It will be the first NFL season ever with 17 games and just three preseason games. With the additional playoff game added last year, the Super Bowl will now be held on February 13, 2022. Making it the latest Super Bowl ever.
Preseason is always important, especially for teams with lots of new additions to their roster and of course for draft picks. It is their time to shine and earn a spot on the team. Plus, if two players are battling for a position, such as the Saints for the QB1 spot, the preseason can be the ultimate test and deciding factor.
There is still no word on Larry Fitzgerald, so right now it looks like he probably won’t return for another season. But the Arizona Cardinals still have plenty to look forward to, such as new additions J.J. Watt and A.J. Green.
Preseason Game 1 – Cowboys @ Cardinals
The first preseason game is on August 13, when the Cardinals take on the Dallas Cowboys at home. The Dallas Cowboys are featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks this season, so we can expect extra coverage on this game. It will also be the first game back for Dak Prescott after suffering a season-ending injury last October.
It will also be the first time newbies Watt, Green, Rodney Hudson, and Malcolm Butler (just to name a few) suit up for the Cardinals. Expect draft picks like Zaven Collins and Rondale Moore to play a lot of minutes in the game.
DraftKings has the Cowboys ahead of the Cardinals to win the Super Bowl at +2500. The Cardinals are currently at +3300.
As for the MVP award, both quarterbacks are strong contenders, with Murray at +2000 to win the award and Prescott at +1700.
BetMGM has the Cowboys to win 9.5 games this season and the sportsbook app has the Cardinals to win only eight. As for making the playoffs, Arizona is at +200 to make it this year and the Cowboys are at -167.
Preseason Game 2 – Chiefs @ Cardinals
I will be lucky enough to attend this game, so make sure to be on the lookout for exclusive ArizonaCasinos.com content FROM the actual game, which is on August 20.
It will be an exciting game for the Cardinals to host the Kansas City Chiefs, who have appeared in back-to-back Super Bowls and three consecutive AFC championships. Patrick Mahomes is the favorite to win MVP at +400. The Chiefs are also the favorite to win the Super Bowl at +500 according to DraftKings. And BetMGM has them to win 12 games, even though Mahomes thinks his team could go undefeated.
This will be a great test for the Cardinals, and I expect the starters to play at least one quarter. As for the odds to make the playoffs this year, the Chiefs are at -1000. This is a huge difference from the Cardinals’ +200 odds to make the playoffs.
Preseason Game 3 – Cardinals @Saints
The last preseason game will be a road game for the Cardinals in New Orleans on August 28.
The Saints are still figuring out who their quarterback will be after the departure of Drew Brees. I expect Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston will be taking the field a lot this game unless the team somehow names their QB1 before game time. Hill is at +10000 to win MVP and the Saints are projected to win nine games this season, leading to BetMGM listing them as a -115 to make the playoffs.
As for the Super Bowl, the Saints are at +2800 to win it all. I don’t anticipate many Cardinals starters to suit up for this game, but with a two-week break before the regular season starts, a couple of starters may get a few snaps in.
The Cardinals will play the Tennessee Titans in Tennessee on September 12 to kick off the regular season.
Preseason odds have yet to be released by sportsbooks, but make sure to check back here for updates on all NFL sports betting odds this season.