The Cardinals and 49ers are squaring off in Mexico City in an NFC West battle on Monday Night Football. However, the spread implies it will be a one-sided contest. Will that come to fruition? How should gamblers bet on this game? Check out the following preview to find out our top Cardinals vs. 49ers predictions.
Cardinals vs. 49ers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | -9.5 (-114) | -450 | O 43.5 (-110) |
| Cardinals | +9.5 (-106) | +350 | U 43.5 (-110) |
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of 12 p.m. ET on Nov. 21. Don’t have an account? Check out our FanDuel Sportsbook Review to find out how to bet $5 to get $125 in free bets — guaranteed!
Game Info
- Date: Monday, Nov. 21
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Azteca — Mexico City, Mexico
- TV: ESPN
Cardinals vs. 49ers Trends
- The 49ers opened as 7.0-point favorites, and the line has essentially slowly climbed to its present spread.
- The Cardinals are 7-21-1 in their last 29 games after allowing less than 90 rushing yards in their previous game.
- Arizona is 2-6 against the spread versus a team with a winning record.
- The Cardinals are 1-4 against the spread in their last five games following a straight-up win.
- Arizona is 2-9 against the spread in their last 11 Monday games.
- The 49ers are 5-0 against the spread in their last five versus an NFC West opponent.
- San Francisco is 9-2 against the spread in their last 11 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- The 49ers are 9-2 against the spread in their last 11 games versus an NFC opponent.
- San Francisco is 15-4 against the spread in their last 19 Monday games.
It’s the Colt McCoy Show for the Cards
It appears Colt McCoy will start again for the Cardinals this week.
For the second straight week, Colt McCoy appears set to start for the #AZCardinals, sources say. With QB Kyler Murray still dealing with a hamstring injury and limited all week, McCoy is good to go. The veteran hopes to replicate last week when he was 26 of 36 for 238 with a TD.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 21, 2022
The Cardinals didn’t wilt last week in McCoy’s start. Instead, they beat the Rams 27-17, albeit Matthew Stafford was out. Kliff Kingsbury also didn’t handle McCoy with kid gloves. On the contrary, Kingsbury called a pass-heavy offense. According to numberFire, McCoy had 33 pass attempts in a neutral game script versus 16 rushes by non-quarterbacks last week.
McCoy was rock-solid last week and had a 3-1 record in four starts for the Cardinals since last year. Nevertheless, he’s a journeyman backup quarterback and opposes a talented defense. It’s a suboptimal situation for the Cardinals.
Further, Arizona is a sub-.500 team with a negative point differential. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Cardinals have a negative-28-point point differential this year en route to their 4-6 record.
The 49ers are a Well-Round Club
The 49ers are 5-4 and have a stellar 35-point point differential. Yet, the arrow is pointed up for them. Christian McCaffrey has added another dynamic weapon to the offense, and the 49ers have scored 53 points and allowed only 30 in their previous two games. So, again, they’re trending in the right direction.
Additionally, they are a well-rounded club. According to Football Outsiders, San Francisco is 16th in total offense Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) and eighth in total defense DVOA. Oddly, the run-first 49ers are just 23rd in rush offense DVOA. San Francisco had to navigate a multi-week absence from a now-healthy Trent Williams, and the opening game starting running back, Elijah Mitchell, was hurt in Week 1 and made an eye-catching return last week. So, the running game is poised to thrive from now on.
On the other side of the ball, the defense is outstanding. According to Pro-Football-Reference, they’re second in yards allowed per play (4.7), tied for 10th in sacks (29), despite playing one less game than every team ahead of them and third in pressure rate (25.2%).
Cardinals vs. 49ers Predictions
The 49ers are too talented and versatile for the Cardinals. Additionally, while McCoy is a capable game manager, Arizona’s defense isn’t good enough to pick up the slack. Instead, the Cardinals are a below-average defense. They are 21st in total defense DVOA and are tied for 29th in scoring defense, allowing 25.8 points per game.
Four of San Francisco’s five victories this year have been by double-digit points. Conversely, three of Arizona’s six losses have been by at least 10 points this year. The 49ers are a markedly better team led by their starting quarterback. The advantages warrant laying the 9.5 points with the favored 49ers.
Pick: 49ers -9.5 | -114 at FanDuel Sportsbook