Cardinals vs. Seahawks Betting Picks, Predictions & Odds: A Shootout Brewing In Arizona

Cardinals at Seahawks Betting Picks, Predictions & Odds

• Odds: Seahawks -9.5
• Over/Under: 51
• Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: FOX

Odds as of Thursday evening and via DraftKings, where Action Network users get a risk-free bet up to $500.

The highest total of Week 16 belongs to the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. But what's the smart way to bet this over/under?

Our experts preview the NFC West showdown, complete with a PRO System match.

Cardinals-Seahawks Injury Report

Which team is healthier? Cardinals

The Cardinals' main injury to monitor is Christian Kirk (ankle). He sat out Wednesday but was limited on Thursday, so he's likely trending toward playing, especially since he was able to suit up last week after following a similar protocol.

Quandre Diggs has been awesome since joining Seattle, but he's not expected to play on Sunday due to an ankle injury.

There are two more key defensive injuries to monitor: Jadeveon Clowney (core) and Bobby Wagner (ankle), who haven’t practiced. Their potential absences would be good news for Kyler Murray since Clowney leads the Seahawks in quarterback pressures, hits and hurries while Wagner is one of their best run defenders. — Justin Bailey

Note: Info as of Thursday. See our Injury Report for daily practice participation and game statuses up until kickoff.

Biggest Mismatch

Tyler Lockett vs. Byron Murphy

Simply put: The Cardinals can't cover anybody. Pro Football Focus gives them the lowest overall coverage grade at 39.0, which sits even lower than the completely decimated Dolphins secondary.

The Cardinals struggle to cover almost every position that Patrick Peterson — who isn't even having a great year — doesn't cover. They also rank among the worst teams at covering tight ends, backs and slot receivers.

This could be a huge game for Lockett, who ranks in the top 10 in slot snaps (349) and percentage of targets caught at north of 77% this season (per PFF). He should absolutely abuse Murphy, who grades out as one of the worst slot corners. And given Arizona's shaky safety play, expect Lockett to get behind the defense a few times either by design and/or when Russell Wilson buys time with his wheels.

The Cardinals are also one of the NFL's heaviest blitz defenses, but that shouldn't bother Wilson, who has been nothing short of remarkable under pressure with  nine touchdowns to only two interceptions and the third-highest QB rating of 93.3 while under pressure.

Top QB Ratings While Under Pressure

• Drew Brees: 98.8
• Lamar Jackson: 97.5
• Russell Wilson: 93.3
• Derek Carr: 92.3
• Patrick Mahomes: 90.9

It should be another long day for the Cardinals secondary, and Lockett could be the biggest benefactor. — Stuckey

Sean Koerner's Projected Odds

• Projected Spread: Seahawks -10.5
• Projected Total: 50.5

I'm close enough to the market that this is a pass for me. — Sean Koerner

PRO System Match

Unders have been a smart play in division games, going 838-741-29 (53.1%) since 2003, as increased familiarity between teams creates a lower-scoring environment.

It may seem obvious to some bettors, but it’s been more profitable to take the under in division games with high totals (more than 44 points) — it's just easier for unders to cash when more points are expected to be scored.

Following this Pro System, bettors have gone 190-113-3 (62.7%) since 2003. A $100 bettor would have returned a profit of $6,755 following this strategy.

With a majority of bets are on the under, don’t be surprised if this line starts to decrease. — John Ewing

PRO Systems are data-driven betting strategies that turn winning long-term trends into easy-to-follow picks, all handpicked and monitored by our team of analysts. Try Action PRO now and instantly access real-time game matches for every PRO System.

Expert Pick

Our staff doesn’t see value on this game right now, but that could change as lines move, so download our app to follow specific experts and action around this game.