New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals Betting Preview
Of course, we could always be pleasantly surprised, but the New Orleans Saints visiting the Arizona Cardinals to kick off week seven looks like another Thursday night stinker. Neither team really has momentum, as both had losses last Sunday that have dropped their respective records to 2-4.
You would think that the short turnaround favors the home team, but both the Colts (12-9 over Denver) and Washington (12-7 against Chicago) have gotten wins going away the last two Thursday night games. Arizona is still a slight -2.5 favorite for this matchup.
Saints Putting Up Points Lately
Sean Payton is gone this year, and new coach Dennis Allen has more of a defensive background, but the Saints have still put up some solid offensive numbers. New Orleans is fifth in the NFL with 382.3 ypg, which is nice production considering Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston have both started three games apiece at QB.
The Saints have scored 25+ points in four of six games this season, an important trend considering the Cardinals were beaten 19-9 by Seattle last weekend and have been held to 20 points or less in three of their last four.
The Saints will be making a game-time decision on who starts at QB, but one would think they stick with Dalton, who has led the team to a 30 ppg scoring average in the last three games.
Dalton will be without Jarvis Landry (ankle) and Michael Thomas (toe) but may be getting WR Chris Olave back after he missed last week’s 30-26 loss to Cincinnati with a concussion.
Cardinals Have a New Look Offense
The Arizona offense was very underwhelming last week in a 19-9 loss at Seattle. QB Kyler Murray was just 22/37 for 222 yards and an interception.
That defeat to the Seahawks came on the heels of a 20-17 loss to Philadelphia on the previous Sunday, as well as a 20-12 loss to the Rams in week three, so this is an offense with some issues.
Despite their 2-4 start, hope is not lost, as the Cardinals are still just a game back in a very winnable NFC West. Arizona also gets DeAndre Hopkins back from a PED suspension on Thursday night and traded for Panthers WR Robbie Anderson this week, and he’ll make his Arizona debut vs. the Saints.
Saints vs. Cardinals Pick
Arizona will have a new look on Thursday with Hopkins’ season and Anderson’s team debuts – but is it too early to expect significant production from those two?
Murray very well could have his best game of the season for the Cardinals with the improved receiving corps and due to the fact that the Saints are without DB Marshon Lattimore with an abdomen injury.
Dalton has been guiding the Saints to some decent production on offense, with a ton of help from Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill. The Colts and Commanders have shown the last two weeks that away teams can win on Thursday – however ugly – and the Saints have the running game to keep the streak going.
Pick: Saints +2.5
