Cardinals vs. Broncos Predictions, Odds & Expert Picks: NFL Preseason Week 2

Will the Broncos' offense keep rolling when Denver hosts the Cardinals on Saturday night?

Mike Spector

Last Updated: August 15, 2025 11:15 AM EDT • 4 minute read

Cardinals vs. Broncos Predictions, Odds & Expert Picks: NFL Preseason Week 2 — Pictured: Cornerback Will Johnson (0) as we make our Cardinals vs. Broncos predictions. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images.

The Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos play the last of 11 preseason games on Saturday night, with kickoff from Empower Field at Mile High set for 9:30 p.m. ET, airing on NFL Network. Both teams won their preseason openers, and we break down this matchup in our Cardinals vs. Broncos predictions.

Denver’s point spread has dropped significantly from -6 to -3 or lower across our top sports betting sites, and we add our best ATS and player prop wagers to the NFL preseason Week 2 predictions.

🏈 Cardinals vs. Broncos predictions & expert picks

🔎 Our NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best NFL odds across legal sportsbooks in your area to make your NFL picks!

✅ Against the spread pick: Broncos -2.5 (-120 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ My best bet: RJ Harvey to score a touchdown on his first offensive drive (+800 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🔮 Cardinals vs. Broncos ATS prediction

🏇 Broncos -2.5 ⭐⭐⭐

📊 Best odds: -120 via FanDuel ($10 to win $8.33)
🔢 Implied probability: 54.55%

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We are cautious about backing Denver after its 30-9 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, knowing that the lopsided win likely factored into this week’s number. But instead of getting overly excited about a three-touchdown victory against a team that played only three projected Week 1 starters, this wager is more about coaching trends and strategies.

The Broncos beat the Green Bay Packers 27-2 in Week 2 of the preseason last year, which was the first of their two victories of 25-plus points to end the preseason. In that game, head coach Sean Payton allowed all three quarterbacks (Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson) ample playing time while giving them time with several key position players.

Granted, the strategy may be slightly different than when Nix was a rookie, as he is now the cemented starter. But Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was much more conservative in his team’s 21-13 Week 2 loss in the preseason last year, as Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., and most other key starters rested.

The fact that this line came down from as high as six points suggests Arizona may play more starters than usual. But I cannot trust that they would get more than a drive if so, and that has me heading to FanDuel to lay the points at the only one of our top sports betting apps with a line under a field goal.

📖 Check out our 2025 NFL preseason betting guide for the best betting strategies and full NFL preseason schedule.

💰 Cardinals vs. Broncos best bet

Usatsi 26817191 — Pictured: Running back RJ Harvey (37) is our Cardinals vs. Broncos player prop. Photo by Kyle Terada via Imagn Images.

🔥 RJ Harvey to score a touchdown on his first offensive drive ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📊 Best odds: +800 via FanDuel ($10 to win $80)
🔢 Implied probability: 11.11%

Nix has +390 odds, carrying a 20.41% implied probability, to throw a touchdown pass on his first touchdown drive. But Arizona is dealing with some injuries on the defensive line, and I expect Payton will want to get the running game going after the team scored its three touchdowns through the air last week.

Harvey’s seven carries were second only to Audric Estime among Broncos running backs in Week 1. And Denver’s offensive line ranked first in run-block win rate last season, so Harvey has a solid chance to break one near the goal line with Arizona needing to respect the running ability of every quarterback on Denver’s roster.

📊 Cardinals vs. Broncos odds

Live updated odds from our best live betting sites. Follow the latest NFL scores for line history and matchup info.

🪧 Cardinals vs. Broncos opening odds:

Cardinals: +3.5 (-120)
Broncos: -3.5 (+100)

🚑 Cardinals vs. Broncos injuries

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Written by:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”