2022 Super Bowl Path: Arizona Cardinals Future Betting Odds

In terms of having a huge difference between rostered talent and on-field success, the 2021 Arizona Cardinals ended up being one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. They won their first seven games and started the year 10-2, looking like a surefire Super Bowl contender in the process. But, they lost five of six to end the season and were crushed by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs. So, the Arizona Cardinals’ future betting odds in Pointspreads aren’t especially impressive right now.

It’s good for Arizona that Kyler Murray has been locked into a long-term contract extension after there were rumors that he wanted a trade earlier in the offseason. But, DeAndre Hopkins is set to miss six games due to a PED suspension and the Cardinals have to make up the production from Christian Kirk and Chase Edmonds. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was a nice pickup yet Arizona still has a bunch of question marks on offense outside of Murray. The Arizona Cardinals stats could dip on that side of the ball in 2022 after a good 2021 campaign in which Arizona comfortably outperformed its 8.5 wins over/under.

The Cardinals’ win total is right where it was before last season: 8.5 wins. But, in a tough NFC West, that’s disappointing and it demonstrates how the public and the betting markets have soured on Arizona. The Hopkins suspension which, as of right now, doesn’t look likely to be reduced, plays an enormous role in that calculation. It won’t be easy for the Cardinals to out-pace the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams or upstart San Francisco 49ers.

Kyler Murray Is The Key

• Passing Yards: 4,000.5 (-115o)
• Passing Touchdowns: 25.5 (-125o)
• Interceptions: 12.5 (-110o)
• Rushing Yards: 525.5 (-115o)
• Rushing Touchdowns: 6.5 (-140o)

It’s pretty clear that the Cardinals will only go wherever Kyler Murray takes them. Murray had a great season in 2021 even though he missed three games, threw for nearly 3,800 yards, and had 24 passing touchdowns compared to just 10 interceptions. He also provided value on the ground, running for 423 yards and five scores. But, he wasn’t the same player after missing three games with an ankle in the middle of the season. In the Cardinals’ final six games, his TD: INT ratio was just 7:3.

So, the key to Murray’s ability to reach all of his personal statistical overs is, first and foremost, health. If Murray can play 15 or more games, he should be able to eclipse each of those statistical thresholds. However, a major reason why the Arizona Cardinals’ future betting odds aren’t more impressive is because of those NFL injury issues which didn’t affect Murray in his first two NFL seasons.

It also won’t help him that Hopkins will likely be sidelined for a big portion of the season. Hollywood Brown, A.J. Green, and Rondale Moore are still a solid receiving trip but not having Hopkins as the game-breaker will hamstring the offense.

It’s James Conner’s Backfield

• Rushing Yards: 825.5 (-115o)
• Rushing Touchdowns: 9.5 (-110o)

Now that Chase Edmonds is with the Miami Dolphins, James Conner is the unquestioned top back for the Cardinals so he should see his usage significantly increase in Conner’s second season in Arizona. He did run for 752 yards and a very impressive 15 scores a year ago, doing so in just 15 games and while splitting carries with Edmonds. The Cardinals did bring in Darrel Williams as well but he’s more of a traditional backup who will be second fiddle to Conner.

So, Conner is a really good bet to hit his over in yards and touchdowns. There is definitely a concern about whether or not he’ll be as effective when taking on a heavier workload because he had more touches last season than he did in 2018. With that said, though, the Cardinals probably would have tried harder to keep Edmonds if they didn’t think Conner could be a clear-cut No. 1. His NFL future odds reflect that kind of optimism.

Who Will Step Up In Hopkins’ Absence?

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown

• Receptions: 70.5
• Receiving Yards: 900.5 (-115o)
• Receiving Touchdowns: 6.5 (+110o)

Until Hopkins is eligible to return to the field, Brown is functionally their top pass-catching threat. It was a bit surprising when the Baltimore Ravens decided to trade him to Arizona where he will catch passes from his former college quarterback. Brown was just placed on the active/non-football injury list at the start of training camp with a hamstring issue, though, so he isn’t at 100%. Still, there isn’t much concern that the hamstring will affect his                                              availability for the regular season.

With Hopkins out, Brown becomes even more important to the Arizona Cardinals betting odds. He had a career year in 2021 with Lamar Jackson as his quarterback, catching 91 passes for 1,008 yards (with six touchdowns). So, based on those numbers, his over/under figures for 2022 seem very doable. There’s always risk in betting on a wide receiver who is entering a new offense but, in Brown’s case, he and Murray are very familiar with each other. Plus, when a team trades a 1st round pick for an football player, you know said player will be featured heavily. Brown should get a ton of touches. The +110 receiving touchdown over is promising as well.

Zach Ertz

• Receptions: 65.5 (-115o)
• Receiving Yards: 625.5 (-130o)
• Receiving Touchdowns: 4.5 (-105o)

The Cardinals swooped in last October to trade for Zach Ertz from the Philadelphia Eagles, picking up one of the NFL’s most reliable tight ends in the process. Ertz immediately clicked with Murray as he caught 56 passes and racked up 576 yards and three scores in his 11 games with Arizona. He should, once again, be a critical target for Murray after signing a three-year extension with the Cardinals this offseason.

The over/under numbers for Ertz look a little aspirational but, if his NFL team can overcome the relatively pedestrian Arizona Cardinals’ future betting odds, there’s a good chance it’s because Ertz had a big year. Based on how often Murray targeted him — 81 times in 11 regular season games — Ertz should be close to where it was on a full-season scale in 2021 (74 receptions, 763 yards, and five touchdowns).

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