Cardinals vs Seahawks Week 6 Picks and Predictions: Seattle Shootouts Becoming a Theme

This NFC West rivalry will have a different feel to it without Russell Wilson involved for the first time since 2011, when the Arizona Cardinals travel to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.

The Cardinals have been the true definition of middle-of-the-road this season, finding themselves in the middle of the league in so many categories. Meanwhile, the Seahawks were projected to be the worst team in the NFL but have performed above expectations so far.

Will Seattle continue to prove the doubters wrong?

Find out in our free NFL picks and predictions for the Cardinals vs. Seahawks on October 16.

Cardinals vs Seahawks best odds

Cardinals vs Seahawks picks and predictions

The Cardinals have found themselves to be stuck in a pattern of true mediocrity. They have yet to have a losing or winning streak of two games and sit near the middle of the league in almost all the major statistical categories.

Arizona ranks 15th in total offense and 18th in total defense. One major reason for this has been the lack of big-play ability from the Cardinals' offense. Quarterback Kyler Murray, who averages 7.1 yards per attempt in his career, is only averaging 5.8 yards per attempt this season. The running game for Arizona is also struggling, with only 4.3 combined rushing yards per attempt.

Both James Conner and Darrel Williams are unlikely to play this weekend, so it will be up to Eno Benjamin to carry the load on Sunday. The good news for the Cardinals' offense is that they are taking on a Seahawks' defense that ranks 31st in points allowed and dead last in rushing yards given up per game.

Seattle has become a team that lives and dies by being able to force enough mistakes by its opponents to outscore them in a shootout. Geno Smith seems to have found a liking to Pete Carroll’s system, as he is playing the best football of his career at age 32. Smith is completing 75.2% of his passes for 261.0 yards per game and has a sparkling quarterback rating of 113.2.

It is rare that I can look at an NFL total and think there is no number too high for me to pass on the Over. This is one of those scenarios.

Neither defense will be able to keep the opposing offense from moving the ball, and unless both teams collapse in the red zone, this will be another shootout in Seattle.

My best bet: Over 50.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

Cardinals vs Seahawks spread analysis

If the Cardinals continue their 50/50 pattern of wins and losses, then they will win this game after losing to the Eagles last week. Strangely enough, they are a perfect 2-0 on the road and 0-3 at home this season.

Murray has played well in his five career games against the Seahawks, throwing for 1,228 yards with seven touchdowns to two interceptions. He also has run for 184 yards and two TDs. He should be able to find some running lanes against this version of the Seahawks that allowed QB Taysom Hill to run for 112 yards and three TDs last week.

The Seahawks are decent at forcing turnovers, but the Cardinals excel at holding onto the football and rank in the Top 5 in the NFL as it applies to turnover margin. The Seahawks will be able to score on Arizona, but they will not be able to stop them from scoring, and the spread is under a field goal.

The Cardinals are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games in Seattle, and the road team is 11-3-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings between these two teams. The Cardinals are going to continue their pattern this week and get another road win, which means they should cover as 2-point favorites.

Cardinals vs Seahawks Over/Under analysis

This season may be Under heavy for the Cardinals thus far, but it is all about matchups, and this one has the Over written all over it.

The Over is 6-1 in the Seahawks' last seven games against NFC opponents, plus in their last seven games against a team with a losing record.

The Cardinals will be able to get their running game going and finally find some big plays that they have been missing out on in the first five weeks of the season. However, they will also struggle to stop Smith and the Hawks' aerial assault with their 21st-ranked passing defense.

I think there is a good chance that both teams will reach 30 points here, but I feel extremely confident in the Cardinals reaching 35 points. That leaves the Seahawks to only need 16 points to hit the Over.

There is no doubt in my mind that regardless of how close the game is, this Over will hit.

Cardinals vs Seahawks betting trend to know

The Over is 5-1 in the Seahawks' last six games played on FieldTurf. Find more NFL betting trends for Cardinals vs. Seahawks.

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