Monday Night Football is a big deal.
Moreover, it will be the chance for the Arizona Cardinals to really show who they are in 2017 and whether they are still a team to be reckon with or if Vegas and the national media have it right.
You see, Vegas has the Dallas Cowboys, in the Arizona Cardinals home opener, as 3 point favorites.
That is despite the last five trips to the desert the Cowboys are 1-4 straight up against the Cardinals, meaning they have one win in their last four trips to Arizona.
The Cowboys haven’t beat the Cardinals in the regular season in Arizona since 2006, Ken Whisenhunt’s first season.
The Cardinals haven’t been world beaters this year, there is no denying that, but they are 1-1 and split a two game road trip to the eastern time zone. They are playing their first game at home in a month, preseason included, and have few, if any believers in them.
Now, the Cardinals have not been great in home openers in the Bruce Arians era, in their first four, they are 3-1 and they have outscored their opponents 95-80.
In the Arians era, they have opened at home as:
2016: Cardinals (-9) vs New England Patriots
2015: Cardinals (-2.5) vs New Orleans Saints
2014: Cardinals (-3) vs Chargers
2013: Cardinals (+1) vs Lions
They have covered two times in those games, against the Lions and against the Saints.
They beat the Chargers 18-17 and obviously we remember the lost to the Pats 23-21.
Overall, the Cardinals in their home opener have done pretty well, but in Vegas they are basically a pick 'em.
What do you think?
Editor's Note: original article used the 2013 season opener and not the 2013 home opener, stats and info has been updated to reflect.