According to sports betting websites, the Denver Broncos are 1½-point road favorites against the Arizona Cardinals. This does not bode well for the job security of the Cards’ coaching staff. “I would say all our jobs are in jeopardy,” head coach Steve Wilks said, “including mine if we don’t win.” I take he meant they’d do better as contestants in the Alex Trebek-hosted game show than as NFL coaches. Because then he’d probably be correct. Except he didn’t phrase it as a question. However, the first head to roll would most likely be that of offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Remember when the Simpsons went to Australia? Bart is tinkering with small knife. A local guy approaches and says “you call that a knife? This is a knife.” But then he pulls out a spoon. Arizona’s offense is like a guy bringing a spoon to a knife fight.
Betting Broncos
The Broncos offense is not as bad as the Cards’, but not by much. They went 3-of-10 on third down conversion against the Rams last week. And averaged just 3.5 rushing yards per carry. ‘Worst’ Case ‘Scenario’ Keenum has one more pick than he does TDs. The Broncos have covered just once in their last 12 road games, per sports betting websites.
Betting Cardinals
It boggles the mind that Cards are 3-2-1 ATS this season. How exactly that has happened is like an unsolved mystery of Unsolved Mysteries. Moreover, they are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 as a home underdog. And 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 in that same circumstance. Just food for thought. Remember, though, that there’s luck and there’s dumb luck.
Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals Thursday Night Football Betting Preview
- Date: October 18
- Time: 6:20 p.m. MT
- Venue: State Farm Stadium
Line from Intertops.eu:
- DENVER BRONCOS -1½ (-115) 42 (-110) -130
- ARIZONA CARDINALS +1½ (-105) 42 (-110) +110
Denver Team Stats
Offense
- Points per game: 20.0 (26th)
- Total yards per game: 387.7 (12th)
- Passing yards per game: 263.5 (16th)
- Rushing yards per game: 124.2 (10th)
Defense
- Points allowed per game: 25.7 (21st)
- Total yards allowed per game: 403.8 (27th)
- Passing yards allowed per game: 242.5 (11th)
- Rushing yards allowed per game: 161.3 (32nd)
Arizona Team Stats
Offense
- Points per game: 13.7 (31st)
- Total yards per game: 220.5 (32nd)
- Passing yards per game: 156.5 (31st)
- Rushing yards per game: 64.0 (32nd)
Defense
- Points allowed per game: 23.2 (13th)
- Total yards allowed per game: 394.3 (24th)
- Passing yards allowed per game: 243.2 (12th)
- Rushing yards allowed per game: 151.2 (31st)
Betting Trends
- Denver is 1-6-1 ATS in its last 8 games
- Denver is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Denver’s last 5 games
- Arizona is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Arizona’s last 10 games
- Arizona is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
“I’m definitely taking more attention to the offense making sure we’re doing things we need to do to execute,” Wilks added. However, being a primarily a defensive coach, one wonders how much he can improve the offense. Rosen is certainly an improvement over ‘I Am’ Sam Bradford. But the Chosen One is “going to keep doing what I’m doing and try to clean up the edges and play as well as I can.” All in all, sports betting sites users can expect more of the same from the Cards. A team against which even the Broncos can cover a three-point spread. Then again, Denver is rather untrustworthy itself. Thus, customers of the best online sportsbooks should play it safe and bet on the total. With these two teams, it’s all but guaranteed to go under.
