The good news for the Arizona Cardinals is that they are in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The bad news is that their performance has tailed off to the point where they’ve lost three consecutive games, including a Christmas night loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
All told, the 10-5 Cardinals have lost five of their eight last games after a 7-0 start. Injuries have certainly played a major factor in the losing streak, which is why it took the Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday to secure a playoff berth. That appeared a mere formality when the Cards carried a 9-2 mark into their bye week last month.
Quarterback Kyler Murray didn’t mince words after the 22-16 loss to the Colts, pointing out that the Cardinals made too many mental mistakes and saying it was ‘bad football.’ So, while the Cards are in the playoffs, what do the sports betting odds say about their chances of winning the NFC West and then winning in the postseason?
Arizona Cardinals’ Odds Of Winning The NFC West
At 9-2, Arizona was favored to hold onto its division lead over the 7-3 Rams, and DraftKings Arizona had the Cardinals at -500 to win the West. The Rams, meanwhile, were +330 with the San Francisco 49ers (+4000) and the Seattle Seahawks (+10,000) mere afterthoughts.
With just two regular-season games remaining, the odds show how badly the Cardinals have tailed off in the eyes of the oddsmakers. Here is how DraftKings Arizona sees the NFC West on Dec. 27:
- Los Angeles Rams -330
- Arizona Cardinals +250
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Arizona Cardinals’ Odds Of Winning The NFC Championship
When the Cardinals were 9-2, the focus was on not only locking down the NFC West crown but securing the NFC’s best overall record and the first-round playoff bye that comes with it. Even if they don’t earn the bye, winning the division will ensure a home game to open the playoffs.
Now, the focus is on winning the West as it presents the best opportunity to win the NFC outright and the Super Bowl berth that comes with it.
Entering their bye week, the Cards were +400 to win the NFC according to BetMGM Arizona, trailing just Tampa Bay at +230. The Rams were also at +400, followed by the Packers (+450), and the Cowboys (+550).
Here is where the odds sit now at BetMGM Arizona. It’s a sizable shift for the Cardinals, as you’d suspect given their recent play and spate of injuries to the likes of receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Rondale Moore, and running back James Conner.
- Green Bay Packers +200
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +300
- Los Angeles Rams +450
- Dallas Cowboys +500
- Arizona Cardinals +1000
Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl Odds
The Cardinals were +3000 longshots to win the Super Bowl entering their season opener in September and were as low as +850 entering their bye week. Back then, the Buccaneers were +500, followed by Kansas City (+700), with the Cardinals, Bills, and Rams all at +850.
Current Super Bowl Odds at BetMGM Arizona
- Kansas City Chiefs +400
- Green Bay Packers +450
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +600
- Buffalo Bills +850
- LA Rams +900
- Dallas Cowboys +1000
- Indianapolis Colts +1800
- New England Patriots +1800
- Arizona Cardinals +2000
So, the Cardinals aren’t back to where they started the season, but if you think they can get healthy and cut out the mental mistakes Murray was talking about, now might be a good time to place a wager on them.