The Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions match up for a Week 3 tilt with one of the highest totals of the week. The winless Lions (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS) stay on the road for a second straight week after being trounced in Green Bay in Week 2, while the Cardinals (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) stay home after beating up on Washington. Bettors can expect lots of points between these two star-studded offenses.
- Date/Time: September 27, 4:25 p.m. ET
- Stadium: State Farm Stadium
- TV Coverage: Fox
- Sportsbook Odds: Cardinals -3 | O/U 51 (Line History)
- Lions vs Cardinals Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The game opened with the Cardinals as favorites at -3 and that number has already jumped up to between -5.5 and -6.5 depending on the sportsbook. The total opened at 51 but has since moved up to 54.5, the second-highest on the slate.
Detroit News & Notes
The Detroit Lions, missing several key players, were trampled up and down Lambeau Field by the Packers in Week 2, and there isn’t much reason to believe the defense will fare any better this week.
Easily one of the worst defensive line groups in the league, the Lions gave up 259 rushing yards on 35 carries to Green Bay and now get athletic freak Kyler Murray and the Cardinals run game, ranked 10th in rushing DVOA (efficiency) through two weeks by Football Outsiders.
There should be plenty of scoring in this game and bettors should watch for Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson to have a big game. The Cardinals gave up 96 receptions for 1,148 yards and 16 touchdowns to opposing tight ends in 2019. Those yards and touchdown totals were league highs. Last season, Hockenson had six receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 vs Arizona and he currently leads the team in receiving yards.
Arizona News & Notes
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is quickly emerging as one of the league’s premier dual-threat signal-callers. The first overall draft pick of 2019 looks Iverson-esque, dodging defenders at will and creating highlight-reel plays.
The addition of all-world wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been a boon to the passing game as well, as Hopkins has posted a two-week stat line of 22 receptions for 219 yards and a touchdown. He has an incredible matchup this week against the banged-up Lions secondary.
The Cardinals defense has been no slouch either, ranking ninth overall in defensive DVOA as the team has shut down Washington and a solid San Francisco squad in back-to-back weeks.
Betting Pick: Arizona -5.5
The OVER is a solid bet for this game as well, but bettors will get more value in picking the Cardinals plus the points here. We see the Cardinals having their way with the weak, beaten-up Lions defense.
- Detroit is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 games.
- The OVER is 4-1 in Detroit’s last 5 games.
- Arizona is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 home games vs Detroit.
