The matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the Washington Commanders in NFL Week 1 might not be the most exciting one for fans, or will it?
The Commanders will be under new management for the first time in 24 years and will showcase a new quarterback making only his second start as a pro. It’ll also be the debut of a new offensive coordinator who just happened to win the Super Bowl last season, and they’ll be playing at home which should further enhance the excitement of the occasion and all of those tidbits.
Arizona Cardinals vs Washington Commanders
1 PM EDT
Sunday, Sep 10, 2023
FedExField, Landover, MD
So, let’s get right to it and explore the odds and lines. As of now and per Action Network, the Commanders are listed as –6 (-110) favorites on the spread. The actual moneyline odds are Commanders -250 and Cardinals +195.
Hence, via a straight moneyline wager, a successful $100 bet on the Commanders would net you $40 while the same successful bet on the Cardinals would payout a net of $195.
If you’re betting on points, the line is -110 both ways. As a result, successful $110 bets on either team plus the points would payout a net of $100 (or a total payout of $210).
And the over/under is 40 at -110. If you win the over or the under, it would take a $110 bet to net $100.
When looking at home and away performance, the Commanders finished the 2022 season with a 4-4-1 record against the NFL spread at home, resulting in a return on investment of -4.04%. The Cardinals had a similar record on the road at 4-4 and an ROI of -4.57%.
Last year, the Commanders finished 8-8-1, missing the playoffs by half a game, while the Cardinals were humbled at 4-13.
It’s the first game of the season so we’ll spare you all of the stats. We simply think Washington will still be the better team heading into Week 1 and will be too pumped and focused to lose to a team like Arizona for the reasons mentioned in the article’s opening.
If the Commanders only win one game in the 2023/24 Season, it should be this one.
It reminds me of Washington’s first game played at the then-brand-new Fed Ex Field, then Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, in 1997, which was also against the Cardinals.
The enthusiasm over the new stadium and the team’s determination to win their first game there was enough for Washington to pull it out in overtime, 19-13.
But, will they beat the spread 6-point spread on September 10?
That’s a tougher question.
Prediction: Commanders 20, Cardinals 10.
New management, new stars align,
A fresh chapter, a brand new sign,
An offensive coordinator is skilled and true,
He’ll get it done in his Commanders debut
Below are highlights from that aforementioned 1997 Washington vs Arizona game.
Please note that odds and lines can change leading up to the game, so it’s essential to check for the most updated information closer to NFL Week 1.