Broncos vs Cardinals Preseason Picks and Predictions: Expect Plenty of End Zone Action in Zona

Two eras begin as the NFL preseason gets underway. 

Welcome to the Sean Payton era in Denver. The veteran head coach is tasked with turning around the Broncos following a disappointing 5-12 record a year ago. Looking at NFL odds, his team is one of the biggest favorites on the board for their first preseason game.

The Arizona Cardinals are also under new leadership as former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon begins his first job as a HC. He too is tasked with turning around his team after a lowly 2022 effort where the Cardinals had a 4-13 record. 

Which head coach will get off on the right foot in preseason game No. 1? Check out my NFL picks and predictions for the Broncos vs. Cardinals on Friday, August 11 to find out. 

Broncos vs Cardinals odds

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Broncos vs Cardinals predictions

Colt McCoy will play on Friday night, giving the Arizona Cardinals an experienced signal caller out of the gates. He’ll likely be the first quarterback under center both in the preseason and once the regular season begins. 

Behind him, it’s likely we see a lot of quarterback Clayton Tune. The fifth-round rookie has worked with the starters a little bit in training camp and has generally received positive reviews. David Blough and Jeff Driskell are listed third and fourth, respectively, on the depth chart. 

We have no prior preseason data with which to work for Gannon, so it’s a guessing game regarding playing time. He’s stated that starters will be on a “case-by-case basis,”. I’d expect to see plenty of 12 personnel this season offensively while the defense runs a base 3-4.

There’s not as much guesswork for the other side, where head coach Sean Payton has publicly stated that he will briefly play some of his starters — including quarterback Russell Wilson. 

Last we saw Payton in the preseason, his New Orleans Saints went 1-1 in in 2021 and then Game 3 was canceled. He doesn’t have any drastic splits and has accumulated a 29-31 career preseason record, per Walter Football. 

He’s doing things his way in Denver, and that will involve even most star players seeing the field for a brief period of time in Friday’s dress rehearsal. Behind Wilson at quarterback is Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci — two experienced signal callers. 

Stidham impressed by putting up 7.9 yards per attempt across 83 passes a year ago, while DiNucci was far and away the XFL’s leading passer last season with 2,671 yards across 10 games. Stidham has 131 career pass attempts and this will mark DiNucci’s fourth camp with an NFL team after spending 2020 through 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys. 

Overall, I believe both teams are relatively well positioned at the QB spot. Tune is a dual threat who passed for Over 7,500 yards to go along with 70 TDs in his last two seasons with the Houston Cougars. Blough averaged a respectable 6.9 yards per attempt last year with the Cardinals, while Driskel is at least experienced with 365 regular-season passing attempts under his belt. 

We’re seeing more experience and talent at the quarterback position than is usual, and we’re also expecting to see both starters — with McCoy and Wilson likely to handle a few drives. I expect to see both teams find the endzone on Friday and am snagging the Over at a low number. 

My best bet: Over 37 (-110 at DraftKings)

Broncos vs Cardinals spread and Over/Under analysis

The line currently sits at Denver -5.5 across most books. 

Payton has stated his intentions of playing the starters and that’s likely helping to drive up this line. That’s understandable, but now we’re left in a position where the spread is wider than usual for preseason action. In fact, this is the second-highest spread on the board for preseason Week No. 1, with only the notorious preseason juggernaut Baltimore Ravens (-6) a wider favorite than the Broncos. 

Arizona is expected to be one of the worst teams in football and will likely struggle mightily with a lackluster roster, a starting quarterback who won’t be healthy to start the year, and a first-time head coach. 

The Cards are in full rebuild mode and it’s not wise to expect this roster to be fully stocked from top to bottom. There are more questions to answer here than any other team in the league, so there’s a lot of uncertainty with Friday’s on-field product.

The Broncos, meanwhile, are expected to improve with an experienced winner at head coach, a veteranQB paired with intriguing pass-catching options, and a salty defense that surrendered 21.1 points per game a year ago. 

The total is set at 37 across most books, although 37.5 is starting to sprout. It’s been moving upward after opening at 36.5, already rising a full point at some locations. 

Last season the offenses were ahead of the defenses to begin the year, as totals went 14-3 O/U in Week 1 of the preseason. 

Arizona likely won’t put up much of a fight defensively once the regular season rolls around. Budda Baker is the best player on that side of the ball but even he requested a trade in April. The pass rush and the secondary are both concerns, so I expect the Broncos to be able to throw the ball. 

On the other side of things, the Cards still possess enough weapons on the roster in the passing game that I’d expect them to find a way to contribute to this total. Tune is a promising youngster and there is experience behind him — plus, McCoy will eat up a few series. 

Broncos vs Cardinals betting trend to know

Teams combined to go 14-3 O/U in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL preseason. Find more NFL betting trends for Broncos vs. Cardinals.

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