Oddsmakers are projecting the Arizona Cardinals to have the worst record among NFL odds this season. After the team finished last in the NFC West at 4-13 a year ago, multiple online sportsbooks believe they’ll repeat. They are the betting favorite to finish with the fewest wins in the NFL at the end of this season.
Below, we’ll look at the latest Cardinals odds and list of NFL teams favored for the worst record. Also, we reached out to DraftKings on the reasons oddsmakers are picking Arizona to have an especially rough year.
Why are the Cardinals favorites to have the NFL’s worst record?
| Cardinals Wins | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 2.5 | -400 |
| Under 2.5 | +290 |
| Over 4.5 | +100 |
| Under 4.5 | -120 |
| Over 6.5 | +310 |
| Under 6.5 | -450 |
According to Johnny Avello, director of race and sportsbook operations at DraftKings Sportsbook, there are several variables that go into handicapping each NFL team’s projected win total.
“It’s more than just looking at a team and saying they’re probably not going to perform well,” Avello said. “It’s also about looking at things like the schedule.”
In addition to being last year’s basement-dweller in the NFC West, the Cardinals begin with a tough 2023 schedule. They’ll play four of last season’s playoff teams in the first five games. Then there’s the question of how the team will do in its own division. A tough NFC West accounts for six of the 17 regular season games.
The San Francisco 49ers are the favorites to win the NFC West () again this year, Avello said, and the Seattle Seahawks () did well in this year’s NFL draft, according to many evaluators.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, recently released all-pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. They’ll also have a new head coach and general manager to adjust to. In addition, quarterback Kyler Murray may not start the season due to the ACL tear he suffered late last year.
“You look at the Cardinals and where they stand in that division,” Avello said. “It’s not like the Cardinals are an awful team, but they lost some guys. They’re looking to rebuild the team. It’s not a team coming into the season with everyone there thinking, ‘Hey we’ve got a good chance to win the Super Bowl.’
“That’s just not the mindset there right now. We go by what we see of what you have coming back, what you lost, what you gained in the draft. Those divisional games play a lot into it, but those are games that we’ve already handicapped looking ahead to the whole season.”
Other Arizona Cardinals odds for 2023
Odds on a successful year for the Cardinals are also fairly long headed into the 2023-24 season. In addition to the holes on offense, the team also faces challenges on defense. This is especially true on the defensive line after the retirement of star player J.J. Watt. In addition, safety Budda Baker has requested a trade, which the team may end up honoring.
Multiple sports betting sites also don’t have great futures odds for Arizona. The Cardinals are also the biggest long shot to make the playoffs (+1100). They are also favorites to go 0-17 (+2000) in the rarely-seen winless season.
