Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon Sport

Arizona Cardinals vs Buffalo Bills: A big game in Buffalo

The Buffalo Bills are hosting the Arizona Cardinals in the season opener at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.

Can Kyler Murray lift the Cardinals?

The Arizona Cardinals are going into the season with a chip on their shoulder as they won only four games in each of their last two seasons. They finished last season winning only one game in the last four weeks and based on what we saw in the preseason, things will not look any better in 2024 as well. The Cardinals lost all three preseason games against the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos.

Is this the season for the Bills?

The Buffalo Bills have been among the best teams in the league in the last seasons but have failed to make any significant playoff run lately. Last season the Bills were 11-6, managed to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card game just to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional game. Going into this season, the Bills defeated the Steelers again but lost the other two preseason games to the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.

Betting Trends

The Bills are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games overall, 4-1 SU in their last 5 home games, and 4-1 SU in their last 5 home games against the Cardinals. They are 5-10 ATS in their last 15 games overall, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against teams from the NFC West and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games played in September. Buffalo has played over the total point line in 4 of their last 5 games overall and 6 of their last 7 games against Arizona and has played under in 4 of their last 5 games against teams from the NFC. The Cardinals are 4-16 SU in their last 20 games overall, and 2-6 SU in their last 6 games against Buffalo. They are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games against the Bills, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against teams from the AFC East and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played in September. Arizona has played over the total point line in 4 of their last 6 games overall and has stayed under in 4 of their last 6 games in the opening week of the season.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Arizona Cardinals could not have a tougher start of the season than going to Buffalo, but that may be the game that will turn things around for the Cardinals, who had another disappointing season last year. Kyler Murray, the first overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, is expected to lift the Cardinals, or he may be out before you know it. Winning will not come that easy for the Cards, who have two new cornerbacks on the roster and start the season in Buffalo, where the Bills are rock solid. Josh Allen is still the leader of the Bills, and he would take the team to a win in the season opener by covering the -6.5-point spread.