NFC Wild Card: Arizona vs Carolina Predictions
NFL playoff betting action sees the Arizona Cardinals taking on the Carolina Panthers on Saturday January 3 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cappers Picks provides free NFL handicapping tips all season long.
This is a very intriguing matchup. One team probably doesn’t deserve to be here but there might be some debate on which one.
NFL Odds
NFC Wildcard
Arizona Cardinals (11-5) vs. Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
Saturday January 3
4:35PM
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
ESPN
NFL Betting Lines: Carolina -6
NFL Betting Total: 38
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Arizona
The Cardinals made it to the playoffs but not in the fashion they thought they might.
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In the first half everything was clicking but slowly the injuries began to mount and now they limp into the playoffs on a two game losing streak.
They only saving grace is that they face a Carolina team that snuck into the playoffs themselves.
As of this moment there is some traction on the idea that Drew Stanton may be available for this game. Though I think that would help I am not sure it makes a huge difference.
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Its not that quarterbacks don’t make a difference but Arizona is not going to have a chance unless they can run the ball and be very strong defensively.
In short they are going to have to be aggressive, feisty and physical to get out of the funk they are in.
Someone is going to have to step up at tailback while the defense plays a strong game, limiting Cam Newton and an average Carolina attack.
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The defense is good enough to win this one.
Carolina
I really don’t like when they say things aren’t fair because the Panthers made it in.
They won their division fair and square and there are a whole bunch of other things I would remedy first before I started messing around with the playoff format.
Even though they are in the playoffs again this year’s Panthers are not nearly as good as they were a year ago.
They just don’t have the playmakers on offense, save Newton, or defense that they did during last year’s surprising run.
The Panthers may have a losing record but they have won their last 4 games to win the division.
In short they have played their best football when it has mattered most and they have the ultimate wild card in Cam Newton.
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He is going to have to be at his big play best for the Panthers to win because despite their recent success this Carolina team is pretty limited.
The offense especially.
NFC Wildcard Handicapping Trends:
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 games in January.
- Over is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 playoff games.
- Cardinals are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Over is 4-0 in Panthers last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Panthers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 9-1 in Panthers last 10 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
Nfc Wildcard Prediction: Over 38
This is a super low total and justifiably so.
4* NFL Score prediction: Carolina 21 – Arizona 20
Look for the offenses to moves the ball but struggle to score TDs. Still I think there will be some points on the board.
Check out our Updated NFL Wildcard Odds.
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