The San Diego Chargers were incredibly vanilla to start off the preseason against the Cowboys last week.
They might have won the battle in that game, but going up against the Arizona Cardinals will be quite the challenge this Saturday.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Nowadays, a total of 40 in the second week of the preseason is considered low. That's where this game opened up at before dipping to 39 in the first 48 hours of betting.
The Chargers are 2.5-point underdogs, but are definitely trending back towards being favored.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Mike McCoy is going to be keeping Philip Rivers out of trouble in this one. He only threw two passes last week against the Cowboys before exiting the game, and after the Chargers only threw the ball 20 times for 75 yards last week, we expect no different.
Kellen Clemens and Brad Sorensen are still fighting for roster spots at this point behind Rivers, and they should be involved in most of the this game.
Bruce Arians mostly used Logan Thomas and Phillip Sims under center last week, and we have to imagine we're going to see the same in this game, too. Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton have been here and done that before, and though both will play, neither will be in for long.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
Yes, the sample set is small, but McCoy is 0-2 to show for his work in Week 2 of the preseason in his career. Shielding Rivers from danger is probably a big part of the reason why.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's been a long time coming. It's been a lot of days since I saw this day in the future. I was excited all day until I got here, and then there's just a great focus; very workmanlike day, and now I'm ready to relax a little bit." – Cardinals starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who had missed months rehabbing a knee injury before getting back on the field last week
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
Palmer isn't likely to play much in this one as he continues to get back into game shape, but the running game is going to be crucial. Both Andre Ellington and rookie David Johnson have been out, which has left Bruce Arians wanting and needing more help.
As a result, the Cards signed Chris Johnson to the roster, and he will probably make his Arizona debut on Saturday night.
INJURIES
Johnny Troutman is expected to be a key member of the San Diego offensive line this year, but he won't play in this game, nor will outside linebacker Tourek Williams, who broke a bone in his foot last week.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
We like the under in this game, merely due to the fact that we’re going to see a lot of running the ball, at least with the first-team offenses out there.
Arians is still going to let Thomas and Sims turn the ball loose down the field, but clearly, there is nothing that suggests either one is going to have a tremendous amount of success.
The Cardinals will probably win this one at home, but we're a lot more confident that this game is staying in the 20s or 30s.
Arizona 16, San Diego 13
The NFL lines for this Saturday game surfaced at BookMaker before anywhere else on the internet. The Arizona Cardinals are favored at -2.5 alongside a total of 40. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The preseason Week 2 duel between the San Diego Chargers and the Arizona Cardinals will take place at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ on Saturday, August 22, 2015. This 10:00 p.m. ET kickoff can be seen live on ABC 15 and KFMB 8.
