Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 12/3/23 – The Arizona Cardinals (2-9) limp into Pittsburgh trying to snap a six-game losing streak against the surging Steelers (7-4). Pittsburgh is looking for its fourth straight victory on Sunday when these inter-conference foes clash at Acrisure Stadium. With NFL betting odds and picks favoring the hosts, can struggling Arizona play spoiler on the road against a Pittsburgh team hitting its stride? This AFC vs. NFC showdown will come down to which quarterback can lead their team to victory.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 12/3/23
| When: | Sunday, December 3, 1:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Acrisure Stadium |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | NFL+ |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | +5.5 -110 | o41 -115 | +220 |  |
| Steelers | -5.5 -110 | u41 -105 | -260 | |
| ||||
The secret to getting past T.J. Watt? 👇 pic.twitter.com/L1SfLt93tz
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 29, 2023
Joshua Dobbs QB vs. Kenny Pickett QB
Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs has completed 62.8% of his passes this season, but has struggled to move the chains consistently. While he has shown flashes of playmaking ability, Dobbs has been sacked 17 times behind Arizona’s porous offensive line. He’ll need to avoid Pittsburgh’s aggressive pass rush to give his offense a chance.
Meanwhile, Steelers rookie Kenny Pickett is coming off his best performance yet in last week’s win over the Colts. The first-round pick threw for 174 yards and 3 total touchdowns, displaying poise and leadership in crucial moments. Pickett will look to build off that outing at home against the Cardinals’ 23rd-ranked passing defense.
Struggling Ground Games Collide
The Cardinals have had major issues with their rushing attack, averaging a league-worst 81.7 rushing yards per game. James Conner is Arizona’s lead back when healthy, but he’s missed the last three games with an injury. In his absence, Eno Benjamin has filled in respectably. However, neither back has had much room behind an offensive line that’s allowing the most sacks in the NFL. The Cardinals will need marked improvement up front to get anything going on the ground.
Dynamic Steelers Receiving Duo
Pittsburgh boasts one of the most dangerous receiving duos in the league featuring breakout rookie George Pickens and second-year man Diontae Johnson. Pickens is averaging a robust 16.3 yards per catch while Johnson has a team-high 60 receptions. They present a challenging matchup for Arizona’s subpar pass defense that is allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 66.7% of their throws. If Kenny Pickett can get time in the pocket, expect him to take plenty of shots downfield to Pickens and Johnson against this vulnerable Cardinals secondary.
NFL Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Steelers -155, Over/Under 39.5
The oddsmakers have installed the Steelers as 2.5-point home favorites with the total set at just 39.5 points. Both numbers indicate expectations for a lower-scoring defensive battle between these inter-conference foes.
Trends
Arizona Cardinals Betting Trends
Arizona are 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games.
Cardinals are 2-17 SU in their last 19 games.
Arizona are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against Pittsburgh.
Arizona are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games against Pittsburgh.
Cardinals are 0-9 SU in their last 9 games on the road.
Arizona are 0-7 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the American Football Conference conference.
Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends
Pittsburgh are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Pittsburgh’s last 9 games.
Pittsburgh are 11-4 SU in their last 15 games.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Pittsburgh’s last 9 games against Arizona.
Pittsburgh are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games at home.
Pittsburgh are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against an opponent in the National Football Conference conference.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Picks
This game will likely come down to quarterback play, an area where Pittsburgh has a clear edge. Kenny Pickett is gaining confidence while Joshua Dobbs has been inconsistent all year guiding Arizona’s dysfunctional offense.
The Cardinals have also really struggled on the road, going 0-6 straight up this season away from home. Meanwhile, the Steelers have been strong at Acrisure Stadium, covering in four of their last five.
Based on these trends and analysis, Pittsburgh is the recommended play despite laying 2.5 points. Some of the best betting websites have this line right around 3, so it’s worth getting the hook on the key number. Pickett and the Steelers should do just enough against an inferior opponent.
Score Prediction: Steelers 23, Cardinals 13
