The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers play on Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Chargers' SoFi Stadium in a game on the NFL Week 1 schedule.
Which team will win the NFL Week 1 game?
Check out these NFL Week
1 picks and NFL Week 1 predictions for the game, which can be seem at 1:25 p.m. MST on CBS (stream with FUBO).
The Chargers are a 10.5-point favorite over the Cardinals in NFL Week 1 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
Los Angeles is -550 on the moneyline, while Arizona is +425. The over/under (point total) is set at 47.5 points.
Watch Cardinals vs Chargers on FUBO (free trial)
The Arizona Republic: Chargers 30, Cardinals 21
Jeremy Cluff writes: "The Mike LaFleur era begins with a tough test against the Chargers. Arizona is the biggest underdog of the week. Can the Cardinals just keep it close?"
Bookies.com: Bet the under in Chargers vs Cardinals game
Bill Speros writes: "Sharp bettors support the Chargers to go over their projected win total of 9.5, in part because of new OC Mike McDaniel guiding Justin Herbert to the next level of play. The Chargers dictate the pace here game behind Jim Harbaugh’s physical approach, facing perhaps the NFC's weakest defense. Meanwhile, LA's top-10 defense limits the scoring. And the points total. Arizona begins another rebuild with head coach Mike LeFleur, QB Jacoby Brissett and rookie running back Jeremiyah Love. Asking that untested offense to keep pace against the Bolts on the road is unreasonable. Hence the double-digit spread. A no-no in Week 1."
Sports Betting Dime: Chargers 26.4, Cardinals 13.1
The site's formula predicts that the Chargers will win the NFL Week 1 game against the Cardinals.
ESPN: Chargers have an 80.8% chance to beat Cardinals
The site gives the Cardinals a 19.1% shot at winning the NFL Week 1 game, with the remaining percentage accounting for a tie.
Dimers: Chargers 27, Cardinals 17
It writes: "After extensive simulations, our model gives the Cardinals a win probability of 16%, while the Chargers have a win probability of 84%."
BetMGM: Bet the Cardinals with the points vs Chargers
Nick Hennion writes: "Based on Arizona’s success early last year as a sizable underdog and the Chargers’ struggles against tight ends, my Chargers vs Cardinals prediction is the Cardinals Spread (+10.5, -110). It’s my perspective that the market is misreading the current version of Arizona. Bettors should take Arizona’s nine straight losses last year with a grain of salt. The Cardinals finished as the most injured team in the NFL, per FTN Fantasy. At 51.7 adjusted games lost to defensive backs, the unit led the league."
NFL's highest paid players in 2026: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive linemen | D-linemen | Cornerbacks | Safeties | Linebackers | Edge rushers | Overall | By position | By team
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals vs Chargers picks, predictions, odds for NFL Week 1 game
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