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After a 5-11 season in 2012, the public perception of the Arizona Cardinals has returned to the status they had before Ken Whisenhunt was hired. In essence, they are losers. Despite hiring the NFL's reigning Coach of the Year, trading for an established quarterback and putting together a draft class that many are calling among the league's best, they are still not getting love.
Well, in Vegas they aren't getting any love.
Recently released were the initial betting lines for all the NFL games for the first 16 weeks of the NFL schedules. In those 16 weeks and 15 games for the Cardinals, they are not favored even once.
Let's look at the schedule for the Cards.
Week 1: @ Rams, 4.5 point underdogs
Week 2: vs Lions, 2.5 underdogs
Week 3: @ Saints, 7.5 point underdogs
Week 4: @ Buccaneers, 4.5 point underdogs
Week 5: vs Panthers, 1.5 point underdogs (getting close)
Week 6: @ 49ers, 10 point underdogs
Week 7: vs Seahawks, 7 point underdogs
Week 8: vs Falcons, 4 point underdogs
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: vs, Texans, 3 point underdogs
Week 11: @ Jags, pick'em (no favorite)
Week 12: vs. Colts, pick'em (no favorite)
Week 13: @ Eagles, 4 point underdogs
Week 14: vs Rams, pick'em (no favorite)
Week 15: @ Titans, 1 point underdogs
Week 16: @ Seahawks, 8.5 point underdogs
Things that go against the Cards? They are not a nationally popular team, which means that there is not much "public" money going for them, which means you have to create an incentive for bettors to go on the Cards' side. That means keeping them down.
Of course, three straight seasons with long losing streaks and bad quarterback play certainly contribute.
Knowing this, are you surprised? Are there any games that you look at as good games to place a wager in favor of the Cards?
Keep up with Cardinals news and opinions when you are not on the site. Follow Revenge of the Birds on Twitter at @revengeofbirds and "like" us on Facebook. You can follow me individually at @senorjessroot.