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Ryan Stetson.
Cardinals vs. Saints Point Spread: NFL Predictions, Week 8 Odds
If Drew Brees is ready to get back under centre on Sunday for the New Orleans Saints as they host the Arizona Cardinals, they’ll welcome him with open arms, but it’s not like they should rush him back with Teddy Bridgewater filling in. The Saints are 5-0 with Bridgewater at the helm and opened as big favourites this week without confirmation on who will start at quarterback.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Oddsmakers opened with the Saints set as 10.5-point favourites and more than 70 percent of the betting public like them to cover the number. New Orleans is cruising atop the NFC South division at 6-1 and is 5-2 against the spread (ATS) overall. The Saints are also perfect at home, 3-0 straight up and ATS.
The Cardinals come in hot as well, having won and covered in three straight to climb back to .500 at 3-3-1 straight up and are also 5-2 ATS. Arizona was pegged as the underdog in each of those last three wins.
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray went into the record books in last week’s win at the New York Giants, even though a bunch of his teammates stole the spotlight. The rookie QB set a record for most completions through the first seven games of a career as he went 14-of-21 for 104 yards and finished with 167 completions to date. He didn’t need to fill the stats page because Chase Edmonds and Chandler Jones had career days. Edmonds rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns as he filled in for David Johnson, while Jones had four sacks, including a strip-sack that set up an Arizona TD. Jones was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week and it was a welcomed performance for a defence that ranks 29th overall and gives up more than 27 points per game.
New Orleans Saints
Unless anything changes between now and kickoff, expect Brees to be taking the snaps. He’s back at practice this week and says he isn’t limited by his thumb injury. Meanwhile, Bridgewater is completing 67.7 percent of his passes and has throw for 1370 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Saints supporters probably should be more worried about whether running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook (questionable) will be active. Kamara (ankle), who hasn’t practiced in almost two weeks, sat out Week 7’s 36-25 win at Chicago and Latavius Murray filled in admirably with 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
The Saints have a bye coming up next week, so it will be interesting to see if they roll the dice and put any of their ailing offensive weapons back in before the break. Either way, they look to be in a good spot to improve to 6-1, but covering double-digits?
ARI
NO