Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers Odds, Wild Card Betting, Pick

The Carolina Panthers will be home favorites when they host the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC Wild Card playoff matchup Saturday despite earning four fewer wins during the regular season.

The Panthers are the first repeat champions of the NFC South in the division’s history thanks to a season-ending, four-game winning streak and will meet a Cardinals team that has dropped four of six straight up but covered three of four.

Point Spread: The Panthers opened as four-point favorites; the total was 38.5 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

NFL pick, via Odds Shark Computer: 18.1-17.2 Cardinals

Why the Cardinals Can Cover the Spread

Arizona’s defense has kept this team in games all season, and last week’s 20-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers as six-point road underdogs was no different. The Cardinals not only went 11-5 SU during the regular season, they also finished with an impressive 11-5 mark against the spread.

Outside of playing the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks twice in the last 12 games, they were 9-1 ATS against other teams during that stretch. While Ryan Lindley may not be the answer at quarterback for Arizona, he did play much better against the 49ers and gives the team some hope.

Why the Panthers Can Cover the Spread

Carolina rebounded from a seven-game winless streak by winning four in a row to end the regular season and showed great determination in dealing with adversity throughout the year. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has also demonstrated tremendous leadership since returning to action following a car accident that resulted in minor damage to his back.

Newton has played with injuries all season and appears to be finally playing his best football right now. A year ago, the Panthers lost their lone playoff game at home, and they will be motivated to make sure their run lasts longer this time. Every team is 0-0 when the postseason begins, and the Panthers remain dangerous.

Smart Pick

Carolina has just a single signature win against a playoff team this season (over the Lions), but this team is obviously in much better current form than it has been all year. Beating the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions seems so long ago for Arizona, and a lot has happened in the two months since then.

The Cardinals lost starting running back Andre Ellington along with two quarterbacks in starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton. They have not scored more than 18 points since November 9 and will not have much of a chance here if that trend continues. While the Panthers have struggled at times offensively as well, they are still far more capable of scoring than Arizona.

Carolina is favored by more than a field goal for a reason and will win by more than a touchdown.

Betting Trends

• Arizona is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
• Carolina is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games at home

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