San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Monday, November 29, 2010, 8:30 pm EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: 49ers -2.5
Current Line: 49ers -1
Opening Total: 38.5
Current Total: 40.5
Money Line: 49ers -115 / Cardinals -105
The winner of Monday night’s NFC West showdown between the Arizona Cardinals (3-7) and San Francisco 49ers (3-7) will sit just one game out of first place in the division. Both teams should feel fortunate to even have a shot at the playoffs right now, but the opportunity is there for one of them to seize the moment regardless of how badly they have played so far this season.
The 49ers (-1) were the preseason favorites to knock off the two-time defending NFC West champion Cardinals, but they stumbled out of the gates en route to an 0-5 start. They then rebounded a bit by winning three of four games but suffered a setback last week with a 21-0 loss at home to Tampa Bay.
San Francisco’s offense totaled a season-low 189 yards and managed just 11 first downs against the Buccaneers as quarterback Troy Smith lost his first game in three starts this season under center. Smith was sacked six times and threw for 148 yards with an interception. Running back Frank Gore also struggled mightily, rushing for a season-low 23 yards on 12 carries. Gore had averaged 114 yards on the ground in the previous four games. He has enjoyed success against Arizona during his career, averaging 101.6 rushing yards per game in the last five meetings.
The Cardinals are looking to snap a five-game losing streak following a 3-2 start. They have dropped their last two games by 18 points apiece and are coming off a 31-13 loss at Kansas City last week. Quarterback Derek Anderson has averaged 308.5 passing yards in the last two games due mostly to the fact that his team has been playing from behind. Anderson connected with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on a 3-yard scoring pass for the team’s only touchdown against the Chiefs, which occurred on the game’s final play.
Arizona is 1-4 against the spread during the five-game skid and has seen the OVER cash in seven of the last nine games. The Cardinals are also 1-4 against the spread in the last five meetings with the 49ers with the UNDER going 3-1 in the past four.
However, San Francisco was an underdog in the last three meetings, and the underdog is 7-1 ATS in the last eight games in the series. The 49ers are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games as favorites. The UNDER is 7-1-1 in San Francisco’s last nine games against divisional opponents.
Now that you have read this Monday Night Football betting preview featuring the Cardinals & 49ers, make sure to check out the NFL odds on this Monday Night Football game and compare the best lines at multiple sportsbooks.
