Cardinals vs. 49ers Week 9 Pick ATS
Week 9 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday, November 7, 2021 at 4:25PM EST
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
TV: Fox
Point Spread: ARI -3/SF +3 (MyBookie – They offer NO RISK bets from time to time! Voted most fun sportsbook of 2020!)
Over/Under Total: 46
The Arizona Cardinals take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in a key NFC West battle. It is the second matchup this season between these division rivals, with the Cardinals beating the Niners, 17-10, less than a month ago. The Cardinals are coming off the long week, following a Thursday Night Football loss to the Packers, 24-21. They look to rebound against a Niners team that found some life last week in what may have been a season-saving 33-23 road win over the Bears. Getting to .500 against the division-leading Cardinals would be a big boost. Who can deliver the big cover on Sunday?
What to Make of Part I
We’re looking at a different landscape in this matchup, as opposed to their October 10 battle in Glendale. If anything, there are some things that give the Niners’ hopes some credence this week. A one-score loss on the road isn’t a bad sign, especially with the Niners without Jimmy Garoppolo and relying more on Trey Lance’s legs. Garoppolo has seen his share of issues this season, to be sure, but showed a lot of guts in the win over Chicago on the road, running in a couple of touchdowns. And with Garoppolo in there as opposed to Lance, he was able to get a big game from Deebo Samuel, with Eli Mitchell having a big day on the ground. And maybe they can use some Lance to help offset things against an Arizona defense that can be leaky against the run.
Will the Cardinals Rebound?
Now on the road against a team that troubled them a few weeks ago and coming off a loss, one can make a contrary case against the Cardinals this week if they wanted to. They are coming off one of their worst offensive showings of the season and now face a team that best contained their offense so far this year. And that team is now in a better spot from a personnel standpoint. Their offense has more options, and they’re at home, to boot. It shakes out for a decent spot for the Niners.
You still have to account for a growing state of urgency from the Cardinals for the same reasons listed above. They don’t want to go the way of teams that have started off fast, only to morph into non-factors by the time the postseason comes around. They have respect for their longtime division rival, seeing as they had such a grind the first time around. The Cardinals would be well-advised to make better use of the run-game, with Chase Edmonds, TD-machine James Conner, and a running QB in Murray who started showing signs last week that he’s prepared to start making more forays into the run-game again. And after getting a good game from targets like DeAndre Hopkins, they look to push that part of their offense against a SF pass-defense that has lost some juice in that area due to injuries over the last few weeks.
It’s one of those spots where a loss can almost be used as ammo in favor of the team that just lost. It seems almost backward. But if the Cardinals remained unbeaten, you could almost see them slacking off just enough to let the Niners get in there. After all, they’ve shown they can play the Cardinals tight. But coming off a loss and with the Rams still, right there in the standings, this is a more urgent spot than it would have otherwise been if the Cardinals were unbeaten. One backing the Niners have their justifications to be sure, but a mentally-slacking Cardinals team is not one of them.
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Matchup Concerns for SF
The crown jewel of the team, we’ll see if even more injuries in a season packed with them will make the San Francisco secondary take a step back against what can be a vital Arizona pass-offense. The Cardinals’ offense has a ton of different targets, adding a new one in TE Zach Ertz in the interim since these teams last played. Even for a SF team that has become accustomed to dealing with a merciless string of injuries, there is a breaking point. They can hit some pretty low points, as seen in their two-score loss at home to the Colts a few weeks ago. Things panned out against the Bears last week, but an irritated Cardinals team is a different issue entirely.
Other than the sporadic contributions of Brandon Aiyuk, Mohammed Sanu, or JaMycal Hasty, the San Fran offense is basically reduced to whatever Garoppolo can deliver on the ground, RB Eli Mitchell, and Deebo Samuel. On the other sideline is a run-game that has variety with Edmonds, Conner, and Murray, along with an aerial game featuring no less than four receivers who would at worst be the number-two receiver if they played for the Niners, along with a viable tight end, while San Fran’s George Kittle is still out. Maybe it didn’t pan out the first time, but this could be a spot where we see the Cardinals’ considerably-superior firepower manifest in a more-resounding way.
Take the Road Favorite
Even when dealing with injuries, this 49ers’ team can sometimes spring forth with a surprising performance you didn’t see coming. Arizona may be in a heightened state after last week, but this is also a make-or-break spot for the Niners, being that a loss sending them to 3-5 could spell the end in the top-heavy NFC West. I’d expect them to play accordingly, but the firepower deficit will manifest, as will the Arizona pass-rush and a defense that should put a crimp in the undermanned Niners’ offense. I’ll take the Cardinals this week.
Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I’m betting on the Arizona Cardinals minus 3 points. Bet your Week 9 NFL picks for FREE by taking advantage of a 100% REAL CASH bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $300 at MyBookie Sportsbook! (Must sign up through this special link AND use bonus code PREDICT100 to receive the special bonus!)
