ARIZONA CARDINALS
The Ultimate Underdog: The Cardinals were underdogs 12 times last season, and 56 times in the last 4 seasons. That includes each of the 16 games they played in 2003. In these games, Arizona was 7-5 ATS last season. They only won 2 games as an underdog in 2005. They were 8-5 ATS as an underdog in 2004, but finished 5-11 as a dog in 2003. In the last 4 years as an underdog, the Arizona Cardinals have finished 22-29 ATS. While the Cardinals have gotten used to playing games from behind, the spread hasn’t been friendly enough. Even as a dog, the Cardinals have struggled against the spread.
Over or Under: The Cardinals put some points up in 2006. And they allowed even more. While Arizona finished the season with a mere 5 wins, they hit the over 10 times in 16 games. With an over/under record of 10-5-1, the Cardinals were one of the most likely teams to hit the over last season. In dome stadiums, the Cardinals hit the over in all 3 contests. In each of the last 5 games, the Cards hit the over. Defensively, Arizona allowed at least 20 points in 14 of their 16 games. In 2005, the story was quite similar, as Arizona finished 10-6 O/U – giving them a two year total of 20-12. The Cardinals finished 9-7 O/U in 2004. A porous defense and a number of talented offensive players has given the Cardinals a distinct Over advantage over the last few years. Their 29-19 record since 2004 gives you a 66% win rate when taking the over.
Against the Spread: The Cardinals didn’t win too many games in 2006, but they did finish .500 ATS. At home and on the road, the Cardinals finished 4-4 ATS. The Cardinals were 2-1 ATS in domes stadiums. Arizona was 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games. Consequently, they were 2-6 in the first half of the season, winning two straight to start the year before losing 6 in a row. Arizona was only 6-10 in 2005 but finished 9-7 ATS in 2004. For the last 3 seasons, the Cardinals are a game under .500 ATS.
Straight Up: Its no surprise that over the last 3 years, Arizona’s overall record isn’t too exciting. At 16-32, the Cardinals’ 33% win rate is one of the worst in the NFL. Last season, the Cards finished 5-11 which is the same total as 2005, and one win worse than 2004. In that span, only the Lions, Browns, and Raiders can claim futility on par with the Cardinals regular season failure. Not one of those teams has finished with more than 6 wins in any of the last 3 seasons.
Situational Records: Over the last 4 seasons, the Cardinals are 3-13 ATS in the month of September. In that same stretch, they are 7-9 in October. But, in December and January combined, the Cardinals are 12-7 ATS over the last 4 seasons. Many people concede that warm weather teams do better in the fall than in the cold, but the Cardinals do their best work in the last couple months, when playoff opportunities, pressure, and a reason to win are gone.
