This pick was released to clients on December 25, 2014 at 9:22AM ET.
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Arizona at San Francisco

December 28, 2014
img4:25 PM Eastern
Premium Pick
1.5 units on Game Total UNDER 37 -115 (risk 1.5 to return 2.8)
Result:
PUSH

The Cardinals have something to play for with an outside shot of the No. 1 seed in the NFC, as well as playoff positioning. Regardless of the issues they have on offense and at QB, this is a dominant defense that can stuff the run (ranked eighth) and faces a 49ers team that can't pass the football. Rookie QB Logan Thomas will make his first career start for the visiting Cardinals, so don't look for a wide-open offensive show from the team that wants to play hard. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what Bruce Arians' gameplan will be here: Play lights out defense and win a defensive battle. While the Cardinals have a winning road record, San Francisco doesn't even have a winning record at home, one of the biggest disappointments of 2014. They have been punched in the stomach all season, including last week blowing several big leads in a 38-35 collapse to San Diego. This is likely Jim Harbaugh's final game as 49ers coach, and the assistants have to be wondering about their future job status. The same goes for the players, too. "Hopefully, I'll be back," Frank Gore said this week. Despite putting up 35 points last week, QB Colin Kaepernick was held to a season-low 114 passing yards. He has regressed badly as a passer this season and has been sacked 51 times! They did it by running, but the Arizona run defense is awesome. San Francisco is 9-3 UNDER the total against a team with a winning record, and are on a 5-1 run UNDER the total at home anchored by a defense that is fifth against the pass and seventh against the run. Arizona won the first meeting, 23-14, that went UNDER the total, and this will be a similar low scoring game. Under Bruce Arians, the Cards are 13-5 UNDER as an underdog. Take the UNDER here.

FINAL
1
2
3
4
F
Arizona Cardinals
7
10
0
0
17
San Francisco 49ers img
7
6
7
0
20
consensus consensus
odds odds
 
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