Week 1 of the NFL Preseason continues on Saturday evening as the Arizona Cardinals enter a showdown in the desert against the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs. This contest starts at 8 p.m. EST, so fans and bettors can get in on the action with the earlier games before tuning in for this evening outing.
Get ready for Saturday with this Cardinals vs. Chiefs prediction and pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Cardinals vs. Chiefs prediction, preview
If you look up the word “underwhelming” in the dictionary, a picture of the 2024 Cardinals likely greets you. Arizona ended that campaign with a mediocre 8-9 record despite their division feeling a little more wide-open than usual. They essentially finished middle-of-the-pack in scoring and yardage on both sides of the ball, but didn’t truly excel in any particular manner.
That’s something this team looks to change in 2025. With a full NFL season under Marvin Harrison Jr.’s belt and some personnel moves on defense, the hope is that Arizona can take their production up a notch in the new season. Saturday’s contest provides the first look at some high-upside draft picks like Walter Nolen and Will Johnson, so how the defense responds against a well-coached Chiefs offense should provide an entertaining battle.
Sure, Kansas City’s stars like Patrick Mahomes won’t suit up, but that matters less when Andy Reid calls the plays. The Chiefs went 15-2 during the regular season and eventually lost in the Super Bowl, so there’s a chip on their shoulder heading into the new year.
This game should provide some chances for the team’s depth players to show what they’ve got, so watch for the position battle in the backfield to take center stage on their side. This franchise knows who their top talents are, but there’s certainly a role up for grabs at second-string halfback, if not the starting job depending on Isiah Pacheco’s health.
Cardinals vs. Chiefs pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Chiefs as three-point favorites with -162 odds on the Moneyline while the Cardinals are +136 to win outright. This game total is set at 39.5 points, the highest of Saturday’s NFL Preseason slate.
Picking outcomes for these types of games can prove tricky given the rotating rosters and how depth players are fighting for their jobs. Instead of choosing a winner, I’m targeting the under on this high total. The Cardinals’ starters should see some work, though not an extensive amount, and the Chiefs’ top guys probably won’t even take the field.
This 39.5-point line remains much higher than most other games, and even if it were a couple of points lower I’d feel more confident. However, the under makes too much sense with such a lofty tally.
