Tag: NFL picks

Cardinals-Panthers staff picks, predictions for Week 16

The Cards Wire staff takes a stab at predicting the outcome of the Cardinals’ game in Week 16 against the Panthers.

The Arizona Cardinals face the Carolina Panthers on the road on Sunday in Week 16. They kick off at 1 p.m. ET from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

They are 7-7 and snapped a three-game losing streak last week. The Panthers are 3-11 and have lost four in a row since their bye.

Who will win this game? The Cardinals are 4.5-point favorites.

Below are the expert picks and predictions from the Cards Wire staff.

Cardinals at Panthers Week 16 expert picks, predictions

Jess Root

The Cardinals should be able to make easy work of the Panthers. Carolina is awful against the run, allowing the most yards and the most yards per attempt, which means both James Conner and recently elevated backup Michael Carter should put up numbers. They don’t cover tight ends well, which means Trey McBride could break through for his first touchdown catch of the season. They do not play that well offensively. And, after two wins in a row and close losses to playoff contenders, the Panthers look like a team who peaked and now is coming back to earth. This should be a rather boring multiple-score win for the Cardinals.

Cardinals 31, Panthers 20

Howard Balzer

For three consecutive weeks, the Cardinals inactives were all healthy scratches although running back Emari Demercado and punter Blake Gillikin were placed on injured reserve the day before last week’s game against the Patriots. This week is a different story, placing added emphasis on the “next-man-up” cliché. Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and inside linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. are out, while backup running back Trey Benson will also be inactive. Outside linebacker Jesse Luketa, a core special teams player, was declared out Friday and then later placed on injured reserve. The line will have Kelvin Beachum at left tackle and rookie Isaiah Adams presumably making his third consecutive start at right guard, while left guard Evan Brown was added to the injury report Friday with a neck injury.

The Panthers had played five consecutive one-score games, winning two, with two going to overtime before four turnovers doomed them in last week’s 16-point loss to the Cowboys. The Cardinals should be able to control the game with their running attack and perhaps this will be defensive lineman Darius Robinson’s breakout game in chilly Charlotte.

Cardinals 24, Panthers 13

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

NFL picks against the spread: Week 16 Saturday games

Betting picks for the two Saturday games in the NFL in Week 16.

The NFL has two Saturday games in Week 16. Leading off at 1 p.m. ET, we have the Houston Texans on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. The game will air on NBC.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, despite a mild high ankle sprain, will start for the Chiefs. They are 3.5-point home favorites. They are -190 on the moneyline, while the Texans are +160. The total is 42.

After that game, at 4:30 p.m. ET, the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens on the road, airing on FOX.

The Ravens are 6.5-point favorites and -300 favorites on the moneyline, while the Steelers are +240. The projected total is set at 44.5.

Below are our betting picks and predictions for the two games for the moneyline, spread and total.

Odds come from BetMGM Sportsbook.

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Texans at Chiefs Week 16 picks and predictions

Moneyline

  • Chiefs -190

Spread

  • Chiefs -3.5 (-105)

Total

  • Over 42 (-110)

Steelers at Ravens Week 16 picks and predictions

Moneyline

  • Ravens -300

Spread

  • Steelers +6.5 (-110)

Total

  • Over 45.5 (-110)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cards Wire staff picks and predictions for Cardinals-Patriots

The Cards Wire staff make their expert picks and predictions for the Cardinals’ Week 15 showdown against the Patriots.

The Arizona Cardinals seek to snap a three-game losing streak Sunday at home against the New England Patriots, who also are mired in a three-game losing streak.

The Cardinals are favorites in this game and should, on paper, match up favorably.

It is time for game predictions. The Cards Wire staff gives their expert picks and predictions for this game.

Patriots at Cardinals Week 15 expert picks and predictions

Jess Root

Cards Wire staff predicts outcome for Cardinals-Seahawks

Cards Wire’s Jess Root and Howard Balzer predict the outcome of the Cardinals’ Week 12 road game against the Seahawks.

The Arizona Cardinals will face the Seattle Seahawks Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field with a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. The game will air on FOX.

The Cardinals are slight favorites in the game and lead the NFC West at 6-4. They have won four straight games.

The Seahawks are 5-5 and have lost five of their last seven. However, if Seattle wins, they will move ahead of the Cardinals in the standings with a head-to-head tiebreaker.

How will this game play out?

