New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals

The early Saints vs. Cardinals odds has Arizona as 3.5-point favorites, which accounts for them playing in the comfort of their home stadium, and that they were a playoff team last near the top of the NFL standings.

One of the most important Saints vs. Cardinals stats is how each team plays in the first half of the season. The New Orleans Saints won five of their first seven games in 2021, which is good. Arizona’s 7-0 start was better, and the best in the NFL.

Rivalry History

There isn’t much of a  history between these two teams. The last time they played was 2019, when the Saints won 31-9. In 2016 New Orleans won in a shootout, 48-41. The one time these two met in the playoffs the Saints also won big, 45-14.

Of course all of those games involved Drew Brees, and not current Saints quarterback Jameis Winston.

Matchup Trends

The small point spread reflected by the Saints vs. Cardinals odds is related to how Arizona finished last season at home. They went 11-6 in the regular season, but five of those six losses came at home – against the Packers, Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, Colts, and Seahawks. Weirdly, their lone road loss was in Detroit.

The Saints vs. Cardinals stats that make this an interesting game from an NFL picks standpoint is the comparison between quarterbacks. In his last full season as a starter Jameis Winston threw for 5,000 yards. 

Murray’s last full season was 2020 (he missed three games last year) and he put up over 4,700 total yards. As is the case with most NFL matchups, this game will swing on quarterback play.

Venue Information

The Arizona Cardinals play their home games at StateFarm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a western suburb of Phoenix. Since the stadium opened in 2003 it has hosted Super Bowl XLII, Super Bowl XLIX, and three College Football National Championships (2007, 2011, and 2016).

StateFarm Stadium will host its third Super Bowl following this season, scheduled for February 12, 2023. Heading into the 2022 season the Cardinals were 75-55-2 all-time at StateFarm Stadium.

Betting Tips for New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals

Perhaps the most important factor to study when looking at the Saints vs. Cardinals stats is how the New Orleans offense is doing this season without head coach Sean Payton doing the game-planning and playcalling. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is experienced, but he’s in a new role.

If the Saints offense looks good against the likes of Tampa Bay, Minnesota, and Cincinnati, the Saints vs. Cardinals odds may look favorable for the underdog.

Especially the Bengals game, which comes at the front of the short week because of the NFL schedule and the Thursday game in Arizona.

The Saints vs. Cardinals odds may look entirely different to you as a bettor if Arizona gets through its gauntlet of an early schedule, that has them facing postseason teams Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas, the Rams, and Philadelphia.

Those are all very good NFL teams that will give us a strong sense of just how good Arizona can be by the end of the season.

One final important Saints vs. Cardinals stat is how each has done as an NFL pick against the spread. In 2021 Arizona finished the regular season 10-7 against the spread, but only 2-6 at home. 

The Saints finished the season 9-8, but just 2-5 on the road.