 |
| Additional Information |
| Home |
| NFL |
| NBA |
| MLB |
| NBA Playoffs Betting Guide |
| Free Picks |
| Betting Systems |
| Handicapping |
| Betting Sites |
| Teams |
| Sports Talk Radio |
| FAQ |
| Join Our Free Mailing List |
NFL Divisional Playoffs
Top 100 NFL Fantasy Players According to Our Statistics ($9.95)
San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals
by Kris Lazaro
11/23/07
The Arizona Cardinals host the abysmal San Francisco 49ers this Sunday in an NFC West matchup. The Cardinals are a double digit home favorite in the game (the line opened up as Arizona –11, but was quickly bet down to –10).
San Francisco has been a total mess this year. With the injury to star quarterback Alex Smith, Trent Dilfer has taken the helm under center. Unfortunately for San Francisco fans, the offense has simply not been there: in the last 3 games, the offense has produced a total of 25 points, scoring 9, 0, and 16 points respectively. Running back Frank Gore has been having a great season, but has not been supported by his teammates offensively. Gore is expected to play this Sunday and is listed as probable, resulting from an ankle injury.
The Arizona Cardinals, on the other hand, have been a great surprise this year. Although the team is 5-5 straight up, they are an amazing 7-3 against the number. Although Matt Leinart suffered a collarbone injury in the beginning of October, back up quarterback Kurt Warner has fit in nicely in the offense. The Cardinals won their last game at Cincinnati, beating the Bengals 35-27 as 3 point road underdogs.
In betting terms, going against a favorite who has won as an underdog in its previous game is usually a good proposition. But, in this case, betting on San Francisco to cover the 10 points might be asking too much. There is simply not enough offensive power in that lineup to justify backing such a team. They are also 1-4 straight up on the road. On the other side of the ball, Arizona is 3-1 at home and is a solid ball club.
The author predicts a blowout in the desert this Sunday. Arizona’s defense should stiffle Dilfer and force him to commit to covered receivers, which in turn will be converted into turnovers.
Game prediction: 34-10 Arizona.
