Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings (-3), Total 45.5 |
Arizona is 1-3 on the season and bettors should realize that each of the team’s games have been decided by seven points or less. The Cardinals have dropped consecutive games against the Seattle Seahawks (13-10) and New York Giants (31-27) despite out-gaining both teams.
Offseason acquisition Kevin Kolb is 14th in the league in passer rating, throwing five touchdown passes, but many are wanting more due to the five-year, $63 million contract he signed.
“I’m not going to tell you it’s a work in progress because I’m tired of saying it,” Kolb commented in practice this week. “I’m just ready to get it done and win some games.”
Running back Beanie Wells has been a solid option in the ground game despite being hampered with a hamstring injury, carrying the ball 27 times for 138 yards last week. He has been limited in practice this week.
This will be the 22nd regular-season meeting between the two franchises, with the Cardinals posting a 10-11 record, including a 27-24 loss as seven-point road underdogs last year. Minnesota finished that game with a 507-225 advantage in total yards.
sportsbook bettors will find that the Cardinals are 0-2 ATS when the line is in-between plus-three and minus-three this year, while going 6-9 over the last two-plus seasons.
Minnesota will try to avoid the franchise’s worst start since 1962 and quarterback Donovan McNabb needs to step it up to silence the critics. “I don’t get caught up in that whole deal,” stated McNabb about the possibility of being benched. “Everyone loves the backup, first and foremost. Everyone loves for something else to happen.”
The Vikings should remain confident in pulling out a win in this game despite their 0-4 record, as they’ve never lost inside the Metrodome in this series, winning all six meetings.
Adrian Peterson is fourth in the league in averaging 94 yards per game and will likely be the focal point of the offense. He will need to be great on first and second down, as McNabb is completing just 37.1 percent of his passes on third down.
On the defensive end, Minnesota has been great against the run which will help against Wells, giving up 76.3 yards per game on 3.3 yards per carry.
The Vikings will likely come after Kolb on the edge with defensive end Jared Allen matched up with Cardinals offensive tackle Levi Brown, as the team has given up 12 sacks in four games.
NFL betting players will find that the Vikings are 9-7 ATS at home and the ‘over’ is 10-8 in those contests.
