- Is it really the trap game some project it to be?
- Will the battle of backup kickers matter?
- Can the Eagles surpass a new hurdle in NFL Week 5?
These questions, along with a substantial betting menu, greet gamblers as the Philadelphia Eagles invade the Arizona Cardinals at -5.5 on Sunday.
(DISCLAIMER: These are opinions. This is NOT betting advice. So take anything we say with a grain of salt.)
Eagles vs Cardinals Bets – Wagering Overview
Nationwide betters are lining up behind the Over 48.5. It garnered 77%, the second highest in the NFL at DraftKings by Friday at midday. Only the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints generated more confidence in the Over, with 90% supporting that total to exceed 46 points.
Gamblers are more reserved about the Eagles covering the spread at -5.5, but 58% of the gamblers support them. That total was down from the early count of 70% as some heavier money approaches toward game time.
Key Gambling Considerations
Yes, the Dallas Cowboys are up next for the Eagles and this sits as a classic trap game. Yes, that game could also mark the return of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, sidelined since Week 1 with a thumb injury.
(Prescott wanted to play this week against the Los Angeles Rams, but was ruled out).
Yes, it’s the Eagles-Cowboys. But perhaps the Eagles are on a bigger mission than the NFC East title. They are the league’s lone undefeated team. Maybe they shut the trap.
Time for the Eagles to get the Arizona piano off their backs?
The Eagles don’t play the Cardinals often. Thus, the fact they haven’t won in Arizona since 2001 can be taken with a grain of salt. This is nonetheless a team goal for this week as is the chance to go 5-0 for the first since 2004.
Iggles fans fondly recall that season. The 5-0 start became 7-0 and the Eagles reached the Super Bowl before losing to the New England Patriots.
Kicking Game Presents Bigger Dilemma for the Cardinals
They signed Matt Amendola to replace the injured Matt Prater. Two weeks ago, Amendola was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. When he missed an extra point and short field goal, the Chiefs suffered a 20-17 loss and he was cut.
Now he’s back with a new team.
This is a big focus for the Cardinals, who settled for four field goals in their last home game, a 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Eagles signed Cameron Dicker, who figures into a less-prominent part of the team’s game. Nick Sirianni usually scraps the field goal in borderline territory.
Jalen Hurts Returns to Site of First Breakout Game
- Remember those three second-quarter touchdown passes in the 33-26 setback to the Arizona Cardinals two years ago?
- Not to mention the rushing TD that followed?
This was the omen that Hurts would become a two-way threat.
Maybe Hurts likes playing in Arizona. He threw no touchdowns last week amid the rainy conditions at the Linc versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Jalen Hurts may be due to go up top.
- And Quez Watkins may be due to reaching paydirt.
It’s been three weeks since Hurts and Watkins executed a beautiful pitch-and-catch 53-yard touchdown strike against the Minnesota Vikings. Watkins is a big-play type of receiver and he caught a long TD from Hurts at this stadium two years ago.
What about the rest of the game?
Gamblers need to find only one opening and have the right amount of money on it to have a profitable game.
Here are the Eagles vs Cardinals anytime scorers:
- Hurts -105
- Miles Sanders +100
- James Connor +100
- A.J. Brown +105
- DeVonta Smith +155
- Marquise Brown +155
- Dallas Goedert +170
- Kyler Murray +240
- Quez Watkins +320
First Touchdown Scorer:
- Hurts +650
- Miles Sanders +700
- A.J. Brown +750
- James Connor +800
- DeVonta Smith +1000
- Marquise Brown +1200
- Dallas Goedert +1200
- Kyler Murray +1700
- Quez Watkins +1900
- Eagles Defense/Special Teams to score +425.
Can Lightning Strike Twice?
A defensive-special teams first touchdown pays a boatload. It happened last week with Jacksonville notching a Pick 6 early in the game.
If the Eagles notch the first TD on defense or special teams, that’s +2500. If the Cardinals do it, that’s +4000.
Here Are Some Other Eagles vs Cardinal Bets
Touchdown Passes
- Hurts 1.5 TDs thrown. The Over is -125, the Under is -105
- Murray, 1.5 TDs thrown. The Over is +110, the Under is -145
Interceptions
- Murray pays -120 if he throws an interception, -105 if he does not.
- Hurts is +105 to throw a pick, -135 to avoid throwing one.
Thinking Outside the Box
We mentioned the prop for Jacksonville scoring first and the Eagles winning last week. It came out and paid +250.
Iggles bettors found some other methods to cash tickets, without having to worry about the moneyline and spread bets.
- The Eagles scored more than 3.5 touchdowns, good for +125 on the Over.
- They tallied more than 27.5 points, good for +105 on the Over.
- And although the Over 13.5 points for the first half cost -125, it came out. A hit is a hit.
This week, the Eagles are +120 to exceed 3.5 touchdowns and +105 to clear 27.5 points. Fair odds at what seems like a tossup proposition.
Unfortunately for savvy bettors, DraftKings picked up the blitz, so to speak.
The Eagles have been a second-quarter scoring machine. So, what are the odds on a second quarter touchdown for the Birds? It’s -290.
Shoot, no weakness.
New Jersey native Haason Reddick returns to his NFL roots. He was the first-round pick of the Cardinals in 2017 and played his first four seasons there. He returns to Arizona as the reigning NFC defensive player of the week.
Reddick recorded two strip sacks and recovered fumbles against Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
It’s been all Eagles on the defense-special teams honor roll.
- In week 3, it was Brandon Graham.
- In week 2, it was Darius Slay.
The Eagles became the first team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (in weeks 1-3 in 2000) to have three consecutive defensive players of the week.
But wait, there’s more.
- Zech McPhearson was named special teams player of the week in Week 1.
- And Hurts was named the NFC offensive player of the month in September.
All Iggles, all the time.
The team must have been watching Why Eagles Why.
Throughout last season and early in this one, my colleagues Pete Amato and Bill Gelman bemoaned the absence of defensive pressure applied by the Eagles on the weekly Why Eagles Why program.
So far this year, problem solved.
Bill and Pete join me weekly on Why Eagles Why, a weekly recap/analysis of the Birds, which Iggles.com followers can see.
What was the A-Ha moment indicating the Birds were on a turnaround mission this year? We weighed in on that and a few other areas in this week’s program.
Check out Why Eagles Why and good luck Birds Bettors!
