The Detroit Lions are 2.5-point road faves to defeat the Arizona Cardinals, according to the online sports betting USA point spread. The Lions went 6-10 last season (9-5 ATS per the best online sportsbooks). It was their first losing season since 2015. And their second straight season missing the playoffs. Moreover, Detroit finished last in the NFC North for the first time since 2012. However, it was head coach Matt Patricia’s maiden season. Coaching is not easy, and coaching the Lions isn’t easy either. And the apples from do tend to fall pretty far away from Bill Belichick’s head coaching tree. So that no one expected Patricia to hit the ground running anyway.
The Cards on the other hand weren’t so forgiving of former head coach Steve Wilkes. Wilkes led the Cardinals to the league’s worst 2018 record (3-13). By virtue of which Arizona got dibs on Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray. It was like the football version of The Producers. Except that Wilkes did successfully crap the bed.
Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals NFL Week 1 Betting Information
- Date: Sunday September 8
- Time: 1:25 pm MST
- Venue: State Farm Stadium
Odds from MyBookie.ag:
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | -2½ (-110) | 48 (-105) | – |  |
| Cardinals | +2½ (-110) | 48 (-115) | – | |
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Betting Detroit Lions
John Cleese could not fault Michael Palin for mistaking these Lions for anteaters. Detroit ranked No. 25 in points per game and No. 24 in total yards per game last season. The Lions are taking measures to alleviate their shortcomings. Starting QB Matt Stafford threw fewer than 4000 yards for the first time since 2010. Additionally, he had the fewest TD passes since 2012, and the most picks since 2015. However, Detroit is paying Stafford a ton of money. Therefore the blame must lie with his targets. As a result, the Lions have signed ex-Patriot, ex-Dolphin Danny Amendola. As well as resigned Brandon Reilly. And drafted Travis Fulgham in the sixth round. They join Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, who are not currently at a 100%.
Elsewhere, Detroit had a 23rd-ranking 103.8 rushing yards per game in 2018. Enter running back CJ Anderson. The Rams hired Anderson late in the season to sub for Todd Gurley and he looked every bit the part. The Lions will keep Anderson around just in case Kerryon Johnson’s knee buckles again.
Betting Arizona Cardinals
In addition to 3-13, the Cards finished 7-8-1 against the online sports betting USA point spread. And it’s no wonder either. The Cardinals went full retard with ‘I Am’ Sam Bradford. Everybody knows you never go full retard. So Josh Rosen is gone to the Miami Dolphins, while Mike Glennon is gone to the Oakland Raiders. And Bradford is a free agent and will hopefully remain that way. Arizona had to overhaul their entire QB room. And they did so by drafting Murray with the 2019 draft’s first pick overall. The Cards have also signed Brett Hundley, Chad Kanoff, and Drew Anderson. Unless some big changes take place, new head coach Kliff Kingsbury will start Murray against the Lions.
NFL Week 1 Expert Predictions: Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals
Call me crazy, but I like these Cardinals. Sure, Kingsbury’s and GM Steve Kiem’s treatment of Rosen was a dick move if there ever was one. However, the end, mind you, justifies the, you know, means. And at least Murray will be on a football field where he belongs. As opposed to wasting his considerable talent on a baseball diamond. Finally, nobody must be happier in Arizona than veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Murray’s arrival could result in a latter-day renaissance for Fitzgerald. There’s a lot of potential for improvement for the Cards, which is something I don’t see in the Lions. Take the Cardinals to cover the online sports betting USA point spread.
