Cardinals Vikings Betting – McNabb, Kolb Go Head To Head Week Five In Minnesota

It must seem for Arizona Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as though every time he travels to play the Minnesota Vikings, the team he grew up working for as a ball boy, he faces a different outlook. The last time the Cardinals played in Minnesota they were Super Bowl contenders with Kurt Warner calling the shots under center. Fast-forward to week five of the 2011 NFL season and there is a new franchise quarterback throwing to Fitzgerald in Kevin Kolb, who looks for his first sportsbook promo road win in an unlikely battle of ex-Eagles’ quarterbacks.

Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings

While Kolb has struggled to play at a high level in his first season with Arizona, the same can be said about Donovan McNabb, who started ahead of Kolb in Philadelphia. McNabb has thrown for just 680 yards through four losses with Minnesota, and hasn’t proved to be the difference that management projected he could be.

NFL Betting Preview: Arizona Cardinals

Kolb has shown flashes of his skill level in his first full season as the unquestioned starter of an NFL franchise, but not enough to convince fans in Arizona that he can be their franchise quarterback. With only one more touchdown pass than interception through four starts, Kolb needs to do a better job in regards to decision-making, especially considering he has one of the most talented receivers in the game at his disposal. The Cardinals might try to open things up this week against Minnesota, so they will need their quarterback to be at his best. Arizona’s defense has been good against the run through four games, but they will face a tough test against Adrian Peterson and the Vikings.

NFL Betting Preview: Minnesota Vikings

Despite everything that has gone wrong in Minnesota this season, Peterson continues to be a difference-maker with 376 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 81 attempts. The Vikings rank third in the NFL running the ball, and if they could somehow squeeze some more production out of McNabb and the passing game they could end up earning a few wins. Minnesota has had a chance in every contest that they have played, with their four losses coming by an average of just more than a field goal. The defense will force Kolb to beat them through the air, and if McNabb can outplay his old teammate then that could be the sports betting difference in the game.

NFL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Vikings have been competitive in all four of their losses, and are overdue for a big win at home to break out of their funk. This will be the week that McNabb gets going, and with Peterson running all over the Arizona defense, Minnesota should be able to clinch its first win and start the second quarter of the season on a high note.