The Arizona Cardinals (5-6-1) will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they visit the Miami Dolphins (7-5) on Sunday as small road underdogs. The defending NFC West champion Cardinals are at serious risk of missing the postseason for the first time in three years and desperately need to beat the Dolphins, who are trying to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.Point spread: The Dolphins opened as 2.5-point favorites; the total was 44 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)NFL pick, via OddsShark computer: 29.5-15.4 Dolphins (NFL picks on every game) Why the Cardinals can cover the spreadThe oddsmakers still believe in Arizonaotherwise the team would be a much bigger road underdog in this spot. Instead, the Cardinals will look to build off their 31-23 win over the Washington Redskins as 2.5-point home favorites last Sunday, snapping a two-game skid and covering the spread for the first time since Week 6.They basically have to win out in order to keep their postseason streak alive, something that will be difficult considering three of their last four games are on the road. But Miami's playoff drought is mostly due to fading down the stretch, something that could happen again. Why the Dolphins can cover the spreadThe Dolphins are 6-1 straight up and 5-1-1 against the spread in their last seven games, and they were playing as well as any team in the league during their six-game winning streak that ended with a 38-6 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week.Miami already has quality home wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills as a home underdog and may end up closing in the same role here if bettors back Arizona.First-year head coach Adam Gase has done a great job turning the team's season around and will remind his players how good they are heading into this game, which will ultimately help determine their postseason fate. Smart pickGase should be in the running for NFL Coach of the Year, but his biggest challenge down the stretch will be leading a squad that has failed to cover the spread in 12 consecutive games during the month of December. That trend is obviously difficult to ignore and why the Cardinals appear to be the safer side to pick at online sports betting sites.If this game was on the road again in another cold-weather city like Baltimore, it would be easier to fade the Dolphins. However, Miami is at home and will win and cover to extend Arizona's woes. Betting trendsThe Cardinals are 3-1 ATS in their last four games against the Dolphins.The total has gone over in the Cardinals' last three games against the Dolphins.The Dolphins are 0-12 ATS in their last 12 games in December. All NFL lines and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Reports official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.
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