The Arizona Cardinals Begin Season with Lowest Projected Wins in the NFL
The prognosticators have slapped the Arizona Cardinals with the lowest projected win total of 4.5 for the 2023 season, making them the least optimistic team on DraftKings' NFL futures.
The year before was a rough one for the Cardinals. Not only did they end up in the cellar of the NFC West, but their starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, suffered a severe right knee injury in December, which could keep him sidelined for this upcoming season.
The Cardinals' record in 2022 was 4-13, placing them as the NFL's third-worst team. They won only one game at home, but managed to snag three wins on the road.
Their 4.5 win total is the most meager compared to seven other teams with a 6.5 win total projection, which is two more victories than the Cardinals. This club includes the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Commanders.
Fifteen teams outshine the Cardinals' low projection of 4.5 wins by having win totals above 9.5.
A New Regime for the Cardinals
The Cardinals are now the responsibility of a different crew. They dismissed head coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim. In the past four seasons, Kingsbury maintained a 28-37-1 record, concluding the 2022 season with a seven-match loss streak.
Jonathan Gannon has replaced Kingsbury as the team's head coach. He was the defensive coordinator for the 2022 Super Bowl-caliber Philadelphia Eagles. Gannon was brought in by the Cardinals to bring a change to the defense. As defensive guru, Gannon's team pilfered 14 wins and advanced to the Super Bowl before losing out to the Kansas City Chiefs in a tight contest.
The Cardinals have Monti Ossenfort as their new general manager. Ossenfort was a well-regarded scout under Bill Belichick in New England and served time as the director of player personnel for the Houston Texans.
At the 2023 NFL Draft, Ossenfort made some nerve-wracking decisions and swapped the third overall pick with the Houston Texans for their first-round pick next year. The Cardinals then chose Paris Johnson, an all-star tackle from Ohio State, to support their offensive line.
Instead of trading future Hall of Fame wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals decided to part ways with him at the outset of the 2023 season. Several teams expressed interest in Hopkins, who would later sign a deal with the Tennessee Titans.
When Will We See Kyler Murray Action Again?
Murray became injured in his right knee in December during a loss against the Patriots. He underwent reconstructive surgery and hasn't declared a definite return date.
Murray, who was drafted first overall by the Cardinals in 2019, is itching to get back and prove he's deserving of the pricey contract extension he secured in the off-season worth $230.5 million for five years. The plan is to make a return in September. However, the Cardinals are hesitant to rush their franchise quarterback.
"Kyler is doing everything he can in rehab," Ossenfort shared with The Athletic. "He's really into it. It's so much fun to see. He's making progress. Things are moving in the right direction. We're very pleased with his recovery trajectory."
"We want to be smart, too," said Gannon. "We all want to win. He wants to play. But the long-term health of the player matters for a franchise quarterback."
The sportsbooks reckon that the Cardinals won't shine this season, so they'd rather hold off Murray's return and ensure he's at his best for the longest term.
The likely starter for the Cardinals' forthcoming campaign is Colt McCoy, a seasoned backup quarterback who's completed 68.2% of his throws for 780 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions as starter with the Cardinals last season.
Jeff Driskel and David Blough are both competing for roster spots at camp, while undrafted rookie Clayton Tune has had an awesome first week of camp practices.
Longshots Cardinals, Alternate Win-Totals
The Cardinals managed to tally four wins, but a disappointing 8-9 ATS record and an 8-7-2 record for totals bettors.
The San Francisco 49ers are the favorite to conquer the NFC West with odds of -160. They're followed by the Seattle Seahawks (+195), Los Angeles Rams (+1000), and Cardinals (+2500).
The Cardinals have their sights set on another last-place finish in their division for consecutive years. However, this is drastically different from their 2020 season when they finished 11-6 and fought for a spot in the NFC West title. They haven't won their division since 2015.
The Cardinals are at the bottom of the NFL futures list on DraftKings. They stand as mammoth underdogs to clinch Super Bowl LVIII with odds of +20,000, and even longer odds of +10,000 to play in the NFC Championship.
The St. Louis Cardinals have a -2000 chance of missing the playoffs, while their odds of reaching the postseason stand at +1100, as per a prop bet by DraftKings.
DraftKings also offers a bet on the Cardinals making the playoffs but losing in the wild-card round. This bet pays +1200.
For those interested in wagering on the Cardinals' current win total of 4.5 games, an under bet is priced at -120, while an over bet is offered at +100.
There's a futures market for alternative win totals. The Cardinals' adjusted win total of 5.5 games offers an over payout of +180 and an under bet with -235 odds. Meanwhile, their alternative win total of 6.5 games pays out +400 for the over and -550 for the under.
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Source: www.casino.org
