Arizona Sports

What is the going rate for top 5 picks? Looking at NFL Draft trades with Cardinals facing choices

The Cardinals are in the opportunistic position of owning the No. 4 pick when more teams need a quarterback entering the NFL Draft.

13 hours ago

Monti Ossenfort looks on...

Tyler Drake

What trade packages could the Cardinals potentially get for the No. 4 NFL Draft pick?

What could the Cardinals get in a trade for the No. 4 overall pick? A look at the teams that might be interested and what it would cost.

15 hours ago

Monti Ossenfort chats with Michael Bidwill pregame...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals Corner: Best- and worst-case scenarios for Cardinals’ NFL Draft

Cardinals Corner co-hosts Tyler Drake and Lauren Koval break down the best- and worst-case scenarios for Arizona this NFL Draft.

16 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

John Gambadoro

The Gambo 5: Predicting whom the Arizona Cardinals pick 1st in 2024

Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze and two others are on Gambo's list of predicted Arizona Cardinals picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

21 hours ago

When was the last time the Cardinals were favored to win a football game?