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The Arizona Cardinals kick off the 2025 off‑season positioned as long shots, yet their forward momentum signals that they can and will outperform their 2025 odds.
From where their season started to mid-campaign shifts to where they stand now, each turning point strengthens the case that this team is poised for more than the market assigns.
The Cardinals excite fans with explosive offensive playmaking, led by a rejuvenated Kyler Murray and rising star Marvin Harrison Jr.
Their aggressive defense, anchored by Budda Baker, creates game-changing moments. Blending youthful talent with veteran leadership, they deliver unpredictable, high-energy football that can surprise any opponent on any given Sunday.
Opening: 2024/25 Season Odds
At the season’s outset, Arizona sits near the bottom of the futures boards. Fox Sports notes that at the end of December 2024, the Cardinals’ Super Bowl odds lengthened significantly, from +10,000 in the preseason to a staggering +50,000.
Their win total opened at 7.5 wins with an Over priced at +124. In the playoff market, Pickswise referenced Bet365’s +300 odds for Arizona to make the postseason early in the season. From the beginning, oddsmakers viewed Arizona’s chances as dire.
Midseason Shifts
Midway through the 2024/25 campaign, their outlook shifted subtly. While exact midseason odds are typically hard to source, the tone in expert coverage softened, CBSSports framed Arizona as “Jekyll and Hyde,” describing a brutal start, a midseason climb, and then a collapse.
That narrative suggested fleeting improvement that likely yielded modest upticks in betting lines. Still, without clear numeric changes, the story reflected a growing belief that was tempered by inconsistency on the field.
End of Season: Betting Reality
By year’s end, markets had reigned in their pessimism but didn’t flip optimistic. As of July 25, 2025, Fox Sports lists the Cardinals at +6000 to win the Super Bowl, a significant improvement from +50,000, yet still bleak, implying just 1.6% implied probability.
They logged +475 to win the NFC West, and +130 to make the playoffs, meaning they were underdogs but no longer total afterthoughts.
What Will Help The Cardinals Beat Their Odds in 2025/26?
As the Cardinals eye the future, multiple factors align that empower them to outperform these market projections. These factors will drive the Arizona Cardinals odds during the 2025/26 season.
A Healthier, Sharper Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray played a full, dynamic season for the first time since 2020, finishing with 3,851 passing yards, 21 TDs, and 572 rushing yards.
His dual-threat consistency significantly elevates Arizona’s ceiling. Murray’s return to peak mobility also unlocks the playbook, allowing for deeper passing concepts, extended plays under pressure, and more RPO flexibility.
His improved chemistry with key targets like Marvin Harrison Jr. gives Arizona a reliable big-play option in crucial moments. Additionally, his leadership presence in the huddle and film room set a tone for accountability.
When Murray stays healthy, the Cardinals’ offense shifts from predictable to explosive, and that transformation alone can push them past the win totals oddsmakers currently project. Kyler Murray plays a full, dynamic season for the first time since 2020, finishing with 3,851 passing yards, 21 TDs, and 572 rushing yards.
His dual-threat consistency significantly elevates Arizona’s ceiling.
Strong Defensive Anchor: Budda Baker
Budda Baker posts a career-high 164 combined tackles, earns another Pro Bowl nod, and signs a three-year extension, ensuring leadership continuity in the defense.
His relentless pursuit, sideline-to-sideline range, and ability to neutralize elite playmakers make him the heartbeat of the secondary. Baker’s vocal leadership also elevates younger defenders, creating a disciplined, aggressive unit.
With his durability and game-changing instincts, he not only erases opponents’ best options but also generates momentum-shifting turnovers, an invaluable edge for a team looking to beat the odds.
Positional Reinforcements & Draft Class
Arizona injects defensive talent through free agency and the draft. They bring in DT Walter Nolen (Round 1), CB Will Johnson, LB Cody Simon, plus key veteran signings like DE Calais Campbell and DL Dalvin Tomlinson.
These additions immediately bolster run defense, improve pass rush consistency, and add depth across all levels. Johnson’s coverage skills could neutralize top NFC receivers, while Campbell’s leadership and Tomlinson’s interior disruption bring toughness and experience.
Together, these upgrades transform a vulnerable defense into a unit capable of controlling games and protecting late leads.
Coaching Continuity & Culture
Head coach Jonathan Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort enter their third year together. That continuity deepens cultural buy-in and stability, often underrated values that betting markets fail to fully price in at the outset.
Gannon’s defensive-minded approach continues to shape an identity built on discipline and relentless effort, while Ossenfort’s roster construction philosophy prioritizes high-character, scheme-fit players.
Players now operate in a system they understand, with expectations and communication streamlined across the board. This shared vision between leadership and roster not only accelerates player development but also minimizes growing pains, positioning Arizona to execute more consistently in high-pressure situations.
Verdict
The Cardinals begin as underdogs in every futures market. Yet, their trajectory, bolstered by Kyler Murray’s resurgence, defensive upgrades, coaching stability, and late-season spark, positions them not just to make the playoffs but to surpass expectations notably.
With markets now offering +6000 Super Bowl odds, +130 playoff chances, and a win total hovering at 8.5, savvy bettors see tremendous upside. When all variables align on the gridiron and in coaching, Arizona proves that the best value may lie in betting the buy-in early.
They can outperform their 2025 odds, and all signs point to a season that surprises many yet fulfills the belief already thriving within the organization.
*Content reflects information available as of 2025/08/11; subject to change.