The Arizona Cardinals are flying high.
The team is undefeated at 6-0 and is rolling toward a playoff push. There have been some shaky moments, including a win against the Minnesota Vikings thanks to a missed chip-shot field goal. But as the saying goes: “A win is a win.”
Now Arizona looks poised to notch another victory when the Cards take on the struggling Houston Texans this Sunday. Houston is in full rebuild mode and has lost five straight games. So it should come as no surprise that Arizona heads into this matchup as heavy favorites.
One would think this is an easy bet and that the Cardinals should wipe the floor with Houston. However, I would say: “Hold your horses.”
Arizona sportsbooks expect Cardinals to beat Houston easily
If you look at sportsbooks in Arizona, it is clear that the Cardinals are expected to beat the Texans in a blowout, as indicated with the point spread set at .
Houston Texans (1-5) at Arizona Cardinals (6-0)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 24
Time: 1:25 p.m. MST
Location: State Farm Stadium– Glendale, Arizona
TV Coverage: CBS
Someone new to sports betting may think that it should not be difficult for the Cards to cover. However, large point spreads in the NFL can be tricky. In theory, the Cardinals should be considered a much better team than the 1-5 Texans.
But there are some small details bettors might want to think about before placing a large amount of money on the Cards to cover.
1. Any Given Sunday
In the NFL, any team can win any game. These are professional athletes. Although Houston is struggling, that does not mean they do not have talented players and good coaching. It only takes two or three plays to drastically change the outcome of a game. It’s something any team is capable of doing. That’s what makes it so hard for a team to win every game they play.
2. It is hard to blow teams out
People new to sports betting may not know that many NFL games finish with a spread within 14 points. Heck, most lines are single digits. Cardinals fans may not realize that because their team has won by double digits four times this season. However, here is something to keep in mind: The Baltimore Ravens (currently 5-1) beat the winless Detroit Lions (currently 0-6) in a 19-17 Week 3 game thanks to Justin Tucker’s NFL-record 66-yard field goal as time expired. The Ravens won, but they did not cover their 7.5-point spread.
3. Backdoor Covers
The dreaded backdoor cover. It is the kryptonite to sports bettors everywhere and the ally to what the gambling world likes to call “Bad Beats.” An example: The Cardinals jump out to a 21-point lead late in the 4th quarter and the team decides to pull their starters thinking the game is in hand. That could present the perfect opportunity for the Texans to score a touchdown late in the game and cover the spread.
Positive thinking: Cardinals futures betting outlook
Now we are all in on the Arizona Cardinals. So let’s stop all the Nervous Nellie talk and look forward to some Cards success.
At the start of the season, the Cardinals betting odds to win the 2022 Super Bowl were at +4500, according to DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona, putting the team tied for the 17th-best chance of winning the championship. Fast-forward to Week 7, and now the odds of the Cards winning the Super Bowl are at . That is near the top among teams in the league.
Before the season started, Caesars Arizona set the over/under for the Cardinals at eight total wins. People that bet the over on that are only two wins away from cashing in. Who would have thought that bet had a chance of hitting just midway through the season? Now the total wins for the Cards sits at .
DraftKings had quarterback Kyler Murray tied for the sixth-best odds to win league MVP at the start of the season, while FanDuel Sportsbook AZ had him ranked 10th. Now heading into Week 7, his odds have jumped to . On most Arizona mobile betting apps, you can find Murray listed with the best or at least tied for the best odds to be named the NFL’s best player.
There is still a lot of football to be played before the Cardinals can clinch a playoff spot or Kyler becomes an MVP finalist, but all signs point toward a fun — perhaps historic — Cardinals season. Whether or not they cover against Houston will not change that. However, it may put a sour taste in the mouths of bettors if the Texans () come away with the upset win.
