Kyler Murray and the Cardinals will take their talents to Chicago on Christmas Eve to play Justin Fields and the Bears in a fun matchup that should feature mobile quarterbacks and explosive offense.
With a massive Cowboys and Dolphins tilt going on during the same Sunday evening window, this bottom-of-the-barrel matchup might go overlooked by NFL fans. However, the quarterback play and some fun weapons on offense should be enough to garner some interest on this Week 16 NFL betting slate.
Two young coaches will look to prove there’s still plenty of promise in their franchise quarterbacks. Will the newly improved pass rush and Soldier Field advantage earn the home favorite another victory?
Cardinals vs Bears Odds
NFL odds used for this Arizona vs Chicago preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of 11 a.m. ET on Thursday Dec. 21.
- Moneyline: Bears (-205) • Cardinals (+170)
- Spread: Bears -4 (-115) • Bears +4 (-105)
- Total Points: Over 43 (-115) • Under 43 (-105)
- Implied Score: Bears 24, Cardinals 20
Cardinals vs Bears Predictions
Score Pick: Cardinals 27, Bears 24
Most trends and public viewpoints right now show the Bears pulling off a redeeming win at home against a reeling Cardinals team. Chicago is trending in the right direction with big improvements on defense of late, while Arizona can’t get a stop to save its life.
That being said, this is the NFL, and whenever something seems obvious, it’s almost always worth a closer look.
The Bears defense has looked good against in-the-pocket quarterbacks like Jared Goff and Joe Flacco. Kyler Murray presents a dimension that Montez Sweat and company haven’t dealt with of late.
While the Arizona offense has been poor on the road this season, Murray’s return has led it to 24 and 29 points over its last two games against above-average defenses in Pittsburgh and San Francisco, respectively.
Chicago had a chance to close out a statement win against Cleveland last week, but the defense failed to get a stop when it mattered most, and the Browns roared back to win in overtime. There are flaws for both teams in this one, but Murray’s upside is the difference-maker in the end.
Cardinals vs Bears Best Bets & Props
Over 43 (-115)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1.5 Units
Coach Matt Eberflus and the Bears have started to find a groove offensively of late, and consistency in the passing game among Fields, DJ Moore, and Cole Kmet is a big reason why.
Meanwhile, Arizona has found a new star in tight end Trey McBride, and Murray is not afraid to pepper him with targets in the wake of Marquise Brown’s absence. Chicago gave up a big game to David Njoku last week, so it’s safe to assume the Cardinals will attack this defense with McBride early and often.
In the end, these defenses have little to keep them fired up in Week 16 of a lost season, while the offenses are trying to dispel swirling coach and quarterback questions.
The NFL bet of the day is to take this Over at 43 points while it’s still available. Explosive plays should rack up points in a hurry, and both teams are capable of surpassing 30 on a good day, especially with the weather mild and relatively warm in Chicago.
Cardinals (+170)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Surprisingly, Michael Wilson failed to record a catch last week in his return. I suspect he and McBride, along with Murray’s legs, will be the keys to success for the Arizona offense, with James Conner pushing the pile when needed.
In the end, while the Bears defense does provide a slight edge, this game is too much of a toss-up for the Cardinals to be a +170 wager. I’ll take the value of the underdog to prove the public wrong in a mostly meaningless Sunday afternoon tilt.
DJ Moore + Trey McBride Over 149 Receiving Yards (+150)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
This “Weekly Special” play from DraftKings is right in my wheelhouse. I’ve already mentioned that I expect McBride to be a focal point of the Cardinals’ attack, as he can hurt the Bears all over the field.
Between yards-after-catch and the occasional deep ball, the former Colorado State Ram might eclipse 100 yards on his own.
Moore should get 7-to-10 targets, as well, on the other side, and it only takes one missed tackle for him to break a long one. We can conservatively project both McBride and Moore for 75 receiving yards, and one is bound to surpass that, maybe in the first half. I love this value.
Cardinals vs Bears Same Game Parlay
Cardinals vs Bears SGP (+100)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 2 Units
- Cardinals +7.5 (-208)
- Over 36.5 (-281)
Murray is a back door cover king, so I love the safety of taking the Cardinals to keep it under a touchdown in case the Bears pass rush does make a difference in the first three quarters. We just saw last week that getting stops down the stretch is harder for Chicago than it should be.
Meanwhile, even if some unexpected weather does roll through, or maybe some red zone turnovers hinder the Over early on, asking for just 37 points makes me extremely confident.
This is basically a teaser on Arizona and the Over, but we don’t have to pay juice if we take +7.5 instead of +10. This parlay perfectly summarizes my understanding of how this one plays out on Sunday afternoon.
