Lions at Cardinals NFL Week 14 Spread & Expert Analysis

With 4 weeks left in the NFL season, teams can essentially be sorted into three different groups. You have a few teams that have all but punched their playoff ticket, a group that is on the brink of elimination, and a final group that is still alive and fighting for a spot in the postseason. While the Detroit Lions will try and tell you that they are in the group with a fighting chance, the reality is that their playoff dreams are as good as dead.

That has been the case for their opponent this weekend, the Arizona Cardinals, for quite some time now, so there is really not that much to play for here. The Lions are still mathematically alive, and given how tight things are in the NFC, they could still pull out a miracle. For that to happen, though, they are going to need to win out and get a little help along the way. The Lions are in as a 2 ½ point favorite, with the point total set at 40 ½.

Lions at Cardinals NFL Week 14 Spread & Expert Analysis

#DETvsAZ Game Info pic.twitter.com/pE3Lte41YE
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) 5 de diciembre de 2018

When: Sunday, December 9 at 4:25 PM EST
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale
TV: FOX
Radio: SiriusXM/NFL

Weather Forecast

Clear: 19°C/66°F
Humidity: 35%
Precipitation: 0%
Cloud Cover: 28%
Wind: 3 mph W
Stadium Type: Retractable

Why bet on the Detroit Lions?

A few weeks ago, the Lions kept their season alive with a big win over Carolina, but since that victory, they have posted back to back defeats to the Bears and the Rams, while only managing to score 16 PPG in the process. They have now lost 5 of their last 6 and have seen Matthew Stafford struggle greatly, perhaps because the front office has decided to deal away his best weapons and get little in return.

The Lions are now at 4-8 on the season and heading on the road, where they have gone 1-4 SU. Traveling to Arizona has always been a bit of a nightmare for the Lions as they have failed to win or cover there in each of their last 5 visits. This may be their best shot at breaking that slump, though, as this is a seriously poor Cardinals team that they are facing.

Team Stats

Offense

Average Score For: 21.17
Total Yards: 340.00
Rush Yards: 101.42
Passing Yards: 238.58

Defense

Average Score Against: 26.33
Total Yards: 354.50
Rush Yards: 119.75
Passing Yards: 234.75

Why bet on the Arizona Cardinals?

At 3-9, the Cardinals have long since been eliminated from playoff contention, but that does not necessarily mean they have been a bad bet. They are in fact sitting at 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games and are sure to still be on a high after going into Lambeau Field and coming away with a win over the Packers last week.

Lions at Cardinals is one of the baddest games of NFL Week 14.

This is a real opportunity for Arizona to pick up back to back wins, as they have been historically good against the Lions, going 7-1 SU in their last 8 meetings. If you are a little nervous about making an SU pick on either team here, then the OVER is perhaps what you should be looking at, with 11 of the last 14 games between these two going that route.

Team Stats

Offense

Average Score For: 14.58
Total Yards: 239.41
Rush Yards: 86.08
Passing Yards: 153.33

Defense

Average Score Against: 25.83
Total Yards: 361.34
Rush Yards: 140.92
Passing Yards: 220.42

Lions at Cardinals NFL Week 14 Betting Trends

Detroit is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Detroit’s last 6 games
Arizona is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
Arizona is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Arizona’s last 14 games when playing Detroit

Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Lions at Cardinals

This is one that is almost too close to call, which is why my bet here will be on the OVER. If I am forced to make an SU pick, then I will take the Cardinals in a close one. Score: Detroit Lions 23 – Arizona Cardinals 24