Below are our picks and predictions for the game from myself and fellow Cards Wire writer Howard Balzer

Cardinals at Seahawks Week 12 picks and predictions

Jess Root

The Seahawks have been so inconsistent defensively. They have allowed no more than 17 points in any win and no fewer than 26 in any loss. Arizona’s offense is humming. Seattle doesn’t stop the run well and the Cardinals are very good in the run game. Keeping consistent with how Seattle wins or loses, I see the Cardinals scoring a lot but winning a one-score game.

Cardinals 34, Seahawks 28

Howard Balzer

The Cardinals haven’t played a game in two weeks although weirdly it feels longer. It’s likely to be rainy, which is always expected, but the forecast says it won’t be windy. The Seahawks righted their ship for at least one week, snapping a string of five losses in six games with last week’s come-from-behind win over the 49ers. Seattle has allowed 138.6 rushing yards per game and 4.8 per attempt, so expect the Cardinals plan to revolve around running backs James Conner and Trey Benson. This game won’t likely be as one-sided as the 60-15 combined score of the Cardinals last two games. We’ll learn even more about the team this week.

Cardinals 23, Seahawks 16

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Week 12 H-Bomb underdog pick vision is with a divisional matchup

Jess Root and Howard Balzer continue to pick one big underdog (6.5 points or more) to cover the spread in Week 12.

Jess Root made a bold move in Week 11 of the H-Bomb underdog pick of the week (games with spreads of at least 6.5 points), but it didn’t pay off.

We have been locked in a duel since the beginning of the season, but until this week I had never led. In 11 weeks of picks, we have been tied eight times and Jess led after Weeks 7 and 8.

It was his decision to drop the bomb on the 14-point favored Lions last week that dropped him one game behind after Detroit dropped its own 52-6 bomb on the Jaguars.

My pick of the Seahawks to cover the 6.5-point spread against the 49ers paid off, not only with the win but also adding another direct hit (outright win) to my ledger, which tied Jess in that column.

That turned out to be the only H-Bomb success of the week as favorites Miami over Las Vegas and Houston over Dallas joined Detroit in winning and covering the spread.

That 1-3 record reduced the overall mark to 30-14 for the season with 16 direct hits.

Here are the four eligible games this week:

  • Houston Texans -8 vs. Tennessee Titans
  • Miami Dolphins -7.5 vs. New England Patriots
  • Detroit Lions -7.5 vs. Indianapolis Colts
  • Kansas City Chiefs -11 at Carolina Panthers

With seven weeks remaining in the regular season, I could play dirty and simply pick the same game as Jess does since he gives me his pick before I write this riveting story each week. That would mean he couldn’t catch me. But, trust me, I wouldn’t do that purposely.

My H-Bomb history (I’ve been involved in a picks contest for close to 30 years) results in me usually going with my initial belief as I look at the eligible games. It doesn’t always happen, but usually there’s at least one game after which I say, “That’s the one.”

It turns out this week, for the fifth time this season, we are picking the same game: the Patriots to cover against the Dolphins. That means I will maintain that slim one-game lead when Week 13 rolls around.

Standings after 11 weeks

Howard: 8-3 (3 direct hits)

Jess: 7-4 (3 direct hits)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

NFL picks against the spread for Week 9 Thursday night game

Picks and predictions for the Thursday night Texans vs. Jets game.

Halloween night brings the first game of Week 9 as the Houston Texans, now playing without receiver Stefon Diggs as he is lost for the season with a torn ACL, are on the road to face the New York Jets.

Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Primer Video.

The Jets are favored in the game. What are the picks you should make with your wagers?

Texans at Jets picks and predictions

Odds from BetMGM Sportsbook

Moneyline:

  • Texans +120

Spread: 

  • Texans +2.5 (-105)

Total: 

  • Under 43 (-110)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Eagles vs. Bengals Week 8 pick gives Cincinnati nod

One expert Week 8 NFL pick likes the home team in Eagles vs. Bengals.

It isn’t easy to pick the Week 8 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles.

Both teams got off to brutal starts, mostly compared to expectations that they might be in the running for their respective conference’s top seeds.

The Bengals flopped to an 0-3 start before correcting course. The Eagles went 2-2 over their first four, then escaped the Cleveland Browns by just four points in Week 6.

Now, though, experts like CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco see the Bengals getting a win on Sunday:

Both of these teams seem to have righted things from their slow starts. The Eagles are playing consecutive road games, which will be a challenge after winning a division game last week. The Philadelphia defense will be challenged by Joe Burrow and the passing game. Look for Burrow to have a big day. The Bengals will take it to even their record.

The Bengals are favored, are at home and continue to get healthier on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the trenches.

