Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals are sizable favorites vs the Jacksonville Jaguars in NFL betting odds.

Murray, Cardinals Should Cover Spread vs Lowly Jags

Two weeks into the season, 25 of 32 NFL teams already have at least one loss. The Arizona Cardinals (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) fully expect they will be one of the few teams still undefeated after their Week 3 visit to face the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2, 0-2). Rookie head coach Urban Meyer and prized rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence have been outscored a combined 60-34 in their first two NFL games. 

Arizona Cardinals vs Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Date/Time: September 26, 1 p.m. ET
  • Stadium: TIAA Bank Field
  • TV Coverage: Fox
  • Sportsbook Odds: Cardinals -6 | O/U 46 (Line History)
  • Cardinals vs Jaguars Matchup Report

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Arizona opened as the early 6-point favorite, but it hasn’t taken long for that number to climb and it now sits at -7.5. The heavily favored Cardinals are only 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games as the betting chalk. The total opened at 46 and the number has now climbed all the way up to 52.5. The Cardinals have accounted for 72 points in their first two games.

Arizona News & Notes

On paper, the Cardinals look like they have had a great start to the season. Arizona is 2-0 and averaging 36 points per game. However, it took a missed 36-yard field-goal attempt by Vikings kicker Greg Joseph at the buzzer last week, or the Cards would be 1-1 instead of 2-0.

Defensively, the Cardinals held Kirk Cousins to 244 yards passing but did allow Dalvin Cook to gain 130 yards on the ground. Arizona has given up only 404 yards through the air in two games and has sacked opposing QBs seven times.

DFS players know that Kyler Murray can be a statistical freak and early this season he has put up big numbers yet again. The former first-round pick of the Oakland Athletics has seven passing TDs and two rushing scores to start the year. Only Derek Carr and the Raiders (817) have more passing yards than Murray and his Cardinals (689) through two weeks.

Jacksonville News & Notes

In seven seasons with Ohio State, Urban Meyer was 83-9. In his brief stint as an NFL head coach, he is 0-2 and his team has scored only 34 points in those two losses. The Jaguars have now lost 17 consecutive games and the average margin of defeat in those 17 losses is almost 13 points.

As the first overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, Trevor Lawrence is being asked to learn on the job in Jacksonville. Lawrence threw for only 118 yards in his first professional game, but against Houston last Sunday, the former Clemson Tiger topped 330 yards passing. Lawrence does need to protect the ball significantly better moving forward. He has five interceptions to start the season.

The Jacksonville defence has faced Tyrod Taylor and Teddy Bridgewater so far this year and has given up 60 points in those two games. Kyler Murray is a whole other level above Taylor and Bridgewater and the Jags will need to be at their very best to keep him from going off this week.

Staff Betting Pick: Cardinals -7.5

I totally understand that Arizona is only 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games as a favorite, but the Cardinals are a much better team than anything Jacksonville has faced to date. Until the Jags’ rookie head coach and rookie QB prove they are ready to compete at this level, I will be cautious with the Jaguars. Lay the 7.5 and take the Cardinals in this one.

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Shark Bites
  • The UNDER is 9-0 in Arizona’s last 9 road games.
  • Jacksonville is 0-17 SU in its last 17 games.
  • Arizona is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 as a favorite.
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