Arizona at Seattle Odds, Expert Pick & TV Info

Saturday’s game in the Pacific Northwest means absolutely nothing for defending NFC West champion Arizona as it has been eliminated from the playoffs. The Seahawks, who have already clinched the NFC West, can secure a first-round bye with a win and losses by both Detroit and Atlanta. Seattle is in control for a first-round bye. Let’s check out the NFL lines for the game.

Arizona at Seattle Odds, Expert Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, Dec. 24, 4:25 PM ET Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle TV: Fox Radio: Arizona / Seattle Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Lines: Seahawks -8 (43)

Why Bet on Arizona?

The Cards lost a second straight last week, 48-41 at home to New Orleans in their home finale. Arizona running back David Johnson had 108 scrimmage yards (53 rushing, 55 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns against New Orleans. He is the first player in NFL history to begin a season with 14 consecutive games with at least 100 scrimmage yards. Johnson rushed for two touchdowns, giving him 17 TDs this season and 30 in the first 30 games as a pro. Carson Palmer threw for 318 yards and two scores in a game that clinched the first losing season for the Cardinals in Bruce Arians’ four years as coach. WR Larry Fitzgerald played in his 200th career game. Fitzgerald, who had seven catches against New Orleans, has 1,116 career receptions and passed Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (1,115) for the most catches in a player’s first 200 games in NFL history. Fitzgerald sent a minor shockwave through the NFL when he said on national radio Monday that he was “uncertain” about his playing future. He was named a Pro Bowler this week. He not only leads the NFL with 98 receptions but moved into third (second among wide receivers) on the all-time receptions list two weeks ago. He’s on pace for a second straight 1,000-yard season after not having one since 2011, and is on pace to break his own franchise record of 109 receptions, which he set a year ago. With nothing to play for, the Cards could start looking at young players. Aside from rookie offensive linemen Cole Toner and Evan Boehm, both of whom Coach Bruce Arians said Monday are not ready yet, Arizona has four other rookies who either haven’t played or have played very little this season: wide receiver Marquis Bundy, offensive lineman Givens Price, tight end Hakeem Valles and Miller. Of the quartet, Valles has played the most, with 41 offensive snaps, but 26 of them came in one game, Week 5 against San Francisco. The Cardinals tied the Seahawks 6-6 earlier this year, but Arizona absolutely dominated statistically. Both teams’ kickers missed short winning field goals in overtime.

Why Bet on Seattle?

The Seahawks won 24-3 last Thursday at home vs. the Rams. Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, Tyler Lockett had 130 yards receiving and a score, and the Seahawks won the NFC West. Seattle claimed its third division title in four seasons, assuring itself of at least one home game in the playoffs. After slogging through the first half, Wilson threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin late in the third quarter for a 17-3 lead, then put the game away on a 57-yard touchdown strike to Lockett on the second play of the fourth quarter. Wilson finished 19 of 26 for 229 yards. The Seattle defense racked up four sacks after recording just five sacks in the previous five weeks. Star cornerback Richard Sherman got into a shouting match with OC Darrell Bevell in the third quarter of the game because the Seahawks called a pass play from the one-yard line. “I’m upset about us throwing from the 1,” Sherman said. “I’d rather do what most teams would do, making a conscientious decision to run the ball.” For the first time in his nine-year NFL career, Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril is a Pro Bowler. Avril, who through 14 games has a career-best 11.5 sacks and five forced fumbles, was one of four Seahawks defensive players named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad along with linebacker Bobby Wagner, defensive end Michael Bennett and Sherman. Wagner, who was named to the Pro-Bowl roster for a third straight year, currently leads the NFL with 145 tackles and is the first player in franchise history to record five consecutive 100-tackle seasons. Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable said Garry Gilliam will start at right tackle in Week 16 against the Cardinals. Gilliam started the Seahawks’ first 11 games at right tackle before being replaced by Bradley Sowell. Now they’re going back to Gilliam after Sowell got manhandled Thursday against Los Angeles.

Arizona at Seattle Expert Pick: Seattle Seahawks

Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Seattle. Cardinals are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Take Seahawks and under on NFL odds.