Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: NFL Week 6 Betting Odds and Picks

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, 10/13/13, 4:25 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: San Francisco -11.5
Current Betting Line: San Francisco -10.5
Opening Total: 42
Current Total: 40.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Arizona Cardinals are dangerous road underdogs Sunday

Arizona will take on San Francisco at Candlestick Park for the final time Sunday, as it meets up with one of its biggest division rivals in Week 6. “We’re not a ground-and-pound team and by any stretch don’t want to be,” commented Cardinals first-year head coach Bruce Arians. The Cardinals rank third against the run during the 2013 campaign through five games, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting lines. Arizona is 2-3 SU and 4-1 ATS as underdogs of 10 or more points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 3-2 in that situation.

The Cardinals haven’t allowed a touchdown in seven straight quarters after giving up 16 points against Tampa Bay and Carolina to win consecutive games for the first time since last season’s 4-0 start. Arizona ranks 10th in the league in scoring defense—allowing just 19.0 points per game. Offensively, the team needs quarterback Carson Palmer to protect the football, as he’s completed 59.8 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and nine interceptions.

San Francisco is 15-5 all-time against Arizona when playing at this venue, which is hard to ignored when making your NFL expert picks. The 49ers have held opposing signal-callers to an average rating of 67.6—the second lowest in the league. Offensively, the unit has compiled 26 rushes of 10-or-more yards, which is tied for the second most in the NFL behind only the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles. Tight end Vernon Davis is a weapon in the passing game with four receiving touchdowns. San Francisco is 2-1 SU and 2-2 ATS as home favorites of 10.5 to 14 points since 2011.

The 49ers sit a game behind the Seahawks in the NFC West standings, as they’ve outscored opponents by just 15 points this season. San Francisco is averaging 22.6 points and 321.8 yards per game, while it is flat in terms of turnover margin thus far. On the defensive end, the unit will need to continue corralling Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, as it has limited him to five catches and 54 yards in his last two trips to the Bay Area.