NFL football betting - Falcons, Cardinals return to the postseason
Bet sports: Arizona looks for first playoff win since 1998 season
- WHO: Atlanta Falcons (-2) at Arizona Cardinals
- WHAT: NFL football betting
- WHEN: Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 4:30 PM ET
- WHERE: University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
- KEY STATS: Atlanta is 6-1 against the spread in games with lines between +3 and -3 this season; Arizona is 1-6 outright as an underdog this season
- PICK: Falcons (-2)
The NFL playoffs betting season has arrived and the Wild-Card games begin with the Falcons vs Cardinals line.
While the Cards (9-7) have plenty to hang their hats on this season – their first division title since 1975, their first playoff game since 1998 – they certainly don’t have the momentum advantage heading into this NFL betting matchup. While they did finish the regular season 6-2 at home, they dropped four of their last six games. The Falcons (11-5), on the other hand, head to Arizona having won three straight games and five of six.
On paper, the Falcons vs Cardinals odds project to be a high-scoring affair. Arizona’s aerial attack was one for the ages this season; a reborn Kurt Warner threw for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns, fueling a passing offense ranking second in the NFL behind New Orleans. Cards receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston also became just the fifth teammate trio in NFL history to feature three 1,000-yard receivers. Needless to say, online sports betting fans know Arizona will air it out on Saturday and may post some serious points.
But the good news ends there for Arizona in the Falcons vs Cardinals line. While Atlanta’s run defense leaves a lot to be desired, the Falcons hardly have their work cut out for them against an Arizona rushing attack that ranked dead last in the NFL at 74 yards per game (and 67 YPG at home) this season. Not having to respect Arizona’s running game means the Falcons can pressure the statuesque Warner and keep him from posting astronomical passing numbers.
On the other side of the ball, Michael Turner leads a dynamic Falcons running game that ranked second in the NFL this season and made lots of NFL betting players happy. He should have his way with a Cards unit allowing 110 yards per game on the ground at home this year. While sensational rookie quarterback Matt Ryan hasn’t posted monster numbers this year, he’s shown a true winner’s instinct and a knack for managing games. Though he’ll likely hand the rock off to Turner more often than not, online sports betting fans should remember his growing rapport with Pro-Bowl wideout Roddy White. Those who bet online shouldn’t be surprised if the pair hooks up for a deep score against the mediocre Arizona pass defense.
The most important factor in the Falcons vs Cardinals line: each team’s schedule this year. Whom have they beaten? Arizona finished 6-0 within its own division, but those opponents (Seattle, San Francisco, St. Louis) combined for a hideous 13-35 record this year. Any opponent that really mattered – New England, Minnesota, Philadelphia, the New York Giants and Carolina, to name a few – pummeled the Cardinals, making them look like pretenders.
The rising Falcons, on the other hand, were 4-2 against teams with winning records this season and came up with big wins against Minnesota, Tampa Bay, San Diego and Carolina. They’re the much more proven squad, so it’s no wonder sportsbook odds have them favored by two points on the road.
STAN’S PICK: Forget Arizona’s home field advantage. Forget Matt Ryan’s inexperience, too. He has great support around him, and Atlanta is the better football team in every facet of the game except the passing attack. Bet online for the Falcons to cover the Falcons vs Cardinals spread in a shootout.
For more NFL playoffs betting and NFL lines, visit the online sportsbook.
Stan Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps the sport, and on the seventh he rests as the games play out. Thoughts or questions?.
