StatFox.com - Sports Handicapping Community

The Leader In Sports Handicapping

Red-hot Panthers host struggling Cardinals Saturday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 1/3/2015  at  5:38:00 AM
  Print This Article    

ARIZONA CARDINALS (11-5)
at CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-8-1)

NFC Wild Card Playoffs
Kickoff: Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET
Line: Arizona -6.5, Total: 37.5

The Cardinals head to Charlotte on Saturday to open the NFL postseason against a sizzling-hot Panthers team that won four straight games to end the season.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook betting preview for this matchup:

Arizona heads into the postseason after losing two straight games and four of its past six contests. However, the team has covered in three of the past four games. Meanwhile, Carolina needed four straight SU victories to win the NFC South and got them after crushing the 3-point favorite Falcons 34-3 in Atlanta in Week 17. The last time these two teams played one another was Oct. 6, 2013, when the Cardinals beat up on the Panthers in a 22-6 victory as 3-point home underdogs. Arizona has won-and-covered in two straight meetings, but the Panthers won-and-covered in their last game hosting the Cardinals. Arizona has won just one game in Charlotte since 2004, and will need to win this game with QB Ryan Lindley under center, as Drew Stanton (1,711 pass yards, 7 TD, 5 INT) is now out for the year after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. The Cardinals are, however, 6-0 ATS after allowing six or more yards per play in their previous game over the past two seasons, and 17-7 ATS against conference opponents in that time. Meanwhile, the Panthers are 11-3 ATS after playing their previous game on the road over the past two years. In addition to the quarterback injury woes, Arizona has two questionable players in LB Larry Foote (knee) and G Jonathan Cooper (wrist). Carolina RB DeAngelo Williams (hand) is also questionable for Saturday.

Which team will open the 2015 playoffs with a victory? For the answer, connect to NFL Best Bets for all the StatFox Experts picks throughout the 2014 regular season and playoffs. StatFox Gary is a stellar 67% ATS (22-11-1) in Best Bets since Week 9, while StatFox Scott is 54% ATS (33-28-2) in Best Bets since Week 3. StatFox Brian is 57% ATS (8-6) in NFL Best Bets over the past four weeks. In last year's postseason, the four experts combined for a 17-6-2 Best Bets record (74%), going 91% (10-1) in Totals and 58% ATS (7-5-2) in Best Bet picks.

The Cardinals have dealt with a number of injuries to key players this season, but they still have a chance to advance in the playoffs. QB Ryan Lindley (562 pass yards, 2 TD, 4 INT) is, however, going to need to guide this team to the next round, and that is no sure thing whatsoever. Lindley threw for 316 yards with his first two NFL touchdown passes in a 20-17 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday, but he also threw three picks in that game to give him 11 INT in his NFL career. He will need to take much better care of the football against the Panthers in order to give his team a chance to win the game. The Cardinals will also need a huge game from RB Kerwynn Williams (246 rush yards) in this one. Williams rushed for 67 yards on 17 carries against the 49ers, and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry since joining the team from the practice squad just four weeks ago. WR Michael Floyd (841 rec yards, 6 TD) caught eight passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to San Francisco on Sunday. He has been targeted 20 times since Lindley has been the starter for this team and will need to be on his game against the Panthers on Saturday. This defense is allowing just 18.7 PPG (5th in NFL) this season and should give the team a chance to win this game, but the offense must find a way to put up some points.

The Panthers got hot at the right time and were able to steal the NFC South crown due to some really terrible performances on the season from the Falcons, Saints and Buccaneers. This team, however, is playing extremely well as of late and is not going to be an easy out for anybody. QB Cam Newton (3,127 pass yards, 18 TD, 12 INT) started the season slow as he dealt with fractured ribs in the first half of the year, but he has gotten extremely hot towards the end of the season. Over the past three weeks, Newton has thrown for five touchdowns and just one interception, and has rushed for at least 51 yards and a touchdown in all three games. Newton is taking care of the football and his legs are working as well as ever, so he should be able to get the Panthers offense to move the chains against this tough Cardinals defense on Saturday. WR Kelvin Benjamin (73 rec, 1,008 yards, 9 TD) caught just one pass for nine yards in the win over Atlanta on Sunday, and he’ll need to do a lot better against the Cardinals if this team is going to advance to the next round. Jonathan Stewart (809 rush yards, 3 TD) ran the football very well down the stretch with 401 yards on 5.1 YPC during the four-game win streak, and will be relied upon to wear out the Cardinals defense with his powerful style of running. Defensively, this team was dominant against the Falcons on Sunday and should be able to make Ryan Lindley very uncomfortable. The club forced three turnovers against the Falcons, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.


FoxSheets.com
The FoxSheets - the most advanced sports handicapping information available on the internet.
Sign up for professional sports betting information including fantastic trends, and Free FoxSheets.
E-mail: