49ers open up as 11-point favorites over the Cardinals

A couple of Thursday’s ago, the San Francisco 49ers were 9-point favorites on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. Fast forward two weeks, and Vegas is favoring the Niners by 11-points. The total on the game is 45, so Vegas expects San Francisco to win 28-17. At first, Kyle Shanahan told Cardinals reporters that George Kittle wouldn’t play Sunday, but he didn’t rule him out to the Niners’ reporters. This line seems like a lot for a team whose two best offensive weapons are questionable for Sunday’s game, not to mention it’s a divisional matchup.

The Cardinals have lost three games in a row, though the last two losses have come by a total of six points. Kliff Kingsbury didn’t seem to fear the Buccaneers pass rush, and threw it all over the field. Kyler Murray threw the ball over ten yards 17 times, and over 20 yards seven times. For comparison’s sake, Arizona threw the ball over ten yards five times, and just once over 20 yards. That’s the value of being able to get after the quarterback.

Vegas likely thinks the Cardinals won’t be able to replicate their big plays against the 49ers defense that was playing on a few days rest. I agree with them. We’ll get into more matchups and what the offense will look like if they are without Emmanuel Sanders and George Kittle. Murray has done a good job all season of not turning the ball over, but the defensive line should have their way upfront again.