In the final week of the NFL regular season, the Seattle Seahawks (-14) are set to face off against their NFC West nemesis Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field. FOX will televise the action and the opening kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks Betting Preview
The Cardinals come into this Sunday NFC matchup as a noticeable dog here and they’re currently getting 14 points. The Cardinals are also receiving +525 moneyline odds while the Seahawks are -875. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 38.5 points, and if one squad can catch a lucky break early, it will probably result in a solid in-game betting scenario.
The game’s O/U has swung lower after opening at 40. The original line of -14 hasn’t shifted.
The Cardinals are 6-9 against the spread (ATS) and are down 4.3 units so far in 2018. They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 6-9. The Seahawks are up 2.8 units this season. The team is 9-4-2 ATS and has an O/U record of 8-7.
The Cardinals are 3-12 straight up (SU), including 2-3 SU against NFC West opponents. The Seahawks are 9-6 SU overall and also 2-3 SU versus divisional foes.
The Cards are most-recently reeling from a 31-9 defeat to the Rams last week. the Cardinals completed 18-of-31 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown. Josh Rosen went 12-for-23 for 87 yards while Mike Glennon completed five-of-seven for 63 yards. David Johnson (35 yards on 10 rushes) led the ground attack while Larry Fitzgerald (six receptions, 53 yards) and Trent Sherfield (six catches, 62 yards) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
Seattle takes the field on Sunday following a 38-31 win over Kansas City a week ago. Russell Wilson completed 18-of-29 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Carson (116 rushing yards on 27 attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Wilson (57 yards on eight carries) led the running game while Doug Baldwin (seven receptions, 126 yards, one TD) and Tyler Lockett (four catches, 99 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Arizona’s run the ball on 41.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Seattle has a rush percentage of 55.2 percent. The Cardinals have run for 84 yards per game (including 79 per game against West opponents) and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Seahawks are averaging 159 rushing yards per game (194 in conference) and have 13 total rush TDs.
The Cards offensive scheme has averaged 182 yards through the air overall (175 per game versus conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Seahawks have produced 220 pass yards per game (193.6 in the NFC) and have 34 total pass scores.
Arizona seems to have an advantage when it comes to limiting the pass. The team’s allowed opponents to run for an average of 153 yards and pass for 230 yards per game. The Seattle defense has given up 263.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 115.1 yards per game on the ground. The Cards are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.22 to opposing QBs, while the Seahawks have given up a 6.72 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Rosen is up to 1,997 yards this season, and has completed 55 percent of his 337 attempts with 10 scores through the air and 12 interceptions. Rosen’s got a 3.82 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 1.16 over the last two outings.
David Johnson (845 rushing yards, six rush TDs, 372 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns on the year), Larry Fitzgerald (616 receiving yards, five receiving TDs) and Trent Sherfield (172 receiving yards) have each played key roles of late.
For the home team, Russell Wilson has completed 245-of-375 passes for 3,059 yards, 32 TDs and six INTs. Wilson’s ANY/A sits at 7.52 for the year and 8.65 over his past two games.
Chris Carson, Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett have combined to account for 622 total yards and six touchdowns the last couple of games.
Betting Prediction: Cardinals vs. Seahawks
SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Cardinals, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The O/U for Arizona’s last game was set at 44. The under cashed in the team’s 31-9 defeat to the Rams.
As a team, Arizona has produced 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.1 over its last two.
Seattle has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.8 over its last two.
Seattle has lost four fumbles this season while Arizona has let eight get away.
In its last three matches, Arizona is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Arizona has lost seven of its last eight games SU, with a three-point victory over Green Bay on December 2nd accounting for the only win over that span.
The O/U for Seattle’s last matchup was set at 54. The over cashed in the 38-31 victory over Kansas City.
Over its last three contests, Seattle is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Seattle has won six of its last seven games SU, with a -3-point defeat to San Francisco on December 16th representing the lone loss over that span.
The Cardinals offense has created four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Seahawks have accounted for 13 such plays.
The Arizona defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Seattle has given up eight such plays.
The Arizona offense has created five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Seattle has created 15 such runs.
The Cardinals defense has allowed 19 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Seahawks have given up 13 such runs.
The Arizona defense has sacked opposing QBs 43 times this year. Seattle has produced just 37 sacks.
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