Days removed from earning the title of “highest-paid player in the NFL,” Matthew Stafford will try to give the Lions a leg up in a Week 1 matchup against a Cardinals team he’s never beaten. With many questions still being asked of the Lions’ offensive line, though, the 29-year-old field general could be in trouble in front of a home crowd that will be expecting big things.
- The Lions are 0-7 SU and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against the Cardinals.
- Carson Palmer has a career 4-1 record and 97.6 passer rating against the Lions.
- The Cardinals are 5-2 SU and ATS in their last 7 games in Week 1.
When we last saw Stafford and the Lions in action, they were stymied by the Seahawks in the first round of the playoffs, managing just six points and 231 yards of offense, and they’ll be rolling out a nearly identical unit for their season opener on Sunday against a defense that allowed the second-fewest total yards in pro football last year.
Given those factors, it’s tough to justify a bet on the Lions unless you believe – incorrectly – that the Cardinals defense took a step backward in the offseason.
Arizona was one of my favorites to make it out of the NFC last year and I stand by my prediction. If Carson Palmer (14 interceptions) had been just a little more consistent, he and the Cards would’ve snuck into the postseason and made things incredibly interesting in an already convoluted conference.
Even with Palmer putting together a horrendous season, Arizona finished with the ninth-most total offensive yards, thanks to David Johnson, and the former first overall pick once again finds himself surrounded by some of the game’s most lethal weapons.
The Cards signal-caller will be better in 2017 – if only marginally – and I expect that to pay dividends immediately. Arizona wheels out of the Motor City with a win and cover on Sunday.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Oddsmakers at Sportsbook had the Detroit Lions as 3-point favorites in the game, while the betting total was sitting at 49.
A 25-18 result in favor of the Lions was the prediction by the OddsShark handicapping pick engine earlier this week. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Arizona Cardinals vs Detroit Lions Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Detroit will face the Arizona Cardinals, who went 7-8-1 and owned a 6-10 ATS mark last season. In totals betting, the Lions were 6-11 while the Cardinals were 10-5-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Detroit vs Arizona injuries news.
The OddsShark Power Rankings have the Detroit Lions at No. 21 and the Arizona Cardinals at No. 15 heading into this contest.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Detroit's No. 22-ranked offense last season, which averaged 20.71 PPG, against a Cardinals defense that ranked No. 14 at 22.62 PPG. The Lions aerial game averaged 252.53 yards per game, more than the Cardinals secondary allowed through the air, 210.25 YPG per game.
Defensively, the Arizona Cardinals featured the league's No. 17-rated road run defense, allowing 112.63 yards per game. The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, ranked No. 29 in rushing offense at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Last time out, Carson Palmer threw for 3 scores and 255 yards in leading his team past Los Angeles at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Detroit was hamered in its last outing, as Seattle ran up a 26-6 score against them at CenturyLink Field.
- Arizona is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games
- Arizona is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Arizona is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
- Detroit is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- Detroit is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Detroit's last 11 games
- Detroit is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Arizona at Indianapolis, Sunday, September 17
Detroit at New York, Monday, September 18
