Week 5 Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings NFL Free Pick – Odds – Handicapping Preview
Two former Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks duel in Week 5 when Kevin Kolb and the Arizona Cardinals travel to Minnesota to take on Donovan McNabb and the 0-4 Vikings.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-3) vs. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-4)
Date/Time: Sunday, October 9, 1:00 PM ET
Venue: The Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Broadcast: FOX
Cards vs. Vikes Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Vikings -1 ½
Moneyline: Cardinals +120: Vikings -140
Over/Under: 45 points
Despite just one win between the two clubs, both teams have been competitive in all of their games this season – Arizona’s has lost three straight games by a combined eight points while the Vikings four losses have all come by seven or less points.
Arizona thought that they had traded for their savior prior to the season but Kevin Kolb has struggled so far as the 14th ranked QB rating passer (87). With Larry Fitzgerald catching balls for the Cardinals and with Beanie Wells having a breakout campaign (2nd in the NFL with an average of 107 yards per game), you’d think that this team would be better. The offense is averaging 21.5 points per game and 352.5 yards per game. But the talent and the numbers have not translated to wins – defense is a major reason why.
Arizona’s defense has given up 21.8 points per game so far this season, just a tick above what the offense has averaged. This unit is giving up 388.3 yards per game and is 26th against the pass allowing 282.8 yards per game. The defense has to tighten up and will get a chance to against a Vikings offense that has not been good at all this season.
Minnesota, like Arizona thought that it had solved its quarterback quandary when they acquired Donovan McNabb in the offseason. He is the 18th ranked pivot in the NFL with an 80.9 QB rating and he is leading the league’s 31st ranked passing offense. All in all the Minnesota offense averages only 19.3 points per game and gain 311.8 yards per game. Thank goodness for Adrian Peterson who currently ranks fourth in the NFL with an average of 84 yards per game on the ground! [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Minnesota’s defense has been disappointing as well this season. They allow 24 points per game, 362.5 yards per game and surrender 286.8 yards per game through the air, good (or bad) for 28th in the NFL. Jared Allen is the lone bright spot for this team on defense. He is a true difference maker and has a league second best 6.5 sacks on the season.
Betting Prediction: The Arizona Cardinals are just 2-8 SU in their last 10 games against the Vikings but are 4-1 ATS in their last five against Minnesota. The Cards are 0-6 SU in their six trips to the Metrodome. It is worth noting that the Underdog is 5-0 ATS in their last five games.
On paper, it appears as though the Vikings are in a decent position to win their first game of the season. They have dominated the Cardinals as of late and they seem overdue for that initial victory. However, Arizona is not quite as bad as their record. They have some valuable weapons in both the running and passing game – something that the Vikings cannot say. I like the Cards to stretch the Underdog record to 6-0 in the series between the two clubs.
Pick: Arizona Cardinals +1 ½
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