The Cardinals appeared revitalized this season, but after the last two weeks, it appears they are mostly the same team we’ve known. Here’s how that’s worked out: The 49ers have won all four meetings since 2022 by a combined score of 156-68. That’s an average margin of 22 points per game with San Francisco taking each win by 16+ points. There is nothing about Arizona’s defense that makes me believe it can stand up to a San Francisco team that is basically full strength given Jordan Mason has done a fine job filling in for Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers defense has not been as dominant as usual, but it doesn’t need to be. Avoid the hook here. Also a valuable teaser leg with the Seahawks.

With the news that TE George Kittle and LB Fred Warner are likely to play through their ailments, we can go ahead and lay the TD with the 49ers against a Cardinals team that flat quit last week when adversity hit. If Kyler Murray loses interest early again, it will be another long day for Arizona.

I'm not sure I agree with this line, as my power ratings say it's off by almost a field goal. Either there's a lot of respect going to the Cardinals as a potential league-average team, or the 49ers aren't being treated like one of the two best teams in the league. With Trey McBride a surprise addition to the injury report on Saturday (never a good sign), this Arizona offense that couldn't muster more than 14 at home against an awful Commanders defense is going to have trouble scoring here regardless of Fred Warner's availability. On the other side, the 49ers can name their score against a terrible defense with Brock Purdy playing well.

I'm risking a lot of juice here but this is my favorite prop of the week. In Purdy's three starts vs. AZ, the 49ers have scored 38, 35, and 45 points. Purdy has eight combined TD passes in those games. Purdy leads the league in yards per attempt and 20+ yard completions (18). I expect him to torch Arizona's secondary for at least two, if not more, touchdowns this weekend.

Kyle Shanahan wants to run the football and he knows he can run the ball on this terrible DL and with his OL a little beat up, I don't think he wants to risk Brock Purdy here. Mason is getting fed 20 times a game - though if this is a blowout reserve backs tend to see more work - and SF has averaged 5/carry vs this D since '22. Cards have the league's worst run D EPA since the start of '23. They will be heavily compromised here and explosive runs are coming.

Each team is 2-2 ATS on the season. All signs point to San Francisco in this one, as the public is all over them. However, after their awful showing at home last week, this seems like a spot where the Cardinals can catch the Niners sleeping. San Francisco has covered the first two games at home this season, but before that, they failed to cover in seven straight.