:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20772689/mgm_grand_sports_book.0.jpg)
The early lines have come out, and the San Francisco 49ers are currently installed as 11-point favorites against the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers were touchdown favorites over the Texans, but that line came down to 4 1/2 points as most people figured the Texans had a little more fight in them. Not so much.
The 49ers and Cardinals are tied at 3-2, a game behind the Seattle Seahawks. However, it is safe to say oddsmakers and the betting public all view these two teams a little bit different. The Cardinals have won two straight, winning 13-10 at Tampa Bay, and then 22-6 at home against Carolina. Arizona is built around a stout defense, but that offense remains a question mark. They seem to finally be going toward the more talented running back in Andre Ellington, but Carson Palmer remains a significant question mark for that passing game.
For now though, while I do think the 49ers can cover an 11-point spread at home, the Cardinals are no push over. They can win games in spite of Carson Palmer, and if he plays even remotely decent, they became a rather dangerous team. They were crushed down in New Orleans, but we all know the Saints offense is bringing something a lot more consistent to the table than the 49ers right now. With how this Cardinals defense can play, this game will be a bigger test than some might care to admit.