No division in the NFL is as hotly contested as the NFC West. Going into Week 11, three teams are tied for first place at 6-3. Two of those teams face off in this week’s Thursday Night Football matchup, as the Seattle Seahawks (6-3 SU, 5-4 ATS) host the Arizona Cardinals (6-3 SU, 5-4 ATS).
The division rivals enter their showdown headed in different directions. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have won four of their last five games and are coming off of a stunning last-second win over AFC contender Buffalo. On the flip side, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks have lost three of four games since starting the season 5-0.
Here’s a look at a few things that NFL bettors need to consider and how the action may play out on Thursday night.
Cardinals vs Seahawks Betting Odds
Odds via Bovada as of Thursday, November 19 (10:00 am ET)
Spread: Seahawks -3 | Cardinals +3
Moneyline: Cardinals +149 | Seahawks -169
Total: 57.5
Notes and Numbers
Will there be another shootout?
The Week 7 showdown between the NFC West rivals went to overtime, with the Cardinals pulling out a 37-34 win. The Seahawks led 34-24 late in the fourth quarter before surrendering 10 points in the last 2:28 of regulation and giving up a 48-yard Zane Gonzalez field goal with 15 seconds in overtime to lose it.
In that meeting, Seattle out-gained Arizona 572-519, but they committed eight penalties and Wilson was picked off THREE times. Will this meeting see fewer fireworks? The Cardinals have given up at least 30 points in three straight games, while the Seahawks have one of the league’s worst defenses.
Will Russ rebound?
Over the first few weeks, Russell Wilson looked like a shoe-in to be league’s MVP. He still could, but only if he rights the ship, and soon.
In his first six games, Wilson threw only three interceptions. In the last four, he’s thrown multiple interceptions in a game three times. Before tossing two picks in Sunday’s loss to the Rams, the only other time he had thrown multiple picks in consecutive games was in his rookie season in 2012.
Given how good Wilson has been and how long he has been so good, it is only a matter of time before he gets it turned around.
Wilson is also notoriously good in prime time.
Can Murray Magic Be Stopped?
Murray is already one of the top MVP candidates in year two, with the latest NFL futures betting odds putting him just behind Wilson and Patrick Mahomes. He’s getting it done with his arm and his legs, and he’s excelling without making too many mistakes.
Seattle is giving up an average of 353.3 passing yards per game, which is worst in the league by some distance. Murray was 34 of 48 for 360 yards, three scores, and one pick in the Week 7 thriller.
Best Bets for Cardinals vs Seahawks
1st Half Over 28: Thursday nights have featured a lot of first-half scoring this season, and that trend will likely continue. Five of nine games played on Thursday night this season featured at least 28 first-half points, and one of the four that missed had a 27-point first half.
Seattle Over 3.5 Touchdowns: The Seahawks found the end zone four times in their first meeting. Sunday’s setback against the Rams was the first game this season in which Seattle did not score at least four touchdowns. Two in a row is not likely.
Seattle Over 6.5 in the 1st Quarter: In their first nine games, Seattle has scored a first-quarter touchdown seven times. Arizona over 3.5 for the first quarter is also worth considering, as the percentages favor that outcome. The Cardinals have first-quarter touchdowns in six games thus far.
The Seahawks’ recent wobble is certainly a concern, but all three losses came on the road. At home, they are 4-0. There’s a lot to like about Arizona’s present and future, but things will not go their way Thursday night in another high-scoring affair. It could be close, but Seattle ML and Over 57.5 could both pay off handsomely.
