Arizona Cardinals Win Total Prediction

The Arizona Cardinals come into the NFL season off of an impressive 2021 campaign that saw them win 11 games and make the playoffs. But, they lost in the opening round to Seattle and left fans and bettors disappointed. I took a look at the season win totals for the upcoming season and have a free pick for the Cardinals based on trends, facts and observations from my more than 25 years of handicapping experience.



For the 2022 NFL season Arizona has a surprising win total of just 8.5 wins at most of the top online sportsbooks. That means the oddsmakers expect them to end up with a less than .500 record. 

This has been a disturbing trend for Arizona since Cliff Kingsbury took over the head coaching reigns in 2019. The team has started each season very strong and ended each one very poorly. Last year they opened with seven straight wins and ultimately became the first team in NFL history to start with 7 victories and wind up with six losses. In Kingsbury's first season, the Cardinals lost six of their last nine and in 2020, they lost 5 of their last seven to finish 8-8.

Arizona starts the season with three tough games and that may be part of the reason for the low season win total. The open at home versus Kansas City, at the Las Vegas Raiders and then back at State Farm Stadium to host the Defending Super Champion LA Rams. At best, the Cardinals start out 2-1, but I think it will be a 1-2 start to the 2022 season. The strength of schedule formula I use revealed that the Cardinals have the 7th toughest schedule in the NFL. Another way I evaluate the team's opponents makes the schedule even tougher for Arizona.

When I combine all the factors for this talented Arizona squad, I still see this as a sub-.500 team. I'll be taking Arizona to finish under the team total of 8.5 wins.

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter: @RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com