Home Favorite Cardinals Easy Call Over Vikings

After Week 1 in the NFL, it’s hard not to like the chances of Arizona (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS). The Cardinals dominated the Titans, winning outright as 2.5-point underdogs at Tennessee. Their hot start, combined with a lackluster effort by Minnesota (0-1, 0-1) in Cincinnati, makes Arizona a really intriguing play giving up just 4 points.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Cardinals impressed in Week 1 and the Vikings struggled against a far inferior team, making it somewhat surprising the Cardinals are only favored by 4 points. This is clearly a hedge by oddsmakers on the Vikings bouncing back against a team they have owned recently, winning five of the last six games against Arizona.

Minnesota News & Notes

After failing to meet expectations last season, you might figure with a regular offseason that Mike Zimmer’s team would be ready to go. After all, they were on the road against a young Bengals team with a quarterback just coming back from a major injury.

What we saw was a team that had to claw and scrap just to get to overtime. That led Zimmer to state after the game to the media: ”I think we can still be good, but we have to go out and show it.” 

After the offense ranked fourth in total yards but 11th in points last year, the Vikings will need to prove they aren’t going through the same issues again. Week 2 against Arizona is their first opportunity.

Arizona News & Notes

A year ago, the Cardinals surprised everyone by knocking off the 49ers to open their season. Well, the Cardinals sure know how to make an entrance, dominating one of the top AFC contenders last week from start to finish for their second straight Sportsbook-day victory as an underdog.

Kliff Kingsbury’s offense once again proved why it is an elite group, hanging 17 quick points on the Tennessee defense before the Titans were able to score. The most surprising thing, though, was the Arizona defense.

That unit kept 2020’s fourth-highest scoring offense off balance, something Kingsbury attributed to new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

“He had a tremendous game plan trying to get those guys to third down because we didn’t think they could hold up blocking us and he was right,” Kingsbury told 98.7 FM Arizona’s sports Sportsbook. 

That defense has another chance to prove itself this week.

Staff Betting Pick: OVER 51

Arizona at -4 is tempting, but I love the OVER. The games for both teams totaled 51 last week and the offenses will likely have a better rhythm having a game under their belts. Moreover, the OVER has hit in four of Minnesota’s last five games and in five of Arizona’s last six home games. Take the OVER with confidence.