Preview and pick for MNF in Mexico City

As much as the Arizona Cardinals (4-6 straight-up, 5-5 against the spread) have stumbled around this season, people have wondered whether Kliff Kingsbury will survive when all is said and done. This head coach, who was going to come in and revolutionize the NFL with his offense, has underwhelmed, to say the least, as he's made the playoffs once and was dealt an unceremonious exit by the Los Angeles Rams last season.

Kyler Murray, who was his hand-picked top overall draft selection, has met with some success, and has also succeeded in getting paid a lot. But his own franchise told him he doesn't take his job seriously enough. Right now he is nursing a bad hamstring, and BetAnySports patrons should know it is altogether possible that he may not be able to suit up and get in the lineup for Monday Night Football, which is taking place in an unusual location this week.

We are talking about Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which hosts the NFC West encounter between the Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers. Game time is 8:15 PM ET on ESPN.

Murray might be a game-time decision for this. If he can't go, Kingsbury will turn once again to Colt McCoy, a veteran backup who went 26 of 347 for 238 yards in last week's win over the Rams, who were going without their own quarterback, Matthew Stafford.

The Niners (5-4 SU, 4-5 ATS) are relatively close to full strength, on both sides of the ball. And when they're healthy, they are probably the class of the division, with apologies to the Seattle Seahawks. Jimmy Garoppolo never seems to be able to get respect, but it's evident that this team's best chance to win comes with him at the controls, not Trey Lance. And it looks as if the ground game, which Kyle Shanahan loves, is going to play a big role down the stretch.

In the Monday Night Football betting odds as they have been posted by the folks at BetAnySports, the Niners are solid favorites:

San Francisco 49ers -8
Arizona Cardinals    +8

Over 43.5 Points   -110
Under 43.5 Points -110

And remember that you can check the website and lay LESS JUICE than usual on this game, which provides a lot of value!

Some skeptics believe that the Cards don't miss all that much without Murray. Of course, while we acknowledge that McCoy is at least a steady hand behind center, Murray does add a dimension to what Arizona can do. But with a bum hamstring, Murray's movement is somewhat restricted, even though he's said that "it feels a lot better." McCoy is also banged up, having suffered knee and hamstring injuries against the Rams. One of these two QB's will start, we can assure you.

DeAndre Hopkins is listed as questionable, as he is another hamstring case, but if he plays, and is joined by Marquise Brown (off injured reserve), that will constitute something formidable on the outside. But tight end Zach Ertz, who stands to be the key target for whichever quarterback plays, is out for the season with a knee injury.

For the 49ers, who are coming off a win over the Los Angeles Chargers, their running game looks a little different now, after acquiring the versatile Christian McCaffrey and getting Elijah Mitchell (89 yards last week) back from injury. When you put that together with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the flanks and George Kittle at tight end, and you have an arsenal that compares to anything in the league.

And the best part is that these guys can defend. The Niners have allowed fewer yards per game than any team in the NFL, and almost a full yard less per play than Arizona. They are surrendering just 3.4 yards per rush attempt, which becomes particularly important if McCoy has to play.

The Cardinals swept San Francisco last season. But we can see the Niners wearing their opponents down with the ground attack in the second half in this high altitude. If McCoy is the starter, we may be stronger with the "under," but we'd recommend a small play with the 49ers here.

Monday Night Football is so much fun at BetAnySports because you can play it in so many ways. With LESS JUICE you get a better price than the usual -110, and then there are alternate lines and props that give you so many options....... And they make it easy to open up an account, because you can utilize your credit card, as well as the digital currency of Bitcoin, which never incurs a transaction fee!