Sports betting players who wagered on Philadelphia have to be disappointed by the way the Eagles have played this year, but it was always going to be a process, especially on defense. But the Eagles will host lowly Arizona, who may have a little confidence after coming off a win, but the Cardinals will get clipped in all aspects of the game in Philadelphia.
What: NFL Betting
When: Sunday, November 13th, 1:00 PM ET
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
Why Bet On Arizona Cardinals (2-6 SU, 4-4 ATS)
The Cardinals hadn’t won since Week 1, but they defeated St. Louis 19-13 on the road in the most unlikely of fashions: rookie Patrick Peterson ran a punt back 99 yards just over two minutes into overtime to end an ugly game of two awful teams. It’s tough to find many positives about the Arizona offense, which is ranked 25th in the NFL, as John Skeleton was 20-of-35 for 222 yards and a touchdown, and he was Arizona’s leading rush with 38 yards on four attempts. The defense comes into this game ranked 28th and they allowed 383 yards, including 150 on the ground, but they did manage to stop the Rams on 11 of their 14 third-down opportunities. The star of the game was Peterson, the first-round pick that got off to a slow start, but with a pick and his game-winning punt return, he put the Cardinals on his back.
That win doesn’t hide the fact that the Cardinals are a bad football team; they just managed to beat another bad football game. Injuries aren’t helping either, and quarterback Kevin Kolb (toe, foot) is doubtful to play against his former team, something he would love to do. Running back “Beanie” Wells (knee) had just 20 yards on 10 carries, and frankly, he should be on the sideline because he obviously isn’t healthy. Linebacker Joey Porter (knee) will be out, but the Arizona defense is better when he is on crutches and safety Kerry Rhodes (foot) is also no closer to returning. A lot of things need to happen for the Cardinals to pull off this NFL betting upset in Philadelphia.
Why Bet On Philadelphia Eagles (3-5 SU, 3-5 ATS)
The Eagles allowed the final 13 points in a 30-24 loss at home to Chicago on Monday night, and the defense looked flat after a dominating performance against Dallas. The Bears put up 372 yards, including 164 rushing yards and they didn’t sack Jay Cutler once while giving Chicago four first downs due to penalties. The offense tried to keep the Eagles in the game, as Michael Vick was 21-of-38 for 213 yards and a pick, and LeSean McCoy had 71 yards and a score on the ground as he was outplayed by Chicago counterpart Matt Forte. But it was really the defense that came up short in this game, although you have to give credit to the Cutler, Forte and the Bears’ offense. They continue to struggle against the run, where they are ranked 23rd in the league and that allows teams to hold onto the ball and keep the offense on the sidelines.
Safety Nate Allen (concussion) will have to get through practice in order to play this week, but the Eagles likely won’t need him with a poor Arizona offense on the other side. The matchup between cornerback Nmandi Asomugha and Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald is going to be fun to watch, but the other corners, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, have to improve if the Eagles are going to come away with the win. The defense is very inconsistent due to a huge turnover in the offseason, not to mention the lockout. Remember, coordinator Juan Castillo used to be an offensive line coach, so it was always going to be a struggle for Castillo and the players to get on the same page.
How It Will Play Out
It would be a massive surprise if the Eagles weren’t the NFL betting favorites in this contest, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were favored by double digits, even though they are only one game better than the Cardinals. The Eagles are 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five meetings with the Cardinals, with four games going over the posted total, but in Philadelphia, Arizona is 0-2 SU and ATS in two meetings, allowing 86 points.
It may be a similar story this week as the Eagles are just a better team in all facets. The Arizona defense is susceptible to the big play, and that is something that the Eagles haven’t been able to unleash this season, especially with the struggling DeSean Jackson (who had a critical fumble against Chicago). If Kolb can play, the Arizona offense has a slight chance, but they can’t run the ball, which is Philadelphia’s weak spot and they won’t be able to throw on them. Take Philadelphia to cover the online betting spread in a romp.
Cardinals Eagles Betting Pick: Philadelphia Eagles