Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals Pick 10/25/20

Seattle Seahawks (5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS) vs. Arizona Cardinals (4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS)

Week 7 NFL

Date/Time: Sunday, October 25, 2020 at 4:05PM EDT

Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

TV: Fox

Point Spread: SEA -3.5/ARI +3.5 (find the best bonus)

Over/Under Total: 56

The Seattle Seahawks take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in big NFC West action. Seattle is nice and rested after the bye-week after starting the season at 5-0. For bettors, they’ve also been productive in covering four of five spreads. When last on the field, they were putting the finishing touches on a last-second 27-26 win at home over the Vikings, the first time they didn’t cover all season. They now go into State Farm Stadium to face familiar divisional rival Arizona, who looked good against the Cowboys on MNF, handing Dallas a 38-10 beating. They look to add some real credence to their season with a win over the division leaders this week. Strangely, last season, each team posted double-digit wins at each other’s respective stadiums. Seattle looks for that to continue this week. Coming off the short week, can the Cardinals give them a run for their money?

Challenges for Seattle

They didn’t have it that easy with the Cardinals last season, and Arizona is better now, with more weapons and experience in key spots. And while this is a familiar road-spot for Russell Wilson and Company, going from rainy and dewy Seattle to still-scorching bone-dry Arizona this time of the year is a pretty jarring change. But when you’re already discussing the weather, maybe that doesn’t bode well for the Cardinals, who are actually up against it in a major way against a Seattle team that has seen a lot of things click this season.

The Seahawks’ ability to camouflage some of their weaknesses is really commendable. A lot of teams with an offensive line that is so dicey, along with a defense that gives up more than any team in the league, would be in the toilet, not being identified as an undefeated Super Bowl contender. The secondary has been brutal, and their pass rush negligible. But somehow, they make it work with timely plays and, of course, an offense that is the top-scoring unit in the league. Still, against an Arizona pass-attack that has taken a step forward, one has to wonder when it will start costing them. And for a team that depends so much on feel and groove, maybe the bye came at the wrong time.

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Matchup Edges for Seattle

Arizona and them getting better this season has to do with a lot of things, one of them being a secondary that has become stouter. Their playmaking potential has been dormant at times this season, but they’re not easily victimized. But with how Seattle has become so aerially-dynamic, Arizona will be facing one of its more high-flying opponents in that regard, and we’ll see how they hold up. And while we’ve seen the Seahawks become less reliant on the ground-game, a healthy Chris Carson, along with Carlos Hyde (questionable) and Wilson himself, could do damage this week. Arizona struggled at times already this season in stopping Adrian Peterson, Mike Davis, and others, so maybe the Seattle run-game can get somewhere this Sunday.

Seattle’s defense has caught a lot of flack this season, but there are angles that can take a sad song and make it better on this side of the ball. That front is coming along decently, though their effectiveness against the run is maybe a bit skewed with opponents playing from behind so often and the ease in which passes can be completed against this “D.” The Cardinals are a bit more reliant on the run than some might think, an area where the Seattle “D” can hold their own. With a still-strong middle featuring Bobby Wagner, Arizona QB Kyler Murray can’t just turn it loose with his legs without consequence. If this “D” can help make Arizona a bit more one-dimensional, maybe having that torn-up secondary won’t be their undoing in this game.

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Hope for the Cardinals

The Seattle run-defense will be put to the test, with Murray springing big runs around the edge, while Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds can be effective from the running back position. On MNF, we saw Murray bust loose for a series of big runs, getting in the end zone, while Drake added 164 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. Christian Kirk had two scores, with DeAndre Hopkins a bit more muted than normal, but still productive with a 60-yard grab. Murray has a growing cast of viable weapons, with Kliff Kingsbury dialing up many the right answers lately.

Also promising for the Cardinals was their defense holding the Cowboys to 3 points until garbage time, where Dallas added a meaningless score late. We started to see the Cardinals “D” making plays, with the secondary really active on the night. Budda Baker had a pick, with Dre Kirkpatrick also intercepting Andy Dalton. Haason Reddick added two sacks. In consecutive weeks, the Cardinals have allowed just ten points. But maybe playing a down-in-the-dumps Jets’ offense, followed by the Cowboys wasn’t the best preparation for taking on the high-octane Seahawks.

Take the Home Dog

Anyone who has gone against Seattle, for the most part, this season has seen the hard way how their high-powered offense can put a dent in any contrary analysis. And coming off a bye, with Arizona having played on MNF in Texas, is a minor concern. I just see a lot being on the line for the Cardinals, who should show up ready for action. They represent a tougher opponent for the Seahawks than what they’re accustomed to from Arizona, with the enhanced weaponry on offense and better results on the other side of the ball. I see Arizona putting up some points, making this one competitive, and covering the spread at home. I’ll take the Cardinals.

Loot’s Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I’m betting on the Arizona Cardinals plus 3.5 points. Bet your Week 7 NFL picks FREE by grabbing a sweet 100% REAL CASH bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $300 at MyBookie Sportsbook!