Cardinals vs. 49ers: NFL Week 9 betting odds, preview, and pick

The Arizona Cardinals will look to get back on track following their first defeat and will travel to San Francisco on Sunday for a key Week 9 NFC West divisional matchup.

Cardinals fall from unbeaten ranks

The 1972 Miami Dolphins got to pop their champagne, as the Cardinals fell to the Green Bay Packers last week on Thursday night.

Kyler Murray drove the Cardinals down with a chance to at least tie the game, but miscommunication with his receiver led to a game-deciding interception in the end zone with just 12 seconds remaining.

Now the Cardinals must hit the road to play against the 49ers and have a massive list of injury issues.

The biggest cause for concern is Murray’s ankle. The dual-threat QB limped off the field after the loss and was diagnosed with an ankle sprain.

His status for Sunday’s game is officially “day to day”, with Colt McCoy set to start, should Murray be unavailable.

Additionally, both the starting and backup centers for the Cardinals are injured, and both could miss the game.

Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins could also be sidelined. Hamstring issues limited him to just two targets, both caught for 66 yards. However, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the team has gotta be smart about his health.

The other major concern for the Cardinals is their run defense. A weakness all year, the Packers ruthlessly exploited it to the tune of 151 yards on 34 carries, keeping the Cardinals defense on the field for nearly two-thirds of the game.

Arizona was also unable to force any turnovers to offset the three miscues that gave the ball back to Green Bay.

If the Cardinals are unable to slow down San Francisco’s 11^th ranked rushing attack, it could lead to yet another loss. The 49ers gained 5.4 yards per carry in their 17-10 defeat in Week 5 and rushed for 152 yards on 28 carries.

49ers hoping to win first home game of season

The Niners' 33-22 win on the road at Chicago last week ended a four-game skid, and they have lost all three games played at home.

Now, they have back-to-back home meetings with division foes, Arizona and Los Angeles — each of whom sit at 7-1 — and likely need to win at least one to stay alive in the playoff hunt.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had one of his best passing games of the season, albeit without throwing a touchdown. He threw for 322 yards on just 17 completions, nearly the total he had in his previous two games combined, and did not turn the ball over.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel had a field day, catching six passes for 171 yards, while running back Elijah Mitchell had another solid outing. His 137 yards and a touchdown came on just 18 carries, and in his last two games, he is averaging 6.7 yards per carry.

The win did not come without concerns. Chicago was able to convert eight of its 15 third-down attempts. 

The 49ers' last three games have seen opponents convert at 43.6% from third down, the 10th-worst rate in the league during that span.

Arizona has been converting an eighth-best 44% of the time, and in its last three, it has converted on nearly half its attempts.

In Arizona and San Francisco's first meeting, the Niners had a big game from backup quarterback Trey Lance, whose 89 yards rushing on 16 carries led the team in a narrow loss.

With the defense likely loading up to stop Mitchell, Garoppolo might need to show that he can hit big plays with his arm again to keep his team honest.

Cardinals and 49ers trends

• The Cardinals are 4-0 ATS on the road this year, with four double-digit victories
• The Under is 10-2 in Arizona’s last 12 road games
• The Cardinals have covered the spread in six of their last eight games with the 49ers
• The 49ers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games
• The 49ers have failed to cover in six of their last seven home games
• The Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams

The Verdict

Even if he plays, I expect Murray to be much more one-dimensional, taking away from what makes him so dangerous. San Francisco has a solid pass rush and will put even more pressure on him, and McCoy will have little ability to escape, should he take over.

I can see this game going either way, but it all depends on who plays. The public has reflected this, with the line having moved multiple times since opening. Therefore, the Under is the safest thing to play.

I recommend buying the hook and moving the total to 45.5.

If Murray starts, pair the Under with the Cardinals moneyline. I believe Arizona with Murray is good enough to win against a 49ers team that simply doesn’t seem to be playing well at home, and I expect he will do his best to tough it out and play.

However, if Murray is unable to go, I like San Francisco to cause problems for McCoy and control the clock for a win. Both parlays pay out at +250.

Score Prediction: Arizona 24, San Francisco 20

NFL Week 9 pick: Under 45.5 (-117)

Same game combo: Under 45.5/Team moneyline, dependent on Murray (+250)