But…the offense has regressed over the last two weeks against elite front sevens fielding by the New York Giants and those Browns. Now, starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is hurt and the Eagles happen to have some strong pass-rushers, too.

While it’s certainly a winnable game, especially with Joe Burrow under center, it’s no wonder the NFL picks and odds keep coming in by close margins for either team.

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H-Bomb underdogs experience first losing week in Week 6

Who are the big underdogs we think will cover the spread in Week 7?

It was bound to happen after five weeks of unprecedented success, but it took a half-point loss for one of the three H-Bomb underdogs in Week 6 to fail to cover and help produce a 1-2 record.

Unfortunately, that was the game both Jess and I selected.

The Ravens were 6.5-point favorites over the Commanders and ending up winning 30-23.

The Browns did cover the 8.5 points against the Eagles while the favorite Texans covered against the Patriots. Also for the first this this season, no underdog won the game outright for a direct hit.

It’s still impressive after six weeks that underdogs of at least 6.5 points have covered 18 of 22 times and have won the game in 11 of those.

In Week 7, like last week, there are three eligible games:

  • Buffalo Bills -9.5 vs. Tennessee Titans
  • L.A. Rams -7 vs.  Las Vegas Raiders
  • Washington Commanders -8.5 vs. Carolina Panthers

The Bills and Commanders are only the fourth and fifth games this season with a line of eight points or more.

None of this week’s games are particularly attractive. Jess is dropping the bomb on the Rams, meaning he believes the Raiders will cover.

Call me crazy, and many often have, I’m going out on a long limb and saying the Panthers will cover. Talk about longshots. Carolina is 1-5 this season with a 36-22 win over Las Vegas. In their five losses, the Panthers have been outscored by 37, 23, 10, 26 and 18 points, for a combined score of 181-67.

Remember, this is for entertainment purposes only!

STANDINGS AFTER FIVE WEEKS

  • Jess Root: 4-2 (2 direct hits)
  • Howard Balzer: 4-2 (1 direct hit)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

NFL picks: Cards Wire staff predicts Cardinals-49ers outcome

NFL picks: Cards Wire staff predicts Cardinals-49ers outcome

The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers will kick off Sunday afternoon from Levi’s Stadium at 1:05 p.m. Arizona time. The Cardinals are big underdogs.

Who will win?

Cards Wire staff makes their predictions.

Cardinals-49ers Week 5 staff picks and predictions

Jess Root

As much as this could go sideways because the Niners run the ball well and convert on third down regularly. However, after getting embarrassed last week and with a banged-up Niners team, I expect the offense to keep up. It won’t be enough, so I am guessing the Cardinals cover the  spread and lose.

49ers 31, Cardinals 27

Howard Balzer

It’s body blow after body blow for the Cardinals. With the expectation that tight end Trey McBride would be active for Sunday’s game, he was then listed as questionable Saturday with an injury to his ribs of unknown severity. Also Saturday, kicker Chad Ryland was elevated from the practice squad, leaving the status of Matt Prater up in the air. While the 49ers have some injury concerns, everything has to go right for the Cardinals to make this a competitive game. They might have to hope the Niners players wilt in the Santa Clara heat.

49ers 28, Cardinals 14

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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NFL picks: ‘H-Bomb’ underdogs continue their hot streak

A look at the performance of big underdogs this season and who are the big underdogs in Week 5.

Week 4 had continued success for NFL underdogs as three of the four teams that were given 6.5 points or more covered and one won the game outright.

Notable is that the one favorite that covered was the 49ers, which were 10.5-point favorites over the Patriots. That is the only one of the 17 H-Bomb eligible games this season that had a double-digit spread.

The one direct hit was the Broncos defeating the Jets, while the Jaguars covered against the Texans and the Chargers did the same with the Chiefs.

Jess Root and I both won our picks as Jess went with Jacksonville and my support went to the Chargers.

Overall, the underdogs’ record after four weeks is 15-2 with nine outright victories.

We are both faced with a meager week for eligible games:

  • 49ers -7.5 vs. Cardinals
  • Seahawks -6.5 vs. Giants

As a side note, nine of the games being played Sunday have lines of three points or less.

Jess will drop the bomb on the 49ers, in a game that will played in Santa Clara with a temperature expected in the high 90s. I will go with the Giants to cover, despite the gutsy performance by the Seahawks in their Monday night game loss to the Lions.

As it is often said, the NFL is a week-to-week league and that’s what we are both banking on.

STANDINGS AFTER FOUR WEEKS

Jess           3-1 (1 direct hit)

Howard         3-1 (0)

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.