San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals Picks, Odds, Predictions, and Player Props for Week 3

The 49ers look like a wagon at the moment. They started the year with an impressive victory over the Rams, albeit on the other side of the planet. They followed that up with an absolute drubbing of the Dolphins in Week 2. The 49ers currently rank second in offensive EPA and eighth in defensive EPA, so they’re back to being one of the best teams in football.

The Cardinals started the season with a shocking upset over the Chargers. They had a preseason win total of just 3.5 across the major sportsbooks, so getting a win in Week 1 got them more than a quarter of the way there. There was some buzz about the Cardinals heading into Week 2, but that was completely erased by the Seahawks. The defending champs took care of business in Arizona, despite being without starting quarterback Sam Darnold.

Can the Cardinals slow down the 49ers, or will San Fran cruise to another victory? Let’s dive in.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Odds For Week 3

• Spread: 49ers -8.5 (-108, DraftKings)
• Moneyline: 49ers -425; Cardinals +360
• Game Total: 47.5

The 49ers’ offense continues to roll, but it hasn’t come without a price. They lost another receiver in Week 2, with Demarcus Robinson suffering a high ankle sprain. He’ll join De’Zhaun Stribling and Ricky Pearsall on the sidelines for Week 3, leaving the team with just Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel at the position.

Fortunately, the 49ers shouldn’t need much more than those two. They have arguably the best RB-TE combo in the league in Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, and both guys found the paint last week vs. the Dolphins.

With the 49ers’ core fully healthy, their offense looks back to its peak ways. Remember, this team wasn’t just good offensively in 2023-24, they were historic. They averaged .179 EPA per play and a 51.6% Success Rate, both of which were first in the league by a wide margin. They should have no problems carving through a Cardinals’ defense that was victimized by Drew Lock at home in Week 2.

The bigger question is what to expect from the Cardinals. Their offense has been Jekyll and Hyde through the first two weeks. They managed 26 points and 393 yards against the Chargers in Week 1, but they slipped to just 151 yards and seven points in Week 2.

While the 49ers’ defense is definitely improved with a healthy Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw in the middle, they’re still probably not on the same level as Seattle. We’ll see if the Cardinals can have more success in this matchup. They’re probably going to need it, because it’s hard to imagine San Francisco scoring less than 30 points.

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Prediction & Pick For 49ers vs. Cardinals Week 3 Matchup

• The Pick: Over 47.5 (-115; FanDuel)

As you can probably tell from the previous section, I’m expecting offense in this matchup. The sharps seem to agree, with some early action coming in on the over.

If the 49ers are back to operating at their peak level on offense, this total is probably too low. Brock Purdy is 26-20-1 to the over for his career, and he’s 21-12-1 when the total is below 48 points.

If the 49ers can get to around 30 points—something they’ve done in each of the first two games—we don’t need a ton of help from the Cardinals to get home. For the most part, their offense has managed to put some points on the board with Jacoby Brissett under center. He was 8-4 to the over as a starter last year, and he has some talent to work with. Marvin Harrison Jr. may not be who we thought he was as a prospect, but Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Jeremiyah Love should keep the chains moving against most defenses. 

Best Player Prop Bet For 49ers vs. Cardinals 

Tyler Allgeier Under 33.5 Rushing Yards (-114; FanDuel)

Allgeier may be the starting RB in Arizona, but his hold on that job is tenuous at best. The Cardinals selected Love with the third overall pick, and you don’t draft a running back that high and keep him on the bench.

Allgeier did lead the Cardinals’ RBs in snaps last week, but his rushing share took a step back. He finished with just 31% of the team’s rushing attempts, and he finished with just 10 rushing yards.

Allgeier did get to 61 rushing yards in his first game of the season, but he had 17 carries in a game that the Cardinals led throughout. The Cardinals are expected to play from behind in this contest, and Love’s role should only continue to grow. Add it all up, and the under with Allgeier has some value.