NFL Betting – Cardinals Looking For Winning Season
2008 NFL odds – Arizona Cardinals
- Can the Arizona Cardinals record their second winning season in 24 years?
- Is Matt Leinart ready to takeover at quarterback?
- How good is the Cardinals defense?
If you bet on sports, you're aware of how bad the Arizona Cardinals have been. They have finished with more than eight wins just once in the last 24 years, which has obviously kept them out of the Super Bowl picture in 23 of those years.
A quick glance at the online betting odds indicates that they are not expected to be finishing with more than 7.5 wins.
The Cardinals offense returns mostly intact with a two-man rotation at quarterback and an offensive line that improved significantly last year. The front line allowed only 24 sacks in 2007 after permitting an average of 39 sacks per year over the previous three.
The hope is that Matt Leinart can finally take the reins and become the team's full-time franchise quarterback. But with Kurt Warner sharing time with the first team in training camp, this situation could be a consistent time-share in 2008. As ridiculous as it looks on paper, on the field this two-man rotation has been throwing defenses for a loop.
The Cards have excellent weapons at wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and with Edgerrin James in the backfield, there is at least somewhat of a rushing threat. James lacks the big-play ability he once had but rookie running back Tim Hightower is showing plenty of promise and should help round out the rotation.
The offense will be productive for the Cardinals but the defense is the real wild card.
There are some nice playmakers around, including linebacker Karlos Dansby and Pro Bow safety Adrian Wilson, but the unit wasn't particularly consistent last year. They allowed 22.5 points per game in the eight wins and 27.4 points per game in the eight losses. In both cases, that average has to drop.
The problem for the Cardinals defense has been the nose tackle position where both former Michigan Wolverines Gabe Watson and Alan Branch haven't developed as expected. 12-year veteran lineman Bryan Robinson was signed to compete for the position but he is better suited as an end. In a 3-4 defense, not much works properly without a nose tackle.
The secondary has to improve for the Cardinals and they spent yet another first-round pick to bolster the starting cornerbacks. Former first-round pick, Antrel Rolle, will move to safety while Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be thrown in to the fire early on.
The Cardinals have a talented roster that could produce 10 wins and while Ken Whisenhunt will eventually get them on the winning track, they still have traces of the old Cardinals teams. They are still undisciplined, evidenced by leading the league in penalties in 2007, they still have trouble with execution and although they are confident, they don't act and think like winners.
Leinart is the key to this team. If he can step in and really develop as a Pro Bowl quarterback or at least look like a solid NFL starter, the Cardinals offense will be among the best in their division and the defense will feed off of that confidence. If not, the Cards will again fail to play to their potential.
Stan Simmons' Pick: Over 7.5
For all your online sports betting needs, visit the betonline.com offshore Sportsbook. Be sure to visit The Bettor's Edge daily for the hottest tips, info and NFL betting.
Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions?
