Arizona Cardinals vs Las Vegas Raiders Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Thursday August 13 2026

Tonight’s Arizona Cardinals vs Las Vegas Raiders picks feature one of the more useful preseason quarterback comparisons on the Thursday schedule. Arizona plans to play starters, with Jacoby Brissett opening the game before Gardner Minshew II and possibly rookie Carson Beck take over. Las Vegas also plans to use starters, with veteran Kirk Cousins leading the depth chart and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza expected to receive substantial work. The Raiders are short home favorites, but Arizona’s quarterback depth and the value of getting a full +2.5 make the Cardinals the more attractive side.

Best Available Odds for Arizona Cardinals vs Las Vegas Raiders

• Moneyline: Arizona +120 / Las Vegas -143
• Spread: Arizona +2.5 (-110) / Las Vegas -2.5 (-112)
• Total: 42.5

Game Info

• Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
• Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Allegiant Stadium
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Current spread: Las Vegas -2.5
• Current total: 42.5
• Environment: Enclosed stadium, so outside weather is not a meaningful handicap

Arizona Cardinals vs Las Vegas Raiders Preview

Arizona already has one live preseason game in the bank after losing 33-30 to Carolina in the Hall of Fame Game. That matters because the Cardinals have already gone through live substitutions, sideline communication and tackling. Rookie Carson Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards in that opener and helped Arizona produce two touchdown drives. The experience gives Arizona’s deeper groups a small preparation advantage over a Raiders roster playing its first exhibition.

The quarterback room is Arizona’s strongest reason for taking the points. Brissett is expected to start and has extensive NFL experience. Minshew is another veteran who has handled regular-season starts, and Beck showed in the opener that the game does not have to collapse when Arizona reaches its developmental quarterbacks. Preseason betting often comes down to which team can maintain functional quarterback play after the starters leave. Arizona has multiple paths to do that.

There are limits to the Cardinals’ offensive upside. James Conner has not been taking normal 11-on-11 work, while Trey Benson has remained out of practice. Arizona therefore has reason to evaluate backfield depth rather than push its regular rushing personnel, which can create slower possessions once the first group exits.

Las Vegas has its own strong quarterback setup. Cousins entered camp as the first quarterback on the depth chart, but the most important preseason story is Mendoza. The Raiders used the first overall pick on him and want meaningful live reps without forcing him into the regular-season job before he is ready. A preseason game against Arizona is an ideal environment for that evaluation. Mendoza’s talent gives Las Vegas a higher ceiling than a normal rookie-led reserve offense, but he is still taking his first NFL game snaps.

That is where the matchup becomes attractive for Arizona. The Cardinals can counter a rookie with veteran quarterbacks and a rookie who has already played a preseason game. Las Vegas may win the early portion, yet Arizona has the more proven structure for the middle and late portions. Taking +2.5 provides protection if the Raiders lead early but cannot separate after the rotations begin.

The market has been volatile. Arizona has appeared as short as +1.5 at some books and as high as +2.5 at others, while the total has also moved across a wider range before returning to the low 40s. The difference between +1.5 and +2.5 is meaningful in any football game because a two-point margin remains live. In preseason, when late two-point conversions and uneven kicking decisions are common, preserving the extra point of spread value is particularly useful.

Arizona beat Las Vegas 20-10 in the final week of the 2025 preseason. That score is not a reason by itself to bet the Cardinals again. Tonight’s quarterback plans are far more important than last year’s result.

Matchup Breakdown

Brissett gives Arizona a stable opening quarterback who should be able to handle protection calls and keep the offense on schedule. The Cardinals do not need him to produce a touchdown barrage. They need him to avoid negative plays and leave the next group in a manageable game. Minshew then offers similar veteran control, while Beck supplies the developmental upside that was evident against Carolina.

For Las Vegas, Cousins can create an early advantage if Arizona’s reserve-heavy defensive groups appear sooner than the Raiders’ starters. The bigger evaluation comes when Mendoza takes over. Arizona can test his ability to identify pressure and adjust to NFL throwing windows without needing to reveal regular-season defensive packages. Rookie quarterbacks often look best when the first read is clean and struggle when down and distance becomes less favorable.

Arizona’s running-back limitations are one reason not to overstate the offensive edge. Conner and Benson are not central to the preseason plan, so the Cardinals may not have their regular-season balance. The Raiders can respond by crowding underneath passing lanes and forcing the younger Arizona backs to earn yards. That is also why a modest Arizona score is more realistic than projecting a repeat of the 30 points from the Hall of Fame Game.

The total at 42.5 is elevated for a preseason game, reflecting both quarterback rooms and Arizona’s 33-30 opener. Bettors should be careful about simply carrying that first game’s scoring forward. The Raiders’ starters may be efficient, but both staffs ultimately need to evaluate backups, and Arizona’s running-back situation supports a slower script after the opening possessions.

Game Thesis: Las Vegas has enough first-team talent to justify being favored, but Arizona has the more proven full-game quarterback rotation. Brissett and Minshew can stabilize the early and middle portions, while Beck already showed he can move a preseason offense. With +2.5 available, the Cardinals do not need to dominate. They need to keep the game within one score until the deeper rotations arrive, where their quarterback experience becomes increasingly valuable.

Arizona Cardinals vs Las Vegas Raiders Best Bet - Spread: Arizona +2.5 (-110)

Arizona +2.5 is the strongest way to attack the matchup because it captures the Cardinals’ depth without requiring them to win outright. The full +2.5 is important because accepting +1.5 gives away a meaningful point in a game that can easily be decided by a late two-point margin. If the market falls below +2, much of the value disappears.

The Hall of Fame Game is another small Arizona advantage. Beck has already taken live NFL preseason snaps, while Mendoza is making his first transition from camp work into an NFL game.

The wager can fail if Cousins and the Raiders’ starters produce a quick two-score lead or if Mendoza immediately looks comfortable against Arizona’s reserve defense. Arizona’s thin preseason running-back setup could also create too much pressure on the quarterbacks. Still, the Cardinals’ combination of veteran backup experience and a game-tested rookie makes +2.5 the better side of a short spread.

Arizona Cardinals vs Las Vegas Raiders Total Pick: Under 42.5 (-105)

The Under is a secondary play at the higher total. Arizona’s 63-point Hall of Fame Game can inflate expectations, but tonight’s personnel does not require another shootout. The Cardinals are unlikely to lean on their regular running backs, while the Raiders will eventually transition from Cousins to a rookie quarterback making his NFL debut.

I prefer 42.5 because it gives room for a 21-20 or 23-17 type of result. The Under becomes less appealing below 41 because both teams possess enough quarterback depth to generate competent offense. A defensive or special-teams touchdown is the largest risk to the total, as is an unexpectedly long run for the starting offenses.

Prediction: Arizona Cardinals 21, Las Vegas Raiders 18