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Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
Dec. 19, 2021
Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Week 15 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET

The 15th week of regular-season NFL action will resume on Sunday afternoon with a lopsided NFC matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions. Coverage begins from Ford Field at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX.

Score Prediction

Cardinals 27, Lions 10

Best Bets

Under 47.5 (-106) at FanDuel

Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions Predictions

After finishing third in the NFC West with a record of 8-8 last year, Arizona jumped out to a surprisingly excellent start to this season, as the Cardinals opened with wins in eight straight games – which included impressive upset victories over the Titans, Rams, and Browns.

Arizona has been somewhat underwhelming since starting 8-0 though, considering the Cardinals are just 3-3 SU and ATS since Week 7 – with all three of those losses coming in home matchups that they were favored in.

On the other hand, Detroit opened the new season in entirely opposite fashion, as the Lions kicked things off with losses in eight straight games – with five of those losses coming by a double-digit margin.

The Lions have played relatively decent football since starting 0-8 SU though, considering Detroit enters Sunday’s contest riding a competitive 1-3-1 run – with two of those losses coming by three points or less.

I’ll take the under here, as the Cardinals have scored 23 PTS or less in three of their last four games (22.3 PPG) – and while 20 PTS is typically still enough to top Detroit (16.4 PPG), I somewhat doubt Arizona will run up the score and cash over tickets in this matchup.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds




Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions Betting Resources

  • Matchup: NFC West vs. NFC North
  • Date: Sunday, December 19, 2021
  • Venue: Ford Field
  • Location: Detroit, Michigan
  • TV-Time: FOX - 1:00 p.m. ET

Week 15 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET through 8:20 p.m. ET

Arizona Cardinals Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 10-3
  • ATS: 9-4
  • O/U: 7-6
  • ATS - Away: 7-0

After posting an impressive 7-0 start to the season, Cardinals’ fans held their breath through the end of their Week 8 loss to Green Bay, as not only did Arizona surrender its first loss of the season – Kyler Murray was also seen walking with a noticeable limp following the final play, which left him sidelined for three games.

Even without Murray though, the Cardinals proved they are still an incredibly dangerous squad, as backup QB Colt McCoy took Arizona on the road and led his team to upset victories over the Niners and Seahawks during the absence of their starting signal-caller.

My gut tells me that Arizona will bounce back and cover a large spread on Sunday afternoon, but the Cardinals just haven’t shown enough lately to warrant laying a double-digit point total with them in a road matchup – regardless of who they are facing.

Detroit Lions Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 1-11-1
  • ATS: 8-5
  • O/U: 5-8
  • ATS - Home: 4-2

Detroit quickly became the league’s stand-alone bottom-dwellers after posting eight straight losses to kick off the Jared Goff era in Detroit – highlighted by losses by nine points or more to the Rams, Bengals, and Eagles across Weeks 6 through 8.

The Lions have played relatively competitive football since their Week 9 bye though, considering Detroit is 1-3-1 SU and 4-1 ATS across the last five games – with two of those SU losses coming in tough low-scoring battles against the Bears (16-14) and Browns (13-10).


Arizona has covered the spread in seven straight road games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Arizona Cardinals

  • Record: 10-3
  • Division Standing: 1st - NFC West
  • Points Scored: 366
  • Points Allowed: 254
  • PS/G: 28.2 (4th)
  • PA/G: 19.5 (4th)

Inside the Stats - Detroit Lions

  • Record: 1-11-1
  • Division Standing: 4th - NFC North
  • Points Scored: 213
  • Points Allowed: 354
  • PS/G: 16.4 (30th)
  • PA/G: 27.2 (29th)

Key Players to Watch

  • ARI: Kyler Murray - QB (229/320, 2,782 yards, 19 TD, 9 INT)
  • ARI: James Conner - RB (179 carries, 661 yards, 14 TD)
  • DET: Jared Goff - QB (290/438, 2,791 yards, 14 TD, 8 INT)
  • DET: Kalif Raymond - WR (39 catches, 443 yards, 3 TD)

Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions Betting Conclusion

After posting a disappointing home loss to the Rams on Monday night (30-27), the Cardinals will travel to Detroit this Sunday afternoon favored by roughly two touchdowns over the Lions at Ford Field – marking just the second time Arizona has been a double-digit favorite this season.

I’ll take the under here, as the Cardinals should ultimately bounce back and win this game by a comfortable margin – but my confidence level in Arizona still rests beneath a height where I’m willing to lay 13-14 PTS with them in any matchup right now.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions Betting Trends

  • Arizona has covered the spread in seven straight road games.
  • Detroit has covered the spread in four of its last six home games.
  • Detroit has gone OVER the point total in 15 of its last 21 home games.
  • Detroit has lost 13 straight games when playing as a +7-point underdog or more.

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