Cardinals vs. Raiders prediction: Kyler Murray a sizeable underdog today

Our NFL betting expert is here to offer his best Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas predictions and picks ahead of Sunday’s game, which is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.

Neither club found the accelerator early in losses to teams projected to be among the NFL’s elite this season. The Chiefs hung 44 points on the Cardinals and the Chargers ripped ahead of the Raiders 17-3 before pushing through for a 24-19 victory featuring six QB sacks of Las Vegas’ Derek Carr.

Cardinals vs. Raiders prediction

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Cardinals vs. Raiders picks and analysis

The Cardinals touch down in Vegas facing questions about their ability to slow down elite passing attacks, and the Raiders are certainly capable of moving the ball through the air with Derek Carr and Davante Adams leading the way. Arizona was solid on the road last season and if the Cardinals can get to Carr, they’ll be able to focus on moving the ball with Kyler Murray and avoid an 0-2 start.

Cardinals +5.5 (Caesars)

Even though quarterback Kyler Murray said the team’s 8-1 record away from home in 2021 has no bearing on this season because “it’s a new team, we got new players,” the reality is the Cardinals are trying to turn the page from a season-opening loss at home to Kansas City.

Little went right for Arizona and injuries were certainly a factor playing against a healthy Chiefs team led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but that aspect could even out, especially because of questions on the Raiders offensive line that includes a concussion suffered by center Andre James.

Quarterback Derek Carr was sacked six times and had three interceptions in the team’s Week 1 loss to the Chargers. While Arizona had no sacks in Week 1, the team is expecting its mostly young group of pass rushers to play better in their second game together.

Our pick: Cardinals to cover the +5.5 spread @ -110 via Caesars Sportsbook

Cardinals moneyline +196

It’s the home opener for Las Vegas, but the Raiders managed only 320 yards against the Chargers and they will be facing a team that was dominated 44-21 by the Kansas City Chiefs at home.

Both defenses failed to record a sack in Week 1, although Raiders edge rusher Chandler Jones aims to change that playing against his former team and one where he became the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks last season.

Embarrassed by the home loss to Kansas City, the Cardinals will be a different team this week with a crucial change being the total availability of tight end Zach Ertz, who was on a “pitch count” against the Chiefs and played only 39 snaps.

Our pick: Cardinals to win outright @ +196 via Caesars Sportsbook

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Over 53.5 total points

Knowing their own issues on defense, the Cardinals will be dialed in on offense, knowing they have to score plenty of points.

The Raiders also should have a better showing offensively than last week, and now face a defense that had communications problems and have issues against the run and pass.

Both teams have firepower at receiver with Davante Adams and Marquise Brown playing their second game with the Raiders and Cardinals, respectively. It’s a college reunion for both as Adams and Carr played together at Fresno State and Murray and Brown at Oklahoma.

Our pick: Over 51.5 total points scored @ -110 via Caesars Sportsbook

Cardinals vs. Raiders Odds

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook, correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.