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Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers NFL Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

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If the Arizona Cardinals are going to have a chance at winning the Super Bowl, they know they are going to have to win on the East Coast and that has been much easier said than done. The Cardinals are 0-5 in the Eastern time zone this season and have already lost 27-23 at Carolina this season. NFL odds makers have listed the Carolina Panthers as 10-point favorites with the total set at 48.5.

Since 2003, the Cards are just 2-19 when playing in the East and that’s a big reason why they have opened as such hefty dogs. Still, Arizona should be able to take away something from playing Carolina as tough as anyone in its home turf this season, where the Panthers are 8-0. They have had some embarrassing losses in the East, but they actually led by 13 points in the third quarter against the Panthers before giving it away.

The Cards did what few expected they could do to win their Wild Card matchup with the Falcons; they ran the football. Edgerrin James looked like his old self and racked up 73 yards with a 4.6 yards per carry average to carve even more room for the passing game. QB Kurt Warner is playing like he did 10 years ago when he was among the best QB’s in football. His ability to throw the long ball is always a threat and he has touchdown passes of 71 and 42 yards against the Falcons. When the running game is working even a little, it gives the Cards the ability to hit on their big plays almost effortlessly threw the air.

Arizona’s defense has been much maligned but it was able to rattle rookie QB Matt Ryan. The Cards picked him off twice and sacked him three times and didn’t let big play wide receiver Roddy White get behind the secondary. They also held one of the NFL’s elite rushing offenses to just 60 yards on the ground. If you think Arizona will be up to the challenge again, bet the Cardinals at +10 at BetUS.

There is plenty of excitement in North Carolina as this year’s Panthers team gives the state its best chance of bringing home a Super Bowl ring since the 2003 team, which lost in the big game to the New England Patriots. The Panthers did reach the NFC title game in 2005 but were clubbed 34-14 by the Seahawks.

It should be an easier task to get back to the Super Bowl this time around with a bye week and now home field in its divisional game. While Arizona played solidly against the run in its win over the Falcons, the Panthers have been able to run over just about everyone this season. Carolina finished the season averaging 152.3 yards per game on the ground and has a NFL-high 29 rushing touchdowns. DeAngelo Williams had a sensational season rushing for 1,515 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns. Rookie Jonathan Stewart set team rookie records rushing for 836 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jake Delhomme’s numbers weren’t Pro Bowl material, but his ability to lead and his ability to make big throws late in games when it matters most cannot be questioned. Carolina threw the ball fewer times than anyone else in the NFL, but it would not be smart for the Cards to sleep on this passing attack which features one of the best receivers in football – Steve Smith. Smith averaged more than 100 yards per game is making a Pro Bowl trip.

Defensively, the Panthers weren’t as good as they have been in year’s past and they will likely be somewhat concerned with seeing Warner again, who lit them up for more than 370 yards. The rushing defense has not been as good as desired either. They gave up 301 yards to the Giants in a game which decided the No. 1 seed in the NFC. No one expects Arizona to get that kind of yardage on the ground, but like you saw in its game against the Falcons, a little bit goes a long way. If you like Carolina to crush the Cards, bet the Panthers at -10 at BetUS.

Do your NFL betting in the divisional round on Jimmy Boyd’s NFL picks and guarantee yourself a profitable week.

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