(Getty)
Editor’s note: The odds below are courtesy of Heavy’s partners at OddsShark. Click here for more odds and betting info at OddsShark.com.
Sunday’s season opener between the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals is being pegged as one of the closest matchups of Week 1.
The Saints, coming off a disappointing 7-9 season, underwent a significant offensive makeover in the offseason, losing Jimmy Graham, Kenny Stills and Pierre Thomas, while adding Max Unger and C.J. Spiller.
Arizona, meanwhile, welcomes back Carson Palmer, who led the Cardinals to a 6-0 record last year before suffering a torn ACL. While the Cards defense should still be very good, Palmer’s health will go a long way in determining if they return to the playoffs.
This is intriguing matchup, as both teams have postseason upside in a deep NFC. Here’s everything you need to know about the betting information, per OddsShark.com, as well as a prediction:
Game Info
(Getty)
Line: Arizona (-2.5)
Moneyline: Arizona (-140), New Orleans (+120)
Over/Under: 48
Prediction
The loss of cornerback Keenan Lewis will prove big against the Cardinals’ pass-heavy attack.
During Palmer’s six healthy games last season, he averaged 37 pass attempts per game in Bruce Arians’ pass-heavy offense. And he was tearing up the league, averaging 271 passing yards per game to go with 11 touchdowns, just three interceptions and a 6-0 record.
With Palmer back healthy, and the running game an unknown behind Andre Ellington, an aging Chris Johnson and rookie David Johnson, expect the Cardinals to air it out in a similar fashion. And expect them to have similar success.
The Saints, who finished 2014 ranked 27th in Football Outsiders’ pass defense rankings, will be without their top pass-rusher (Junior Galette, who was released after off-the-field problems) and top cornerback (Keenan Lewis, who is out at least four weeks with a hip injury).
The latter is an especially large loss:
My analysis: CB Keenan Lewis on short list of #Saints‘ most irreplaceable players http://t.co/OyW9XB22Td
A better run game should help New Orleans control the ball, and the connection between Drew Brees and Brandin Cooks looked electric in the preseason, but the Cardinals will have too much offense at home.
Prediction: Cardinals 31, Saints 24
