St. Louis enters this weekend set in Hotlanta having just swept the Philadelphia Phillies. Over the course of the three games they gave up just 5 runs and and are on a 4 game winning streak that has them a couple of game ahead of Pittsburgh, who is showing no signs of disappearing.
The Arizona Cardinals endured significant makeover this past offseason and the moves that were made look very good on paper. A new Head Coach, Bruce Arians was brought in to change the culture – he had a very good 2012 season as interim coach of a rebuilding Indianapolis Colts squad.
With NFL football betting times just a short time away, Cappers Picks NFL handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team NFL Season Predictions & Previews for those of us who can’t wait. Bet on the 2014 Super Bowl winner, plus 2013/14 Conference and Divisional winners.
2012 Record: 5-11
ATS: 7-8-1
Cardinals Odds to win the 2014 NFC West Division: +2200
Cardinals Odds to win the 2014 NFC Conference: 66/1
Cardinals Odds to win the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII: 125/1
CLICK HERE FOR TOP NFL CAPPERS PREDICTIONS FOR EACH AND EVERY GAME OF THE NFL SEASON —–>
Let’s take a look at the numbers:
Perhaps the biggest and most important move was replacing ineffective quarterbacks Kevin Kolb, John Skelton and Ryan Lindley. They were, in a word, pathetic last year and were solely responsible for Larry Fitzgerald’s 71 catch, 798 yards, 4 TD season.
The Cardinals did what they had to do – they went out and got a reliable quarterback to run the show. Carson Palmer may not be the guy he once was but at very least he gives the Cardinals a little legitimacy at the position. He will make Larry Fitzgerald better and if Fitz is better so too will be the offense.
Palmer will also have second year first rounder Michael Floyd to throw to as well as reliable slot receiver Andre Roberts and Tight End Rob Housler who should see some more action in Bruce Arians’ scheme.
The running game replaced Beanie Wells with Rashard Mendenhall. If you are as perplexed by the move – you are not alone. Mendenhall doesn’t seem to be an upgrade at all. Chances are that Ryan Williams and/or Stephan Taylor overtake Mendenhall as the starting back at some point this season.
Arizona’s running game has been a problem in the past and it figures to once again be an Achilles heel of this team.
With Carson Palmer in camp, there will have to be an emphasis on protection. Arizona’s offensive line wasn’t great last year – Cards QBs were sacked a combined 58 times during the year. 2013 first round draft choice (7th overall) Jonathan Cooper will help as will the return of Levi Brown from injury.
The O-line will be better just how much better is the biggest question. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Arizona defense was the sole reason this team started 4-0 last season but injuries completely decimated this unit. The Cards surrendered just 15.3 points per game in the first four contests but names like Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell went down with various injuries at various times during the season.
They will be back healthy this year and will be buoyed by the return of Karlos Dansby who was a difference maker for the Cards before heading to Miami. Dansby could be the rock that anchors this unit on the field and in the locker room.
There are still plenty of questions on Arizona’s defense. Who will start opposite Patrick Peterson at the CB position? Who will play safety after their 2012 starters Kerry Rhodes and Adrian Wilson departed? The Cardinals used a third-rounder on Tyrann Mathieu, who could quickly make his way into the lineup if and only if he can keep his head on straight.
Also who will replace the stellar linebacker Daryl Washington who was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy? He also has some domestic assault issues that he still has to deal with when he returns from that suspension!
The Arizona Cardinals, on paper did a lot to improve their on-field product but the fact remains that they play in perhaps the toughest division in the NFL. They play the Seahawks, the 49ers and the Rams two times this year – not exactly an enviable task! They also have to battle the Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Colts and Texans.
Carson Palmer on offense and Karlos Dansby on defense will create a little accountability for this team but it won’t be enough to get to the .500 mark.
Look for a more competitive team to finish 6-10 with a ton of positives coming out of the season – unlike last year!
Ready to start NFL Gambling Online today?
The St. Louis Rams have been a team in transition the last few years – they are a team certainly trending in the right direction.
In most circles 2013 is a “Super Bowl or Bust” season for the San Francisco 49ers and why not? They were arguably the best team in the NFL last year with an inexperienced pivot leading the team.
It has been a long time since the football fans in the Pacific Northwest had so much to look forward to in regards to an upcoming NFL season. Yes, the Seattle Seahawks have climbed out of the doldrums and onto the radar in the NFC.
Through the first three games the Tampa Rays have gained on the Red Sox even further and now enter Thursday`s series finale with a chance to take first place the American League East.
The Cincinnati Reds are 7-3 in their last 10 games but they have made up zero ground in their division, the very challenging National League Central.
We are rapidly closing-in on the start of a brand new NFL season as all 32 teams are busy preparing for the start of training camp later this week.
Bovada has already released its NFL futures odds for a number of different categories, but the ones we are most interested in are a team’s chances to win its division. This time around we will take a closer look at the NFC North.
NFL training camps start opening next week so you know that a new season of football is right around the corner. Bovada has already released its NFL futures for the 2013 campaign including odds for all 32 teams in terms of winning their respective division title.
The end of July marks the start of most NFL training camps as all 32 teams begin preparations for a run at Super Bowl XLVIII. While Bovada’s has released its NFL futures odds in a number of areas, we want to dig deeper into the ones for a team’s chances to win its division. This time around we will focus-in on the NFC South.
The Stanford Cardinal are coming off of another strong season, and they’re set to enter 2013 as one of the favorites to rip a national championship away from the SEC. Head coach David Shaw is 23-4 during his two years with the team, and he’s coming off of a 12-2 record, which includes wins in both the Pac-12 championship and the Rose Bowl.
The Washington State Cougars entered 2012 with high hopes following the hiring of Mike Leach. The return of the head coach to college football was supposed to bring the team a new flair, and while the exciting offense was certainly there at times, the success that followed was underwhelming to say the least.
A ton of hype surrounds the Denver Broncos this upcoming season in what is being described as a “Super Bowl or Bust” campaign. And why not? The Broncos did have one of the better defenses in the NFL last year and Peyton Manning did pay immediate dividends without showing the affects of multiple off-season neck surgeries.
Finally the Norv Turner era is over in San Diego. No more talk about this being a make-or-break season for Mr. Underachiever. Former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy has been brought in to right what has looked like a sinking ship over the years and McCoy just may be the guy to get the job done.
Another year and another grim outlook stares the Oakland Raiders in the face as they head into the 2013 season. The Raiders enter the season with huge question marks on offense and defense in what is sure to be a very long year!
Perhaps no team in the NFL did more than the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason to improve what had been an absolutely dismal team. New Head Coach in the form of Andy Reid was brought in to join a new quarterback – Alex Smith who showed signs last year of being a legitimate franchise starting QB.
