Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks: Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals face their toughest test of the season when they visit the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in a key divisional matchup on Sunday. The Cardinals have won their last six games both straight up and against the spread but have lost in three of their past four trips to Seattle.

Point spread: Seahawks opened as 5.5-point favorites; the total was 42 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 28.3-26.7 Cardinals

Why the Cardinals can cover the spread

Arizona handed the Seahawks their only home loss last year during their run to the Super Bowl, so the team knows how to win in arguably the toughest place to play in the NFL. The Cardinals beat Seattle 17-10 in that game as eight-point road underdogs and will face similar odds in this spot.

They continue to be underrated by oddsmakers despite their league-best 9-1 record, beating the Detroit Lions last week as one-point home underdogs.

Arizona has covered the spread in eight of its past nine games, including six straight during the team’s six-game winning streak. The Cardinals are also 3-1 ATS in their last four road games against NFC West opponents.

Why the Seahawks can cover the spread

The Seahawks are 12-2 ATS in their past 14 home games against divisional foes and lost at home to Arizona last year with quarterback Carson Palmer under center. Palmer is out for the season with a torn ACL, so backup Drew Stanton will be tasked with trying to win at CenturyLink Field. Stanton may also have a limited group of targets to throw to with All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald nursing a sprained MCL.

While Fitzgerald is hoping to play on Sunday, he will not be 100 percent and could just be a decoy. That does not bode well for the Cardinals going up against Seattle’s Legion of Boom secondary, which seems to play much better at home when it can feed off the crowd.

Smart Pick

Arizona has been a great story this year and has a much better chance to make the playoffs this season than last season. But there are no guarantees, and the Cardinals are starting the toughest stretch of their season against the Seahawks. Arizona plays four of its last six games on the road, with home games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle in between.

None of the games will be easy, especially with a quarterback like Stanton who has not faced this type of pressure to succeed in his NFL career. Stanton’s lone loss in four games as Palmer’s replacement took place away from home against the Denver Broncos, another Super Bowl participant from last year. The Cardinals were blown out 41-20 in that game and will see a similar outcome here.

Betting Trends

• Arizona is 5-1 ATS in its last six games on the road
• The total has gone under in five of Seattle's last six games when playing at home against Arizona

Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark - follow us on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.