Cardinals Betting: Can They Cover the Spread in Week 6?

Kliff Kingsbury’s Arizona Cardinals keep finding ways to win, but are NFL betting lines taking them for real? After two consecutive games (and wins) against NFC West rivals, the Arizona Cardinals have another big test in Week 6 with a trip to Cleveland.

The Browns lost a slugfest in LA but still managed to score 42 points. Arizona struggled on offense, but their defense carried them to another win. So let’s see if Cardinals betting has them covering the spread in Week 6.

Arizona Cardinals Grind Out a Victory Against San Francisco

On paper, ten carries for 29 yards in an NFL game doesn’t look like much. But James Conner gave Kliff Kingsbury precisely what he needed in a close contest. The head coach has taken knocks with NFL bettors for not being able to finish off close games.

Connor played a considerable role in sealing the win in Week 5. The big back got the tough yards when they counted most, keeping the Cardinals’ offense on the field. But, of course, the other significant factor for ball possession is DeAndre Hopkins.

Once again, Kyler Murray found his favorite target for six completions, 87 yards, and a touchdown. These numbers might look small for Hopkins, but he made two crucial plays to help close out the 49ers.

The biggest takeaway from the 17-10 win against the 49ers has to be the Cardinals’ defense. J.J. Watt didn’t register a sack, but he did have three quarterback hits, two tackles, and a pass disruption that stopped the 49ers from driving down the field with eight minutes left in the game. In addition, the Cardinals’ defensive unit stopped San Francisco four times on fourth down to play their most prominent role in a victory.

Cleveland Browns Lose a Heartbreaker to the Chargers

Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense put up some staggering numbers in Los Angeles and still lost the game. The offense had 531 yards and 42 points, but you can’t help but wonder about Cleveland’s defense.

Let’s begin with Cleveland’s two-headed monster in the backfield. Nick Chubb racked up 161 yards on the ground on 21 carries for an average of 7.7 yards per rush. Kareem Hunt also had 61 yards on the ground and caught five passes.

Also, on the receiving end, David Njoku had seven catches for 149 yards and one touchdown, while Donovan Peoples-Jones had five catches for 70 yards.

The Cleveland Browns have proved they can strike from anywhere offensively, but the defense again struggled against a superstar quarterback. Justin Herbert dismantled Cleveland’s defense for 398 yards and four touchdowns.

Cardinals vs. Browns (-2.5)

It’s hard to imagine how the undefeated Arizona Cardinals go into FirstEnergy Stadium as an underdog. The Cardinals have won the last four meetings dating back to 2007 and are the only undefeated team left. But history won’t matter much this time around.

Losing Center Rodney Hudson will hurt Arizona. And if TE Maxx Williams can’t go, the Cardinals will have to play without a key weapon. In addition, NFL bettors will have to decide if Kyler Murray can repeat Justin Herbert’s performance despite a depleted lineup.

Yet the Browns will be looking to avenge a poor defensive performance. It’s hard to imagine an NFL team losing a game after scoring 42 points. The Browns’ defense will look to come out and make amends for losing against Los Angeles last week.

Cardinals Betting Odds

Time of possession could be the difference-maker for this Week 6 matchup. The Arizona Cardinals defense needs to keep Cleveland’s running game in check. If not, Kyler Murray won’t get as many chances to work his magic.

Ultimately, this game comes down to Cleveland’s defense. If you believe they have a problem defending the pass, the Cardinals betting odds look great at +2.5. So I’m going with the undefeated Arizona Cardinals and taking the points.

Going into a game as the lone undefeated squad in the NFL could motivate the Cardinals. I expect that they’ll want to send a message to the league in this game.

Do you believe that the Cardinals will play with a chip on their shoulder and pull out a win in Cleveland? Then sign up for an account with BetMGM’s Arizona sports betting site and place your bets today.