49ers vs. Cardinals: Arizona is a four-point favorite over San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers are officially playing out the string after being eliminated from playoff contention following their disappointing 41-33 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Niners have two games remaining on their schedule as they look forward to building for 2021.

San Francisco will take on the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, and oddsmakers have Kyle Murray’s squad as a four-point favorite. The over/under for the Week 16 matchup is set at 49.

The 49ers are 5-9 against the spread this season, only covering the five contests they have won. When they lose, it hasn’t been close. Their last six losses have come by an average of 11.1 points. The Niners are just 1-5 ATS over the previous six games but have covered on the road four times this season.

Arizona is 8-6 overall and is 7-7 ATS this season, and the over has hit in five out of the Cardinals’ seven home games in 2020.

This will be the second meeting between the two teams. Arizona was a seven-point underdog going into the Week 1 matchup in San Francisco but pulled off the upset, beating the Niners 24-20.

I like the Cardinals to cover this week. The Niners’ offense has struggled without its star players, and with the defense giving up a ton of yards against dual-threat quarterbacks, I expect Murray and the Arizona offense to do enough to cover the four points.

Murray had 91 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 1 as a fully healthy 49ers’ defense struggled to contain him. He also ran for four first downs in the season-opening win.

San Francisco quarterback Nick Mullens has been a turnover machine since taking over the starting job from the injured Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers are 1-5 since Mullens became the starter in Week 9.

The 49ers swept the Cardinals last season, but those are the only two wins San Francisco has over Arizona since 2015. The Cardinals have won nine out of the previous 11 matchups between the two teams.

Will the Niners cover the spread on Saturday?