Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/22/24

The Panthers, sitting at 5-9, are out of the playoff picture, while the Cardinals are still fighting for a playoff spot. This week 16 matchup is set for 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 22nd at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. The Cardinals are favored on the road with a money line of -207, and their record is 4-9-1. Carolina’s money line sits at +171, with an over/under line of 47 points. Catch this one on FOX.
ARIZONA CARDINALS VS CAROLINA PANTHERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Carolina Panthers +4
This game will be played at Bank of America Stadium at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 22nd.
WHY BET THE CAROLINA PANTHERS:
- We have the Cardinals winning this one by a score of 22 to 19
- Even though we like the Cardinals to win, our ATS pick is to take the Panthers at +4
- We see this game finishing below the line of 47 points
Will The Cardinals Win As Road Favorites?
After three consecutive losses, the Cardinals got back to .500 with a 30-17 win over the Patriots in week 15. Arizona was a 6-point favorite and covered the spread, bringing their ATS record to 9-5. They are 6-2 as underdogs and 2-3 as favorites. Their average scoring margin this season is +0.6 points per game.
Heading into week 16, the Cardinals are 7-7 and have a 12.6% chance of making the playoffs. They rank 14th in our NFL power rankings. In the NFC West, they are 3rd with a 2-2 division record. They are 5-3 at home and 2-4 on the road.
Kyler Murray has improved his passer rating in each of his last three games, culminating in a 97.0 rating in week 15 against the Patriots, where he threw for 224 yards on 23/30 passing without a touchdown or interception. Arizona has also done a good job protecting him, as he wasn’t sacked in week 15. James Conner rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, while Trey McBride led the team in receiving with 9 catches for 87 yards.
Arizona’s offense ranks 12th in our power rankings, and they are 13th in the NFL with 22.4 points per game. They are 11th in passing yards per game (351.4) and 6th in rushing, averaging 141.5 yards per game on the ground. The Cardinals are 9th in the league in 3rd-down conversion percentage.
Arizona’s defense played well on third downs in their 30-17 win over the Patriots, allowing just 82.6% completions. They also intercepted one pass and limited New England to 2 of 5 on third down. The Cardinals gave up 116 rushing yards on 24 attempts, but the Patriots managed only 195 yards passing and one touchdown.
The Cardinals’ defense recorded two sacks and held the Patriots to an 8.5 yards per attempt. Overall, the Cardinals gave up 311 yards and forced New England off the field on all of their third down attempts.
Are The Panthers Going Win In At Upset At Bank of America Stadium
Heading into week 16, the Panthers sit at 3-11 and rank last in our power rankings. Carolina has now lost four straight games, including a 30-14 home loss to the Cowboys in week 15. The Panthers were 2.5-point favorites in that game, but they couldn’t get the win, ending any slim playoff hopes they had left.
Against the spread, Carolina is 6-8 this season. They are 6-7 as underdogs but 0-1 as favorites. Their O/U record is 10-4, with their games averaging 47.5 points per contest.
Heading into week 16, the Panthers rank 27th in our offensive power rankings. They sit 25th in the NFL in points per game (17.6) and 30th in yards per game (288.9). Carolina ranks 29th in passing yards per game (186) on 32.7 attempts per game, which is 15th in the league. On the ground, they average 102.9 rushing yards per game, ranking 22nd in the NFL. The Panthers are 26th in the league in 3rd-down conversions, with a 34.7% success rate, but they are 11th in red zone conversion percentage.
Bryce Young threw for 219 yards (19/28) in week 15, with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions, while being sacked 6 times. Chuba Hubbard led the team with 32 rushing yards on 10 carries, and Jalen Coker had 4 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Carolina scored 7 points in the 2nd and 4th quarters but was held scoreless in the 1st and 3rd quarters, converting only 3 of 11 3rd-down attempts in their loss to Dallas.
In their 30-14 loss to the Cowboys, the Panthers’ defense allowed 410 total yards and struggled to stop the run, giving up 211 rushing yards on 40 attempts. Despite limiting Dallas to 199 passing yards, Carolina allowed three passing touchdowns. The Panthers’ offense didn’t help them out much, as the defense was on the field for 32:41 minutes of the game.
Carolina’s defense managed just one sack in the game and lost the QB hit and tackles for loss differentials, with -7 and -6, respectively. Opponents also converted on 50% of their third down attempts against the Panthers.