Seattle Seahawks (8-8) vs. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals 1/7/24 – On Sunday afternoon at 4:25 PM ET at State Farm Stadium, Seattle and Arizona face off in an important NFL Week 18 matchup that will air live on FOX. Both teams come into this contest having posted even 8-8 records so both hope to end their regular seasons on a high note; it offers elite NFL free picks for fans and bettors into both sides’ dynamics.
The Seahawks’ offensive efforts have been led by quarterback Geno Smith, who has excelled this season with 3435 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Zach Charbonnet has led their rushing game with 436 rushing yards and one touchdown, while DK Metcalf stands out with his 1104 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns that make him an outstanding threat to any defense.
The Cardinals have struggled on offense this season. Quarterback Kyler Murray has struggled, playing only seven games but throwing for 1537 yards with 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. James Conner has proven more reliable, rushing for 890 yards and six touchdowns as the centerpiece of their ground game attack. Among receivers, Trey McBride has become an indispensable target with 791 receiving yards and two touchdowns to his credit.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals 1/7/24 Game Info
| When: | Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 4:25 PM ET |
| Where: | State Farm Stadium |
| TV: | FOX |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Geno Smith QB vs. Kyler Murray QB
Geno Smith shocked many by seizing the starting job in the post-Wilson era. After entering 2022 as the presumptive backup, he beat out Drew Lock in the preseason and never looked back. Smith set new career highs nearly across the board with over 3400 passing yards, 18 touchdowns against just 9 picks, and an impressive 91.6 passer rating. While Smith’s production tailed off later in the season with Seattle out of contention, he rebounded nicely last week to close a redemptive campaign. Now he’ll look to put an exclamation point on his season versus a very beatable Cardinals defense.
Kyler Murray backup struggled mightily across three starts, throwing just 2 touchdowns against 6 interceptions while barely keeping the Cardinals offense functional. Among qualified passers, he owns the NFL’s second-worst passer rating at just 66.2. It’s a huge mismatch on paper against the savvy Smith. Arizona will likely try to hide their quarterback by force-feeding workhorse James Conner and their run game. But if they have to drop back often, it could get ugly quick against an aggressive Seattle pass rush. This is a decidedly poor quarterback matchup for the Cardinals as the season closes.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Seattle Seahawks -150, Total Odds: 47.5
The Seahawks are favored with a -3 point spread, reflecting their balanced season performance. The total points over/under of 47.5 suggests expectations for a high-scoring game.
Seattle Seahawks Betting Trends
The trends illuminate Seattle’s success in recent matchups with Arizona, especially on the road. The Seahawks are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six games as the visitor against the Cardinals. The total has gone UNDER in six of Seattle’s last seven road contests as well, indicating lower-scoring affairs away from the friendly confines of Lumen Field. One surprising trend is Seattle’s dominance against the spread of late, with an 8-2 ATS record in their last 10 matchups with NFC foes.
Arizona Cardinals Betting Trends
Home field hasn’t meant much for Arizona this season, as evidenced by their 1-5 SU record hosting Seattle in the last six. The total has gone OVER in seven of the Cardinals’ last seven at State Farm Stadium, however, thanks largely to the efforts of trigger man Murray. With him sidelined, projections for an offensive shootout seem unlikely here despite that trend. Arizona’s lack of competitiveness against conference foes is also notable, with a 1-11 SU record against the NFC.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals 1/7/24 Betting Picks
Analyzing both teams’ performance and betting trends, the Seahawks appear to have the upper hand, especially considering their ATS history against the Cardinals. The Cardinals’ struggles this season make them underdogs in this matchup.
For premium experts tip, while the Seahawks are the safer bet for a straight win, the over/under presents an intriguing choice. Given both teams’ tendencies, especially the Cardinals’ trend of high-scoring home games, the total points might lean towards the over.
Free Pick and Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 30, Arizona Cardinals 20