PREMIUM
Rogers' NFL Coach's Clinic >> WRONG TEAM FAVORED!
(NFL) Arizona vs. Carolina,
10/30/2016 9:00 AM, Score: 20 - 30
Point Spread: 3.00 | -107.00 Arizona (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 3.00 | -107.00 Arizona (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Cardinals and Panther met in last season's NFC championship game in Carolina and the Panthers took apart the Cardinals in a dominating 49-15 rout. The Cardinals owned the NFL's most prolific offense last season (408.3 YPG) and was second in scoring (30.6 PPG) plus Carson Palmer had fashioned a career-best regular season (4,671 yards with a 35-11 ratio & a 104.6 QB rating). However, the Carolina defense pummeled Palmer, intercepting him four times plus causing him to lose two fumbles, as the Panthers won going away. Cam Newton, the regular season MVP passed for 335 yards and two TDs plus ran for another two TDs. The teams meet again in Week 8 at Bank of America Stadium but the circumstances are very different. The 3-3-1 Cardinals are trying to remain relevant with a win, while Carolina desperately needs any win to ‘wake up' from a ‘nightmare' season which has seen them follow last year's 15-1 record by opening 1-5 here in 2016.
Arizona: The Cardinals dominated the Seahawks during regulation of last Sunday night's game but found themselves headed to OT at 6-all. The Cardinals then missed a chip shot FG to win, before escaping with a tie, only when Seattle missed a chip shot FG of its own. The Cards are averaging more than a TD less per game than last year (22.7 PPG, down from 30.6). Palmer has missed one game due to the league's concussion protocol and hardly looks like the same player from 2015, with 7 TDs, 5 INTs and a QB rating of just 83.4. However, RB David Johnson has developed into a star, ranking second in the NFL in rushing (681 yards) and leading the league in yards from scrimmage and rushing TDs (eight). Arizona ranks 7th in total defense (in 289.6 YPG) and 5th in points allowed (15.7 PPG).
Carolina: It's difficult even to explain how a 15-1 team a year ago could open 1-5 here in 2016 but that is the situation the Panthers find themselves in. Carolina again boasts one of the league's most prolific offenses, ranking fifth in scoring (26.8 PPG) and fourth in total yards (390.3 YPG) but the defense has fallen from ranking 6th total defense to 24th this year and more importantly, has gone from allowing 19.3 PPG in 2015 to 29.3 PPG (ranks 29th). Want another key to the team's collapse, how about the Panthers owning a league-worst 16 turnovers, which have kept the defense on its heels on year. Four of those giveaways came in a loss to Tampa Bay in Week 5, the one QB Cam Newton missed with a concussion. Newton is sure way off his MVP pace of last season but it's hardly all his fault.
The pick: Expecting the Panthers to finally turn it around has been fool's gold for bettors, as Carolina is not only 1-5 SU but also 1-5 ATS (lone win and cover has come against the sad-sack 1-6 49ers). Arizona rolled up a season-high 443 total yards without a turnover last week but was unable to win, coming away with an unfulfilling tie. However, it was not a loss and a win here gets them to 4-3-1, keeping them squarely in a position to fight for a playoff spot the final half of the season. Considering that Carson Palmer has won 11 of his last 13 road starts in the regular season and David Johnson is providing head coach Bruce Arians with the best running attack he's had Arians in his four years with the Cardinals, I'll make Arizona a 10* play.
Arizona: The Cardinals dominated the Seahawks during regulation of last Sunday night's game but found themselves headed to OT at 6-all. The Cardinals then missed a chip shot FG to win, before escaping with a tie, only when Seattle missed a chip shot FG of its own. The Cards are averaging more than a TD less per game than last year (22.7 PPG, down from 30.6). Palmer has missed one game due to the league's concussion protocol and hardly looks like the same player from 2015, with 7 TDs, 5 INTs and a QB rating of just 83.4. However, RB David Johnson has developed into a star, ranking second in the NFL in rushing (681 yards) and leading the league in yards from scrimmage and rushing TDs (eight). Arizona ranks 7th in total defense (in 289.6 YPG) and 5th in points allowed (15.7 PPG).
Carolina: It's difficult even to explain how a 15-1 team a year ago could open 1-5 here in 2016 but that is the situation the Panthers find themselves in. Carolina again boasts one of the league's most prolific offenses, ranking fifth in scoring (26.8 PPG) and fourth in total yards (390.3 YPG) but the defense has fallen from ranking 6th total defense to 24th this year and more importantly, has gone from allowing 19.3 PPG in 2015 to 29.3 PPG (ranks 29th). Want another key to the team's collapse, how about the Panthers owning a league-worst 16 turnovers, which have kept the defense on its heels on year. Four of those giveaways came in a loss to Tampa Bay in Week 5, the one QB Cam Newton missed with a concussion. Newton is sure way off his MVP pace of last season but it's hardly all his fault.
The pick: Expecting the Panthers to finally turn it around has been fool's gold for bettors, as Carolina is not only 1-5 SU but also 1-5 ATS (lone win and cover has come against the sad-sack 1-6 49ers). Arizona rolled up a season-high 443 total yards without a turnover last week but was unable to win, coming away with an unfulfilling tie. However, it was not a loss and a win here gets them to 4-3-1, keeping them squarely in a position to fight for a playoff spot the final half of the season. Considering that Carson Palmer has won 11 of his last 13 road starts in the regular season and David Johnson is providing head coach Bruce Arians with the best running attack he's had Arians in his four years with the Cardinals, I'll make Arizona a 10* play.
