There’s a tradition in the comic book genre that the protagonist has a name with double initials. As in, Peter Parker (Spiderman), Bruce Banner (The Hulk), and Pepper Potts (Marvel universe). Even Clark Kent has the alliteration going on with his name.
That begs the question for fans of the Arizona Cardinals: is head coach Kliff Kingsbury a hero or a villain? And if the Cardinals are a comic action series (The Dessert Adventures of The Winged Warriors would be a solid name), will there be a Super Bowl special edition in the near future?
Following a 5-2 start to the 2020 season, the Arizona Cardinals limped to the end of their schedule. They dropped games to division rivals the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams (twice), missing out on the playoffs after posting an 8-8 record in their second season under Kingsbury. Still, it was a three-win improvement.
This season, the Cardinals won’t go 8-8. That’s because the NFL will play a 17-game schedule in 2021. They open their season with a matchup in Nashville against the up-and-coming Titans. We are contractually obligated to call them The Up-And-Coming Titans, because Tennessee is an exciting young team under square-jawed head coach Mike Vrabel.
After four consecutive nine-win seasons, the Titans won 11 games last year, hosting a playoff game for the first time since Kerry Collins was their quarterback. The Titans were the NFL’s third-highest-scoring offense last year (which makes them a good bet to deliver on the total points bet in Week #1).
Arizona Cardinals At Tennessee Titans Odds for Week 1
The early 2021 week 1 lines at Tennessee sports betting apps have the Titans (-2.5), who were 11-5 last season, as favorites at home.
- Cardinals +2.5 (-110) at Titans -2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: +122 / -144
- Total: 51.5
- Cardinals +2.5 (-110) at Titans -2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: +115 / -141
- Total: 51.5
- Cardinals +2.5 (-110) at Titans -2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: +115 / -135
- Total: 51.5
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Cardinals At Titans Game Preview
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill found the fountain of youth in 2020 in his second season with Tennessee. The 32-year old QB isn’t flashy. If he were a menu item he would be the Patty Melt: solid, with some nice features, but not sirloin and not prime rib.
The Cardinals feature a tough secondary and a solid defensive unit and special teams. They allowed just over 22 points per game last season, but they will have their hands full with the high-scoring Titans.
Tennessee likes to chew up the turf. In 2020 they rushed for at least 150 yards in nine different games, and topped 200 yards a league-best five times. That’s mostly the work of course, of Derrick Henry, who ran for a Barry Sanders-like 2,027 yards. The quick back found the end zone 17 times, and Tannehill tossed for 33 TDs.
The Cardinals will be a team to watch in 2021, with solid line units on offense and defense, and one of the NFL’s most dynamic secondary groups. But in Week #1 in Music City, they will have their hands full. Expect Henry to be in mid-season form, on his way to another big year running the football.
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