The Arizona Cardinals are trying to extend their lead in the NFC West on Monday Night Football, when they take on the Baltimore Ravens at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Arizona is 4-2 while Baltimore is only 1-5, explaining why the Cardinals are a 9.5-point favorite at home, according to OddsShark. The over/under for the contest is 50.
Arizona has not been unbeatable in recent weeks. The Cardinals began the season 3-0 with a trio of convincing wins over lesser teams in the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints. Since then, Arizona lost at home to the St. Louis Rams before beating the San Francisco 49ers and then being upset last week by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Meanwhile, Baltimore has been terrible from the start. The Ravens were picked by a hoard of people to make it to the Super Bowl, but the team has fallen on hard times. Outside linebacker and future Hall of Famer Terrell Suggs has been out since Week 1 with a torn Achilles, and will not return. The offense is under first-year offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, and that has spelled doom for the rushing attack. Add in the season-long absence of rookie receiver Breshad Perriman, and everything has been a disaster.
The smart money is to bet on the Cardinals, if you believe in trends. Arizona is 13-6 against the spread over its last 19 games, while Baltimore has not covered in its last five. Also, the OVER is a nice play. The total has gone OVER for the Cardinals six of their previous seven games, and the Ravens in four of their last five.