Arizona Cardinals vs Denver Broncos Point Spread Picks

Arizona knocked off Kansas City in the opener, 20-17. The defense allowed 249 total yards, while the ground game had 140 yards rushing. The offense has averaged 16.4 points in its last seven preseason tilts. Denver's defense was also sharp in Week 1, holding San Francisco to nine points and 203 total yards. The 49ers were 1-of-11 on third down. The ground game ran for 153 yards to control the clock with a 36:58 time-of-possession. The Broncos have won five straight preseason games with the defense allowing an average of 8.4 points. Play Arizona/Denver UNDER the total.

Arizona QB Kyler Murray is out after a severe injury in the last game. But QB Colt McCoy is a decent backup and his teams are 3-2 in the last five games that the veteran has started. The Cardinals have a winning road record this season and are on a 20-10 spread run on the road. They're also 23-13 ATS as an underdog, including 16-6 ATS as a road dog. Denver has been a mess on offense all year, ranked last in scoring (14.9 ppg) and on third down (28.11%). The last two times they were a pick or favored, the Broncos lost both to the Raiders (22-16) and Panthers (22-10). Denver is 4-12 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 and NFL favorites like the Broncos that average 17 or fewer points per game are 8-29 ATS. Play Arizona.

Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury is doing all he can to juice up this new pass-happy offense. However, it's the Cardinals' defense that has been terrible under the new coach, allowing 53 points the last two contests. Cornerback Robert Alford will miss a significant amount of time with a leg injury, leaving Arizona's depleted secondary with rookie Byron Murphy and Tramaine Brock as the starters until Patrick Peterson returns from a six-game suspension. And the run defense just allowed 190 yards, 6.6 yards per carry, to the Vikings in a 20-9 defeat. Any NFL preseason team where the total is 35 or lower is 44-18 OVER the total when playing with six or fewer days of rest. After facing the defensive talent of the Seahawks, the 49ers and Rams the last three weeks, the Denver offense catches a big break against a soft and depleted Arizona 'D'. Back the OVER.

Despite a 2-4 record on the season, the Denver Broncos are a slight road favorite tonight vs. Arizona. The Cardinals needed a QB and selected Josh Rosen and they are giving him an opportunity. It may take some time but the early returns are not good as Rosen will enter this game with a 75.5 passer rating with just a pair of TDs and two INTs as well. Denver knew they needed a QB to be competitive and signed Case Keenum. The Broncos opened 2-0 but have since gone 0-4, but three of those opponents were Kansas City, Baltimore, and the LA Rams  - arguably all among the top five teams in the league, so I think we are getting some value here. Rosen has not been very good and the Cardinals' running attack has yet to have a game of 100 yards or more. Denver can also shut down a poor offense. Play on Denver tonight in the desert.