San Francisco vs Arizona NFL Handicapping
The San Francisco 49ers guaranteed themselves a spot in the postseason with a win last week over the Atlanta Falcons, but they’ll try and improve their positioning this weekend with a victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
San Francisco (11-4) at Arizona (10-5)
Sunday, Dec. 29 4:25 PM ET at University of Phoenix Stadium
Spread: San Francisco -1
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Arizona will have home-field advantage in this one, which will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium at 4:25 PM ET on Sunday.
San Francisco
The 49ers enter this contest 8-2 ATS in their last 10 against Arizona. In more recent affairs, they’ve won their last five outings this season, including a 10-point victory from last week.
On the season, San Francisco is out-gaining its opponents by 44 yards per game on the ground.
That’s an encouraging stat considering teams that outrun their opposition cover the spread 60 percent of the time.
On the year, the 49ers are the third-ranked rushing team in the NFL. They’re compiling 141.2 yards per contest in that category, which is drastically more impressive than the Cardinals (23rd). Unfortunately for San Francisco, what it has going for it is defense.
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The Cards are giving up just 84.5 yards per game in that same category, which is good enough for No. 1 in the NFL.
The Niners are also top-tier when it comes to rushing defense (5th), so whichever team dominates up front will have a clear advantage in this one.
Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals have given up seven of the last eight games against the spread when the 49ers come to town. Fortunately for them, they’ve had much more success against the rest of the league, as they’re 6-1 straight up in their last seven home games.
As mentioned above, if Arizona stands a chance in this one—which they clearly do—it’s going to be because of defense.
The team is just 20th in total offense, but it is sixth on the other side of the field.
San Francisco may be playing for postseason positioning, but it’s the Cardinals whose playoff lives are on the line. Combine that with the fact that they are 8-2 in their last 10 Week 17 games, and it’s easy to see how the they should come out motivated from the initial kickoff.
Unfortunately for Arizona, it just doesn’t have the offense to keep up if it gives up too many big plays.
The San Francisco offense is capable of doing just that, and if it happens, the Cardinals will be trying to come from behind late, even if it’s close.
Prediction: San Francisco -1
