Seattle vs. Arizona Odds: Spread, Total and Pick Analysis

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Seattle’s Quarterback Questions and Defense Shape the Debate Against Arizona

Seattle opened as an 11.5-point favorite with Sam Darnold expected to start, but the line fell after news that Drew Locke would play instead. With Locke having been inactive for two weeks, Joe and Milroe also entered the conversation as the spread moved to eight or 8.5 points.

Seattle also learned that Quentin Nelson will undergo surgery. The potential Hall of Fame guard, acquired in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts, played only one game before being sidelined. If the opponent were anyone other than Arizona, the line might have fallen even further.

Arizona is not a good team, although it has received a small boost from Gardner-Minho. The bigger surprise is the total of 39.5. Arizona has either scored or allowed plenty of points in every game this season, suggesting the oddsmakers have considerable confidence in Seattle’s defense.

Seattle completely shut down the Chiefs two weeks ago before being exposed by the Bears last week. If the defense performs somewhere between those two extremes, the game could go over 39.5. Arizona may also have a chance to keep it closer than the spread indicates.

Gardner-Minho has shown that he can keep teams competitive. Last week, his performance resembled what Jacoby Brissett had been doing: once Arizona fell behind, Minho responded and played well. He has been a solid .500 quarterback throughout his career, capable of producing seven or eight wins but probably not much more.

The opposing view is that Seattle’s defense will respond angrily after its performance against Chicago. Arizona should struggle to run the ball, and Dallas’ inability to stop Tyler Algiers from gaining 130 or 140 yards does not offer a useful comparison because Seattle’s defense is on a different level.

Arizona’s receiving options could also be limited. Seattle is one of the top two defenses against tight ends and the best defense against Wilson and opposing wide receivers. That makes it difficult to rely on McBride throughout the game. Arizona scored only seven points in the earlier meeting with this defense, and another low-scoring performance would not be surprising.

There is also a belief that Carson Beck could become the Arizona Cardinals’ starting quarterback within the next three weeks. The familiar pattern with Minho is that he arrives, provides an immediate lift and creates excitement before a couple of games remind everyone why he was not the starter. An angry Seattle defense could be an especially difficult matchup for him.