Two teams in desperate need of a win provide the NFL betting fodder for Thursday night when the 2-4 Cardinals host the 2-4 Saints. Both these teams harbored hopes of making the playoffs this season but one of these teams will fall to three games under .500 Thursday night. Who do we like here for our free TNF pick?
NFL Betting Lines
The Week 7 NFL betting odds opened Arizona at -2.5 for Thursday night, with an over/under of right around 46. Early betting action then dipped the Cardinals to -1.5 and that total to 44.5.
Saints-Cardinals NFL Betting Preview
New Orleans is 1-4 SU, 2-3 ATS over its last five games after losing at home to Cincinnati Sunday 30-26. The Saints, with veteran back-up Andy Dalton at quarterback, turned an early take-away into the first seven points of the game and led 20-14 at the half. New Orleans then scored the first three points of the second half, still led 26-21 late but gave up the last 10 points of the game to lose. The Saints also came up short ATS as three-point home dogs. New Orleans out-gained the Bengals 399-348 and out-rushed Cincinnati 228-75. But the Saints also settled for field goals four times after driving inside the Bengals’ red zone, instead of punching it in for touchdowns, and it cost them. New Orleans has actually out-gained and out-rushed four of its last five opponents but it’s -8 on the turnover ratio over that span, with three one-score losses. Arizona, meanwhile, is 1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS its last four times out after losing at Seattle Sunday 19-9. The Cardinals scored the first three points of the game but trailed 9-3 at the half. Arizona then pulled to within 12-9 late in the third quarter but immediately allowed the Seahawks to drive 75 yards to an insurance touchdown, and lost a game it was favored to win. The Cardinals out-gained Seattle 315-296 and out-rushed the Seahawks 144-136. However, 100 of Arizona’s rushing yards came from QB Murray, which is something we’re not fans of, and the Cardinals converted just 5/21 on third and fourth downs. Also, their only touchdown came on special teams. Arizona’s actually out-gained each of its last five opponents and out-rushed three of its last five foes. It’s just not winning games. On the injury front New Orleans isn’t quite sure who’s going to start at QB Thursday night and its top three receivers are all questionable. Meanwhile, Arizona is hurting at the skills positions. In fact, both these teams are banged-up. Bettors should probably consult later reports before getting down on this game,
Common Opponents
These teams have played two common opponents this season. New Orleans beat Seattle 39-32 and lost to Carolina 22-14, playing those two foes to +88 yards per game; Arizona beat the Panthers 26-16 but lost the Seahawks 19-9, while playing those two foes to +68 YPG.
Saints-Cardinals Recent History
These teams last met three seasons ago, a 31-9 New Orleans home victory. Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes for the Saints that day. He’s not playing Thursday night.
- Get more details: New Orleans at Arizona Week 7 Betting Stats
NFL Betting Trends
- Home teams are 49-42 SU, 44-45 ATS in the NFL this season.
- New Orleans is 11-12 both SU and ATS since Drew Brees retired.
- Arizona is 24-27 SU, 27-24 ATS when Kyler Murray starts at QB.
- Somehow, Arizona is 0-8 SU, 1-7 ATS over its last eight home games.
Totals Report
- The Overs are 4-2 in Saints games this season, which are averaging 50 total points.
- The Unders are 5-1 in Cardinals games this season, which are averaging 43 points.
- After going 10-4 last week the Unders are 58-35 in the NFL this season. However, that sounds like a trend due for a correction.
