MNF Free Pick
When our handicapping experts at theSpread.com broke down the matchups for this week, we were still stunned by the fact the Arizona Cardinals are sitting at the top spot in the NFC West.
To put things in perspective, barring a late season collapse, Arizona could potentially win their first division title in 33 years and not win more than nine games playing in a weak NFC West Division.
Not only that, but the fact Kurt Warner-led Cardinals also have a commanding three game lead heading into their showdown against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football is an amazing feat for this red hot squad.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Cardinals a 10-point favorite. At last check, the public is all over the surging Cards and willing to lay the points at a 72-28% ratio when tracking the wagers being placed offshore sports books.
If we look beyond the handicapping aspects, most fantasy football experts are expecting Kurt Warner to have a monster game on Monday Night Football and have him circled as the No. 1 QB to play this week. Warner’s play is reminiscent of his Super Bowl era days at St. Louis, amassing 2,431 yards at a 70% completion clip with 16 touchdowns heading into tonight’s game. Can the 49ers’ defense stop the potent pass attack from Warner and company?
One of the interesting things to watch will be how the 49ers’ offensive line will protect newly insert quarterback Shaun Hill. Hill is more of a running/mobile QB than O’Sullivan and Singletary is shaking up the OL by demanding a more smash and attack from the offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Even though the 49ers have dropped five straight and allowed opposing teams to pour on close to 33-plus points per game, we like the 49ers to cover the points and possibly pull an outright upset. Arizona has been stellar all season, but historically Arizona is 0-8 ATS as a favorite of 7-plus points over a 15 year span. Yes, we know the 49ers were destroyed by the less than impressive Seattle Seahawks 34-13, but this is the NFL where “any given Sunday” is more fact than fiction. Expect the new attitude 49ers to play better than they have all season and for new starting QB, Shaun Hill, to muster enough offense to keep San Francisco in this and cash the ticket for bettors on Monday.
NFL Betting Prediction:
Arizona Cardinals 31
San Francisco 24
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Posted: 11/10/08 12:30 PM ET
