The San Francisco 49ers have lost two straight games, are 1-3 on the season, and are forging ahead with backup quarterback C.J. Beathard leading the way. Still, they are not the winless Arizona Cardinals. At least, that's how Vegas oddsmakers see it.
As things stand now, the home-team 49ers are listed anywhere from 3- to 4.5-point favorites over the visiting Cardinals, according to various casinos and betting sites.
San Francisco is coming off a disappointing 29-27 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers while the Cardinals lost 20-17 to the visiting Seattle Seahawks. You know, the game now infamous after a certain safety showed his teammates the peace sign — minus one finger — while being carted off the field with a fractured lower leg.
The 49ers defense will face a rookie quarterback in Josh Rosen, who completed 15-of-27 for 180 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start on Sunday. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will be going up against rookie head coach Steve Wilks.
🎯 @Josh3Rosen 🎯 pic.twitter.com/RhSGmvn5il
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 1, 2018
What can the Cardinals, who seek their first win of the season, expect from the 49ers?
"We're going to be angry, very angry, because this one (against the Chargers) got away from us and we're all pretty upset," tight end George Kittle said on Sunday. "You're going to get an angry team."
The spread consensus has the 49ers as 4.5-point favorites. Those numbers could change as the game draws near. The over/under for Sunday's game is listed at 41 points.
The Cardinals have won six straight against the 49ers dating back to September 27, 2015. That includes a 20-10 victory the last time the two teams met on November 5, 2017, at Levi's Stadium.
The 49ers and Cardinals kick off at 1:25 p.m. PT on Sunday.