Arizona Looks To Snap Losing Streak Against Panthers

The Arizona Cardinals (8-1 SU, 7-2 ATS) are 0-5 SU and ATS in their last five games against the Carolina Panthers (4-5, 4-5). The Cardinals are heavy favorites to earn their first win over the Panthers since 2013 on Sunday in Arizona.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The betting line on this matchup has remained steady since the Cardinals opened as 10-point home favorites. The total in Sunday’s game is set at 44.5 points after Sportsbook earlier in the week at 45.5 points. The UNDER is 4-1 in Arizona’s last five home games.

Carolina News & Notes

Once upon a time, the Panthers were 3-0 SU and ATS in 2021, and it looked as though they had a young quarterback to build around in Sam Darnold, who was averaging 296 passing yards per game over that stretch.

Carolina is just 1-5 SU and ATS since then, and Darnold has fallen off the map. The 24-year-old went 16-for-33 with only 172 passing yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions in the Panthers’ 24-6 loss at home to the New England Patriots last Sunday.

Darnold is averaging a dismal 159.4 passing yards over his last five starts and has eight interceptions with only two touchdown passes in that span. He is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury for this Sunday’s game, but you have to wonder if head coach Matt Rhule won’t give backup quarterback P.J. Walker a try even if Darnold is healthy enough to play.

Arizona News & Notes

The Cardinals closed as 5-point underdogs against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday when both quarterback Kyler Murray and wideout DeAndre Hopkins were ruled out with injuries. But despite the absence of their two biggest stars on offense, the Cardinals still rolled to a 31-17 road win over the 49ers.

Colt McCoy proved to be quite comfortable running the offense, going 22-for-26 with 249 yards and a touchdown while James Conner rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

Murray (ankle) and Hopkins (hamstring) are both listed as questionable to return this Sunday. Given how strong the team looked without them and how weak the Panthers have been this season, the Cardinals may be in no rush to bring their offensive stars back if they aren’t close to 100 percent this weekend.

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How Carolina Will Cover

Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins being out again would help Carolina’s chances a lot. With or without those two in the lineup, Carolina needs to get something going on offense to cover the spread here, whether that means getting Christian McCaffrey more touches or making a change at quarterback.

How Arizona Will Cover

Five of Arizona’s last six wins have come by 12 points or more, and that includes three outright upsets. Arizona has been so consistently good on both sides of the ball that it feels like another standard day at the office will be enough to get the job done.

Computer Pick: Cardinals -10

You can check out all of the NFL predictions for Week 10 over at our NFL Computer Picks page.