Arizona Cardinals Large Favorite (-7.5+) Betting Trend

The Cardinals' struggles as large favorites stem from a fundamental mismatch between market perception and organizational identity. Arizona has historically been built around opportunistic defense and efficient offense rather than dominant, blow-out-capable units. When installed as heavy favorites, the team faces inflated expectations that don't align with their methodical, mistake-free approach to winning games. The psychological burden of large spreads appears particularly problematic for Arizona's offensive philosophy. The Cardinals typically succeed through ball control and situational football rather than explosive scoring drives. When forced to cover substantial point spreads, they often abandon their disciplined game plan in favor of aggressive plays that lead to turnovers and stalled drives. This shift away from their core strengths creates the perfect storm for underperformance. Arizona's coaching staff has also shown a tendency to become conservative with leads, prioritizing game management over continued scoring. This approach, while sound for securing wins, becomes problematic when needing to cover large numbers against overmatched opponents who continue fighting. The actionable insight for bettors is clear: fade Arizona when they're laying more than a touchdown, particularly in divisional games where motivated underdogs tend to keep contests closer than expected. This trend matters most in late-season games when playoff positioning creates additional pressure.