Chiefs vs. Cardinals Point Spread: NFL Pre-Season Week 1 Odds, Prediction
The Chiefs return to action after their fifth Super Bowl in the past six seasons, while the Cardinals continue a rebuild of the team.
Neither team won a single preseason game last season, so we will see that streak broken here for one franchise. While it means nothing in the standings, finding wins in the preseason does hold importance for momentum and morale.
Both teams are intriguing for different reasons, as the Chiefs will head into the year looking for their fourth Super Bowl win in six years, while the Cardinals will look to finally return to winning ways after sustained losing seasons.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The NFL odds show we could be in for a tight game on Saturday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals are set as slight 1.5-point favourites, bringing a -125 value on the moneyline. Alternatively, the Chiefs come in at +105 on the moneyline.
The rebuilding Cardinals are deemed favourites to win this game on their home turf, kicking off this preseason the right way. However, it is up to them to get the job done against a storied franchise in Kansas City. This will not be an easy task, even for the preseason.
The total has been set to 38.5 points, which is currently the highest across any of the eight games on Saturday. We know Kansas City’s offence is the real deal, but how will Andy Reid be able to execute with a preseason roster that may have a plethora of players who are new to the system or new to the league?
Kansas City Chiefs
Having sustained success is not an easy thing to do, but the Kansas City organization has flourished in doing so. The group has been able to counteract many changes with new faces through the draft and free agency, with strong contributions to the success. They have an elite formula within the organization.
Head coach Andy Reid should have his team ready to play, whether it is the first preseason game of the season or the Super Bowl. This is a championship team that will not settle for mediocrity, so the players who may be on the bubble have no reason not to show out.
No major splashes were made by the Chiefs in the offseason, and a lot of internal work was done. While it may not have been an overly exciting offseason, these important moves were made to keep this team elite.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have not yet been able to reach the success they saw in 2015, 2016, and 2021. They’ve had three straight losing seasons and have been in the third or fourth spot in the NFC West for seven of the past eight seasons.
Last season brought many improvements in their record and offensive and defensive metrics, but they need to take another step forward.
There has been a lot of change throughout this organization over the past couple of years, including 28 draft picks in the past three drafts. They brought in marquee free agent Josh Sweat, who will be a major help to the team this season, but with where this roster is right now, leashes will be short.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Chiefs vs. Cardinals?
We know that preseason games will bring a revolving door of players throughout the entire game. Kansas City is clearly the better team overall and that is the team that appeals, especially as a narrow underdog.
Through their many years of success, they have been able to boast a deep organization. It helps that a winning pedigree like this has made Kansas City a highly attractive area for free agents.
Coaching could be a major factor here, with the Chiefs having arguably the best coach in the entire NFL. The Cardinals have Jonathan Gannon, who is a newer coach in the NFL. He has a head coaching record of 12-22 and may have some struggles finding success against these Chiefs.
Kansas City posted an 0-3 record in last year’s preseason, but prior to that, they were 7-2 over three years. A road trip to kick off the preseason could do wonders for team building, and they should be able to grab a win here, potentially with the score being in the region of 27-17.
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