Arizona Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bills Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

Flying cross-country isn't normally conducive to success for NFL teams but the Arizona Cardinals are learning to buck that belief, going 12-5 against the spread over their past 17 games in the Eastern time zone. Arizona returns east when it visits the baffling Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon.

Point spread: The Cardinals opened as 5.5-point favorites and the total was 47 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 22.4-18.6 Cardinals (NFL picks on every game)

Why the Cardinals can cover the spread

The Cardinals rebounded from that season-opening loss to New England to pound Tampa Bay last week 40-7, easily covering as seven-point favorites. That game was close until Arizona blew it open with two touchdowns in the last minute and a half of the second quarter, taking a 24-0 lead into halftime. The Cardinals let the Buccaneers pull within 24-7 early in the third, then tacked on 16 more points to complete the blowout.

Arizona outgained Tampa 416-306, as quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 308 and three touchdowns without an interception. And running back David Johnson produced 143 yards from scrimmage. Meanwhile, the Cardinals defense picked off Bucs QB Jameis Winston four times.

Arizona caught some flak for losing to the Brady-less Patriots, but it was only a missed field goal away from winning that game and being 2-0.

Why the Bills can cover the spread

The Bills may be 0-2 but they've had chances to win both games. Buffalo opened its season with a 13-7 loss at Baltimore, but the Ravens' only touchdown came on a 66-yard pass play and three Bills incursions inside Baltimore territory came up empty. Buffalo then lost last week to the Jets 37-31, but actually led that game 24-20 late into the third quarter. Also, after producing just 160 total yards of offense in Week 1 the Bills popped off for 393 against a pretty good New York defense.

Going back to last season six of Buffalo's past seven losses have come by one score or less. Also, the Bills are 8-2 ATS their past 10 times out as home dogs.

Buffalo's defense showed up in its season opener, while the offense struggled. Then the offense showed up in Week 2, while the defense struggled. If the Bills could just get both units to perform on the same day, they might have something.

Smart pick

Arizona is just the better and more consistent team in this matchup, and playing on the road means the spread is friendlier. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is nursing a sore knee, but the Cardinals have other weapons. Meanwhile, Buffalo borders on a mess. The smart money here gives the points with Arizona.

Betting trends

The Cardinals are 1-5 straight up and ATS in their past six games against the Bills.

The Bills are 8-2 ATS in their past 10 games as home underdogs.

The total has gone under in seven of the Cardinals' past 10 games.

All NFL betting lines and point spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.