The Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals meet Sunday in NFL action from Paycor Stadium. Here’s a Bengals vs Cardinals prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Bengals vs Cardinals pick.
Arizona Cardinals Betting Preview
The Cardinals went just 2-5 over their first seven games with wins over the Saints and Panthers ahead of losses to the 49ers, Seahawks, Titans, Colts and Packers. After the bye week Arizona beat the Cowboys then fell versus the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars, Bucs, Rams and Texans in succession. Over 14 games this year that would give the Cardinals a 3-11 overall record.
In the Falcons game on Sunday the Cardinals were all tied up 16-16 in the locker room. Arizona was outscored by a TD the rest of the way however, and lost the game 26-19 in the end. QB Jacoby Brissett was 16-of-31 for 203 yards, one TD and one pick, while Michael Carter carried 11 times for 65 yards. Elijah Higgins added seven receptions for 91 yards in the losing effort.
Cincinnati Bengals Betting Preview
Over on the Bengals’ side, they went 3-6 ahead of their bye week this year. Cincinnati beat only the Browns, Jaguars and Steelers in that time, otherwise falling to the Vikings, Broncos, Lions, Packers, Jets and Bears. The Bengals hit a 1-4 record from there with a lone win over the Ravens among losses to the Steelers, Patriots, Bills and Ravens. That would make for a 4-10 overall record in the first 14 outings.
In the Miami matchup last weekend the Bengals managed to put up points in every quarter—including 21 in the third alone—on the way to a 45-21 win. QB Joe Burrow logged 309 yards with four touchdowns on 25-of-32 passing and Chase Brown had 66 yards on 12 carries with a score. Ja’Marr Chase had nine catches for 109 yards and Brown caught a couple of TDs as well.
Why the Cincinnati Bengals will win
- The Cardinals have lost each of their last 11 Sunday games.
- The Bengals have won each of their last eight home games without Drew Sample.
- The Bengals have covered the spread in each of their last five December games as favorites.
- The Cardinals have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games without Marvin Harrison Jr..
- The Bengals have scored the first touchdown in six of their last seven games as favorites.
- The Bengals have won the first half in nine of their last 10 Sunday games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Cardinals have lost the first quarter in three of their last four road games against teams that held a losing record.
Why the Arizona Cardinals will win
- The Bengals have lost nine of their last 10 Sunday games.
- The Cardinals have won each of their last two December games as underdogs against AFC North opponents.
- The Cardinals have covered the spread in each of their last six games as underdogs without Michael Carter.
- The Bengals have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five home games against NFC opponents.
- The Bengals have lost the first quarter in three of their last four games as home favorites against NFC West opponents.
- The Bengals have lost the first half in seven of their last eight December games against NFC opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of the Bengals’ last nine games without Tanner Hudson have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Cardinals’ last five games against AFC opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
Cincinnati Bengals Player Prop Facts
- Joe Flacco has recorded 223+ passing yards in eight of his last nine appearances with his team as a favorite.
- Tee Higgins has scored two or more touchdowns in three of his last four appearances in games with a total points line of at least 50.0.
- Chase Brown has recorded 58+ rushing yards in each of the Bengals’ last six December games as favorites.
- Ja’Marr Chase has recorded 91+ receiving yards in each of his last eight home appearances.
- Chase Brown has recorded 91+ rushing and receiving yards in each of the Bengals’ last six December games as favorites.
- Tee Higgins has scored the first touchdown in each of the Bengals’ last three December games as favorites.
- Tee Higgins has scored at least one touchdown in nine of his last 10 home appearances.
- Joe Burrow has recorded 24+ completions in each of his last eight appearances in games with a total points line of at least 50.0.
- Heading into Week 17, Tee Higgins ranks 1st in the NFL in 20+ yard receiving touchdowns (7) this season.
Arizona Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Trey McBride has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Cardinals’ last seven games as road underdogs.
- Jacoby Brissett has recorded 261+ passing yards in each of the Cardinals’ last four games as moderate underdogs (+3.5 to +7.0 points).
- Michael Carter has recorded 56+ rushing yards in each of his last three December appearances with the Cardinals as road underdogs.
- Michael Carter has recorded 18+ receiving yards in eight of his last nine appearances following a loss.
- Michael Carter has recorded 58+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last five appearances following a home loss.
- Jacoby Brissett has recorded 25+ completions in five of the Cardinals’ last six games.
- Heading into Week 17, Jacoby Brissett has recorded the most completions in a single game this season (47 vs 49ers, Week 11).
Matchup/League Facts
- Bengals – two different players have recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 17.
- Bengals – two different players have recorded 90+ rushing yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 17.
- Cardinals – four different players have recorded 60+ rushing yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 17.
- Heading into Week 17, the Cardinals have suffered the equal-most losses when leading after Q3 this season (5).
Bengals vs Cardinals Prediction
I’ll stick with the Bengals. Cincinnati put together a nice game in their win over the Dolphins last weekend, hitting 407 total yards with 23 first downs, 6-of-12 on third-down tries and no turnovers. On defense the Bengals gave up just 19 first downs and 2-of-10 on third-down tries with three takeaways. It was a nice bounce-back effort after getting shutout by the Ravens in Week 15, and Cincinnati has scored 32 or more points in three of the last four games now.
As for Arizona, they managed 320 yards, 16 first downs and 7-of-13 on third-down tries in their one-touchdown loss to the Falcons. The Cardinals defense came up with a couple of takeaways but also gave up 24 first downs and 35:34 in time of possession. Arizona hasn’t been above 20 points for four straight games (all losses).