The Las Vegas Raiders (0-1-1) and Arizona Cardinals (1-1) conclude NFL preseason action on Saturday, August 23. Kickoff is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The game will be broadcast NFL Network.
The Raiders are 2.5-point favorites on the spread with the game total set at 37.5. Las Vegas is a -126 moneyline favorite; Arizona is a +108 underdog.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has already declared this game to be one that prioritizes evaluation to ensure he has the right 53 on the final roster. Pete Carroll and the Raiders may have a similar outlook, but given what we have seen from the depth pieces of each team, Las Vegas will have the advantage.
Let's get into my Raiders vs Cardinals prediction and spread pick for Saturday night.
Raiders vs Cardinals Odds Tonight
| Las Vegas Raiders Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -105 | 37.5 -110o / -110u | -126 |
| Arizona Cardinals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -115 | 37.5 -110o / -110u | +108 |
- Raiders vs Cardinals Moneyline: Raiders -126, Cardinals +108
- Raiders vs Cardinals Total: 37.5 (-110/-110)
- Raiders vs Cardinals Spread: Raiders -2.5 (-105), Cardinals +2.5 (-115)
Raiders vs Cardinals Preview
Of all the preseason games, none were more lopsided than the total destruction of the Cardinals last week in Denver. Both Broncos quarterbacks averaged over 10 yards per pass attempt and completed 76% of passes. Denver also gashed Arizona on the ground, averaging 5.2 yards per carry — the offense gained a total of 562 yards.
The Clayton Tune-led Cardinals mustered just 135 yards of total offense, averaging less than three yards per play. Tune had 20 pass attempts in the game and finished with an abysmal 56 yards through the air.
Running backs Michael Carter and Emari Demercado, two players who have had success during the NFL regular season in previous years, combined to average 1.7 yards per carry on 14 attempts behind Arizona's backup offensive line.
Jacoby Brissett is established as the Cardinals' clear QB2 so it is unlikely he’ll be given extended playing time. You can make the same argument when it comes to the Raiders and Aiden O’Connell handing over the reins to rookie Cam Miller, but Miller has received rave reviews in his development over the course of training camp.
Beat writers and teammates alike have praised the rookie from North Dakota State, speaking publicly with confidence that this game will be the one he locks up his spot on the 53-man roster.
Defensively for Las Vegas, the competition in the secondary is going to force the hand of the coaching staff to play many of the key contributors you’ll see playing on Sundays during the regular season.
Veteran Eric Stokes is locked into one of the starting cornerback spots, but a fierce contest remains between rookie Darien Porter and Kyu Blu Kelly.
Beyond that, a number of corners are fighting to make Vegas' roster, including Darnay Holmes, who should see plenty of action on Saturday night. Holmes is the highest graded corner for the Raiders through two games, according to Pro Football Focus.
Raiders vs Cardinals Prediction, Betting Analysis
In what might turn into a Cam Miller vs. Clayton Tune showdown on Saturday night, I feel much more confident backing the rookie.
Miller should also have the benefit of a running game that will at least be serviceable enough to keep him out of long down-and-distance situations. Optimism surrounds one offense here, while the other has been dreadful.
Lay the points with the Raiders.
Pick: Raiders -2.5; bet to -1.5 (-110, Fanatics)
Spread
My pick for this game is the Raiders to cover the spread.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I have no play on the total.
