Two teams coming off matching 3-14 seasons open a new chapter under new leadership when the Arizona Cardinals visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders sit as narrow one-point home favorites, and the total rests at 41 after climbing off its opener. The market treats this as a near coin flip. Both staffs have signaled their starters will play, which turns a routine exhibition into a real early read on two rebuilds. Below we break down the spread, the total, and where the value sits.
Last Updated: August 13, 2026
Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas NV |
| When | Thursday, August 13 – 8:00 PM ET |
| TV | FOX5 Las Vegas / Arizona’s Family (CBS 5); NFL+ / ESPN Unlimited |
Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders Betting Preview
These clubs arrive from the same place. Both finished 3-14 in 2025, both landed last in their division, and both fired their head coach the day after the season ended. Arizona swept out the Jonathan Gannon era and hired Mike LaFleur. Las Vegas moved on from Pete Carroll and handed the team to new head coach Klint Kubiak. Two reset buttons meet in the desert heat of a domed stadium.
The quarterback picture drives the read here. Arizona turns to veteran Jacoby Brissett, who took over as the primary starter late last season after Kyler Murray was lost for the year and later released. Las Vegas counters with Kirk Cousins atop the depth chart and rookie Fernando Mendoza listed as the No. 2, and the Raiders plan to give Mendoza extensive reps. Arizona opened its preseason in the Hall of Fame Game against Carolina, so its offense already has a live tune-up on tape. The teams last met in the 2025 preseason finale, which Arizona won 20-10.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | +1 (+105) | +120 | U 41 (+110) |
| Raiders | -1 (-125) | -140 | O 41 (-130) |
Odds accurate as of August 13, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Cardinals | 55% | 45% | Raiders |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Cardinals vs. Raiders Prediction — Can a Coin-Flip Number Be Beaten?
The side sits on a razor’s edge. Las Vegas opened at -1.5, and the number has since trimmed to -1, while the spread bets split almost evenly at 55 percent on Arizona. That is the profile of a game the market cannot separate. In an early preseason contest, the tiebreaker is rarely talent. It is continuity, and which passing attack fares better in its first meaningful reps.
Arizona has a small edge on that front. Brissett ran this offense down the stretch a year ago, so the timing and the reads should carry over. The Raiders, in contrast, are integrating a new head coach’s scheme with a quarterback room in transition. What’s more, rookie QB Fernando Mendoza is due for heavy volume once the first unit steps aside. Getting a point at plus money for an Arizona team and coaching staff with something to prove is not a bad spot to be in.
The other side is real, though. Las Vegas is home, its new staff has every reason to set an early tone, and the line moving toward the Raiders while the public leans Arizona hints at sharper money on the favorite. A short home number with starters on the field is nothing to dismiss. This is a lean, not a stand-on-the-table play.
The Pick: Cardinals +1 (+105)
Cardinals vs. Raiders Prediction — Will the Scoreboard Stay Quiet?
The total tells its own story. It opened at 39.5 and climbed to 41 once both staffs confirmed their starters would play. That move already bakes in the extra first-team snaps, so the fresh value now leans the other way. Preseason football tends to be conservative and sloppy. Vanilla play-calling, clock-draining drives, and long stretches of deep backups usually keep scores down, and these were two of the league’s least productive offenses in 2025.
The counterpoint is straightforward. If both first units stay on the field into the second quarter and find any rhythm, 41 is a low bar to clear. Still, with the number inflated by the starter news and the Under sitting at plus money, the value likely lies with the quieter outcome.
The Pick: Under 41 (+110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
There is a small extra angle worth a mention. In a game the market grades as a virtual pick’em, the Cardinals are available at plus money to win outright. The same continuity case that supports the Cardinals supports a light dart on the moneyline, where the payout is larger for taking on minimal additional risk in a one-point spread. Keep it small, since preseason results can swing on a single backup drive. The downside is obvious: one turnover from a shuffled lineup can change a coin-flip game in a hurry.
Bonus: Cardinals Moneyline (+120)
To recap the card for Thursday night: the lean is Cardinals +1 (+105) on the spread, Under 41 (+110) on the total, and a small-stakes flier on the Cardinals moneyline (+120). This is one of the tightest numbers you will find on the board, so stake sizes should reflect the uncertainty that comes with any exhibition.
NFL Cardinals vs. Raiders FAQ: Thursday August 13, 2026
What time does the Cardinals vs. Raiders game start?
Kickoff is set for 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, August 13, 2026, which is 5:00 PM local time in Las Vegas. The game is played at Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders’ indoor home, so there is no weather factor for either preseason offense.
What channel is the Cardinals vs. Raiders game on?
This preseason game airs on local television and ESPN Unlimited. It is carried on FOX5 in the Las Vegas market and on Arizona’s Family (CBS 5) in the Phoenix market. Fans outside those areas can stream the game on NFL+ and ESPN Unlimited.
Where are the Cardinals and Raiders playing?
The game is at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, the home of the Raiders. Arizona is the designated visitor for this preseason meeting. The venue is a fixed-roof indoor stadium, so conditions will not be a factor in the matchup.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Cardinals and Raiders?
Jacoby Brissett is atop the depth chart for Arizona after taking over as the primary starter late last season. Kirk Cousins leads the Las Vegas quarterback room, with rookie Fernando Mendoza listed second and expected to see extensive reps once the starters give way.
Who won the last meeting between the Cardinals and Raiders?
Arizona won the most recent meeting, 20-10, in the 2025 preseason finale on August 23, 2025. It was an exhibition result, so it carries limited predictive weight, but it does mark back-to-back preseason trips between these clubs after last summer’s matchup.