Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers Week 9 Odds & Pick

<p>The Arizona Cardinals come to Levi's Stadium on Sunday to take on the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC West battle. Arizona had the long week, which followed their first loss of the season to the Packers last Thursday, 24-21. With the Niners beating the Bears, 33-23 last week, they can now push it to .500 this week against a team with whom they were pretty competitive just a few weeks ago. This is game two of this divisional battle, with the Cardinals having beat the Niners, 17-10, but that was without Jimmy Garoppolo in there for SF. Can they give the Cardinals a run, or will the Cardinals get back on the right track at Levi's Stadium?</p>
<h2>Who is in the Better Spot?</h2>
<p>It's a mixed bag. The Niners are battling through injuries on both sides of the ball. Their secondary is dinged up, with a slew of offensive talent missing. Jimmy Garoppolo was gutsy against Chicago last week. Yet, his need to take the bull by the horns is more a byproduct of having so few tools at his use, as Deebo Samuel and RB Eli Mitchell are more or less the only compelling offensive talent still at Garoppolo's disposal. In their favor is that, unlike last time they played, they will have the arm of Garoppolo and, therefore, more offensive balance. Running against this Arizona "D" hasn't been so tough to exploit this season.</p>
<p>The Cardinals are in a new position this week, trying to regroup from a setback. And against a Packers' team hit hard by injuries on offense, more was expected last week. With the Rams looming in the division, another loss would start putting their division lead in jeopardy. The Niners face the real possibility that they will be facing a more on-point Arizona team this week, one that is eager to atone for last week. Arizona would appear to have a pronounced advantage in the offensive firepower department, even adding a new weapon in TE Zach Ertz since last playing the Niners.</p>
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nfl/matchup/1411051">Green Bay at Kansas City 11/7/21 Match-up Stats</a> </span>
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<h2>What to Expect</h2>
<p>After finding the going pretty tough at home the first time around with the 49ers, look for the Arizona offense to try some different things. Kyler Murray (questionable) using his legs more last week after bottling up that aspect of his game this season could help here. Generally, I'd expect a bigger dose of Chase Edmonds and James Conner, with guys like DeAndre Hopkins (questionable) doing their thing after not having a bad game in this matchup in October. And with a D-line that can get after it, they look to have another successful showing against the SF offense after giving up just ten points the first time they played.</p>
<p>The Niners may have found some answers with Eli Mitchell in the backfield, and this would seem to be a favorable matchup for him to shine. Without George Kittle and with continued underwhelming showings from different role-receivers, the Niners are a bit strapped aerially. But if you're going to have just one aerial dimension, Deebo Samuel isn't such a bad one to have.</p>
<p><a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nfl/green-bay-packers-kansas-city-ch… at Chiefs Point Spread Pick</a></p>
<h2>Offensive Firepower Differential</h2>
<p>Just as the mind begins to perhaps fancy the Niners, the issue of available offensive weaponry has to come up. The Cardinals have more variety in their run-game, a viable tight end to use, and 4-5 wide receivers who are better than anyone SF has other than Samuel. They have a rising force at QB in Murray, though him being listed as questionable needs to be factored into the equation. Seeing Colt McCoy in there would obviously throw a different light altogether on this matchup. But if Murray is a go, the Niners could be up against it with their lack of overall options on offense.</p>