San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals Week 9 Betting Odds, Expert Picks, and Preview
One of the most intriguing NFL betting games on the Week 9 slate is this NFC West Division battle between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Although the current gap between the two teams in the standings is quite large, this game could go a long way towards tightening things up. Both teams have playoff aspirations and a whole lot of disdain for one another. After playing a close, low-scoring affair in their first meeting this season, the NFL betting odds give the slightest of edges to the visitors ahead of this Cardinals vs 49ers rematch.
49ers vs. Cardinals Week 9 NFL Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview
Arizona Cardinals (7-1 SU, 6-2 ATS) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-4 SU, 2-5 ATS)
Date: Sunday, November 7, 2021
Start Time: 4:25 PM EST
Location: Levi’s Stadium — Santa Clara, CA
TV Coverage: FOX
Arizona Cardinals Preview
In a rather shocking result to many, the Cardinals’ undefeated season went up in smoke last Thursday against a shorthanded Green Bay Packers team. While Arizona was at full strength offensively, it was clear that star receiver DeAndre Hopkins was playing through a lot of pain as the result of a hamstring injury. Kyler Murray struggled without his top weapon at 100%. Hopkins still led the team with 66 yards on two catches and will likely continue to play through this injury. The failure of other pass-catchers to step up led to Murray throwing two interceptions including one in the red zone on a potential game-winning drive in the final minute.
Running backs Chase Edmonds and James Conner combined to score three touchdowns, but neither was able to have a big yardage effort against Green Bay. Contrary to popular belief, the Cardinals are a run-first offense. That could prove difficult to achieve against the stout 49ers defensive front in Sunday’s NFL betting matchup. Concerning their own defense, Arizona suffered a major loss when pass rusher J.J. Watt was ruled out for the rest of the season last week. The Cardinals still rank second in adjusted defensive efficiency entering Week 9, but maintaining that standing could be tougher going forward without Watt.
San Francisco 49ers Preview
The 49ers are coming off perhaps their best offensive performance of the season in last week’s win over the Chicago Bears. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 322 yards and added a pair of rushing touchdowns to spearhead a balanced attack. Elijah Mitchell led the entire NFL in rushing yards for Week 8, finishing with 137 and adding a score. It was also another huge game for star wideout Deebo Samuel. He turned six receptions into 171 yards. After an injury and trust issues with the coaching staff hampered his production early in the year, it also appears that Brandon Aiyuk is getting back on track. This is certainly a welcome sign for Kyle Shanahan’s offense moving forward.
The Niners are expected to get another offensive boost in Sunday’s NFL betting tilt. Speaking with the media Wednesday, Shanahan said that he expects tight end George Kittle to return from IR to face the Cardinals. Tackle Trent Williams also returned from a one-game absence last week. What once was a very beaten and battered unit is getting healthy at the right time for a second-half surge. Defensively, the 49ers continue to stifle opponent rushing attacks. San Francisco ranks seventh in adjusted efficiency against the run. However, they are only 22nd against the pass. Even Bears’ QB Justin Fields threw for 175 yards against them last week. A thin secondary will have its work cut out trying to contain the slew of Arizona pass-catchers.
49ers vs. Cardinals Betting Odds and Line Movement
The following table displays the best Cardinals vs 49ers NFL betting odds and lines available in the market.
| Team | Moneyline | ML Implied Win Probability | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | -110 | 52.2% | -1.5 (-106) | O 45 (-110) |
| 49ers | +105 | 50% | +1.5 (+100) | U 45 (+105) |
Despite the majority of public bettors siding with the Cardinals, NFL betting lines for this divisional matchup have shifted towards the home team. Arizona originally opened at -3 but is now laying only -1.5. Both their own disappointing loss along with the 49ers’ impressive road win are both likely behind this move. From an implied probability perspective, the current moneyline odds suggest this NFC West showdown to be a literal coin flip.
The total for this Cardinals vs 49ers game has shifted slightly to the under. After opening at 47, the consensus market line sees the over/under two points lower at 45. However, variations linger across the Las Vegas market. Multiple books still list the total at 46 and there was even a 46.5 visible at the time of writing.
49ers vs. Cardinals Betting Picks and Prediction
Despite their hot start, the Cardinals are a team that may struggle to sustain their success over the course of the full season. The loss of J.J. Watt on defense and the DeAndre Hopkins lingering injury on offense were both impactful in last week’s loss. Keep in mind that the 49ers came into the year with the better power rating of these two divisional foes. As San Francisco continues to get healthier on offense, their week-to-week performances should only improve.
The fact that this NFL betting spread has shrunk towards a pick’em despite the majority of tickets being on the Cardinals signifies that sharp action is on the 49ers. San Francisco has yet to win a home game this season, a stat that figures to change sooner than later. With a defensive front that is capable of shutting down Arizona’s ground game, the Niners could very well have the edge at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. After nearly springing an upset in the first meeting between the teams despite being without Jimmy Garoppolo, look for the 49ers to exact some revenge on Sunday.