Saints vs. Cardinals predictions: Odds, total, player props, pick, how to watch ‘Thursday Night Football’

The New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals kick off week seven of the NFL when these NFC clubs battle it out in Thursday Night Football.

Both teams are 2-4 in the season and losing in Week 6. The Saints continue to suffer from the injury bug and will not have several key starters available for this game, including Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore and Andrus Torf. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have lost Hollywood Brown for the foreseeable future through injury but welcome the return of DeAndre Hopkins from his suspension. The team also acquired Robbie Anderson in a trade with the Panthers earlier this week.

Here we will be looking specifically at the different betting angles this game has to offer. Along with the spread and totals, we’ll also take a look at some players’ props and offer our picks on how we think this showdown will play out.

All NFL odds via Caesars Sportsbook.

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Date: Thursday 20 Oct | Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Consequences: CBS Sports App
Opportunities: Cardinals -2, O/U 44

line movement

Featured Game | Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

This line jockeyed a bit but ultimately didn’t see any drastic movement. It opened at Cardinals -2 way back in the spring, and the lookahead bumped it up half a point to Cardinals -2.5. Following Sunday’s Week 6 action, it fell to Cardinals -1.5 before climbing back to its original number, with Arizona putting up two points.

The selection: Cardinals -2. If you’re looking for trends in these quarterbacks to help you decide who to back in this game, good luck. Kyler Murray or Andy Dalton play well at all in prime time. Dalton – who is expected to start – has a career 6-18 SU and 9-15 ATS in prime time, which is the worst prime-time record since 2000 among eligible quarterbacks. Murray is 0-4 SU and ATS in his last four primetime games. So it’s hard to read anything from their performance. Instead, let’s just look at the staff. Murray is set to bring back one of the NFL’s best receivers, DeAndre Hopkins, this week and also has Robbie Anderson as a new passing weapon in the herd. Meanwhile, Dalton won’t have any part of his pass catchers, leaving him a bit understaffed. I also think Lattimore’s absence will be a big factor for New Orleans and potentially make a big return for Hopkins.

key trend: The home team is 7-1 ATS in the last eight matches.

Over/Under total

The opening number for this total when it debuted in the spring was 47. It dropped to 46 up front and continued to drop throughout the week and now sits at 44 on the eve of this neck-and-neck race.

The selection: under 44. The total is probably a stay-away for me, but I’ll dig for the over. However, we faced a historically low score on Thursday night this season. Thursday Night Football’s games are averaging a combined 36.7 points per game this season, the lowest margin since Thursday Night Football’s inaugural season in 2006 (33.8). I don’t see that changing here. The Under is 4-1-1 for the Cardinals this season and 12-3-1 in New Orleans’ last 16 Thursday games.

key trend: Under is 5-0 in Arizona’s last five games against the NFC.

Kyler Murray props

• Passing touchdowns: 1.5 (above -104, below -131)
• Passing yards: 244.5 (above -104, below -131)
• Frenzied courtyards: 32.5 (above -137, below +100)
• pass attempts: 35.5 (above +106, below -145)
• Longest passport completion: 35.5 (above -115, below -119)
• completions: 23.5 (above -127, below -108)
• Interruptions: 0.5 (above -129, below -106)

I like it when Murray goes over his passing yards prop at 244.5. Not only will he get Hopkins back for this game, but he’s got a great matchup, especially with Lattimore sidelined for New Orleans. He will face a Saints secondary against the pass, who ranks 21st in the NFL on the DVOA and is allowing 6.8 yards per pass attempt this season. He should also work in a relatively clean bag. The Cardinals O-Line is allowing pressure at the fifth-lowest rate in the NFL this season, and the Saints are allowing pressure at the worst rate in the league. With that in mind, I’ll take Murray’s throw for multiple touchdowns as well.

Andy Dalton props

• Passing touchdowns: 1.5 (above +143, below -199)
• Passing yards: 217.5 (above -106, below -129)
• Longest passport completion: 35.5 (above -121, below -113)
• Interruptions: 0.5 (above -106, below -129)

Dalton’s prop market has dwindled somewhat as it’s still unclear who will compete between him and Jameis Winston. That said people in rhythm seem to think Dalton will ultimately be the starter. So tread carefully here with any Dalton props until there is official information on whether or not he will launch. That said, I’m mesmerized by the over on his passing yards prop at 217.5. He hasn’t managed to surpass the 200 yards his last two starts have surpassed, but I can imagine the Saints will lag this game, which will force Dalton into a more pass-heavy game script. He’ll also have standout rookie Chris Olave back on the receiver, which is a plus. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are 24th in the NFL in DVOA against the pass.

Player Props to Consider

Chris Olave Total Receptions: Over 4.5 (+100). Olave is back in the rotation after missing a game with a concussion. He will be the top passing option for New Orleans and faces a Cardinals defense that allows opposing quarterbacks to complete 68.4% of their passes (the sixth highest in the NFL). Olave has averaged 8.4 goals per game this season. With an expected high target percentage and a weak runner-up, holding this ticket at Plus Money through Thursday is fun.

DeAndre Hopkins Total Receiving Yards: Over 59.5 (-115). I think Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury will draft some plays that force Hopkins on the ball early to get his feet wet when he comes back from lockdown. Without Lattimore to cover him in secondary school, Hopkins – who I assume is chewing on the bit to get back on the field – should be able to run wild. Even in what was considered a bad year for him last year, Hopkins averaged 57.2 yards per game.