The Arizona Cardinals have looked every bit like a Super Bowl contender so far this season, currently sitting at 4-0 and the last undefeated team in the NFL. What’s more impressive is that three of the Cardinals’ four wins in 2021 have come on the road, and they’re back home against San Francisco on Sunday. Will they keep on track? Let’s see on this 49ers at Cardubaks betting pick.
Jimmy Garoppolo will likely be the starting QB on Sunday, but he’s playing through a calf injury. The 49ers have lost two in a row but by one score but also both at home. SF is a 5-point underdog as they travel to Glendale.
49ers Keep Things Close
San Francisco is 2-2 on the season, with each game being decided by one score. They’ve won road games in Detroit (41-33) and Philadelphia (17-11) to start 2-0 but have fallen to Green Bay (30-28) and Seattle (28-21) the last two weeks.
The main question for the matchup with the Cardinals is if the San Francisco offense can keep pace with an Arizona team scoring 35 ppg, which is tops in the NFL. The 49ers have actually averaged 26.8 ppg (7th) even with the offensive dud against the Eagles.
Garoppolo was hurt in last week’s loss to the Seahawks, but Kyle Shanahan has to like what he saw from Trey Lance in relief. The rookie was 9 for 18 with 157 yards and 2 TD but also ran for another 41 out of the pocket.
One bright spot from the loss to the Seahawks is that San Francisco held Russell Wilson to 149 yards passing, although he did throw 2 TD and go 16/23. Wilson also had a TD run, so it’s hard to tell if holding Kyler Murray to three total scores would be a win for SF or not.
Arizona Offense Fun to Watch
The Cardinals have put up 31+ points in all four of their games this season, topping the NFL in yards/game (440.5) in addition to points (35). Arizona’s key to their offensive success is diversity, having the 4th best pass offense (304) but also a top 6 rushing attack (136.5).
Arizona went to SoFi Stadium last week and hung a 37-20 beating on the Rams as +3.5 underdogs. Chase Edmonds and James Conner continue to be a viable 2-headed monster out of the Cardinals backfield with 170 yards on 30 carries. A.J. Green also continues his resurgence with a 41-yard TD catch.
The big dogs who are going to decide if Arizona gets to 5-0 are Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins, as usual. Murray hit on 24/32 passes against what is supposed to be one of the better defenses in the NFL while throwing 2 TDs vs. the Rams.
Murray is hitting 76% of his passes this year, and Hopkins is drawing the attention so the likes of Green and Rondale Moore can thrive. Hopkins only has 17 catches for 225 yards this year, yet Arizona is still 4-0.
49ers at Cardinals Pick
San Francisco won 20-12 in Arizona late last season, even as the Cardinals were trying to chase down a wild card berth. Murray hit on only 31 of 50 and had 0 TD and an INT, but you have to think this is a better Cardinals team this season.
That being said, San Francisco has a knack for keeping games close this season, and the Cardinals’ game plan falters a bit as they don’t know whether to prepare for Garoppolo or Lance. Everybody is going to be on ARZ in what seems like it should be a -7 point spread or higher, and that’s not good.
Pick: San Francisco +5
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.