NFL Week 5 Predictions: Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos

Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday, 10/5/14, 4:05 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Denver -8.5
Current Betting Line: Denver -7
Opening Total: 49.5
Current Total: 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Denver Broncos are 0-3 ATS through three games this season

Arizona comes off its bye week with a perfect 3-0 record, with the UNDER cashing in each of those affairs to open up the 2014 campaign. The Cardinals are allowing just 15.0 points per game, which is important to consider when making your Week 5 NFL predictions—a number that ranks tied for second in the entire league. Offensively, the team may be without starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who continues to be limited by a nerve issue in his throwing shoulder. Arizona is 0-5 SU and 3-2 ATS as road underdogs of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 4-1 in that situation.

The Cardinals have a serviceable backup signal-caller in Drew Stanton, but he’s completed just 51.6 percent of his passes in leading the squad to back-to-back wins—mainly due to not committing a turnover. Arizona has the ability to make Denver one-dimensional offensively, as the stop unit ranks third in the league in limiting opponents to an average of 2.9 yards per carry.

Denver is 2-1 SU and 0-3 ATS through three games, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting lines, considering it has lost the statistical battle in each of those contests. The Broncos have yet to find a running game in the early going, which was on full display in gaining just 36 yards on 20 carries in a 26-20 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks as four-point road underdogs on Sept. 21. Leading ball carrier Montee Ball has yet to get going and the team as a whole ranks 27th in the NFL in averaging 75.3 rushing yards. Denver is 20-3 SU and 16-6-1 ATS as favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 13-10 in those 23 opportunities.

The Broncos are always capable of winning by a double-digit margin with Peyton Manning under center, especially when they’ve gone 7-1-1 against the Cardinals in this series, including wins in all four home games by a combined score of 106-32. Manning has quickly found Emmanuel Sanders to be a reliable target, as they’ve connected 25 times for 334 yards.