Friday, Jan. 22
Among the many title game props at the Westgate is Larry Fitzgerald over/under 65.5 receiving yards.
Fitzgerald is not going to come up with 176 receiving yards like he did against the Packers last week, but I believe he'll exceed 65 yards against Carolina.
Carolina has a shutdown cornerback, Josh Norman. But Fitzgerald plays in the slot more than 60 percent of the time. No other slot receiver is as physical, tall and savvy as Fitzgerald, who has a real shot to make the Hall of Fame when he retires. Norman doesn't handle slot receivers - washed-up veteran Cortland Finnegan does.
Finnegan and Robert McClain, half of the Panthers' starting defensive backs, weren't even playing in late November. The Panthers picked them up after losing two starting cornerbacks. Russell Wilson exploited them during the second half of last week's playoff game. Not only is Finnegan well past his prime, but he's six inches and 50 pounds lighter than Fitzgerald.
It's anticipated that Carson Palmer is going to throw around 50 passes against Carolina. Fitzgerald is his most trusted target. He's likely to be Palmer's first look many times. Fitzgerald has a strong history of coming through in the clutch.
The Panthers can't afford to take Fitzgerald out with double coverage because Arizona has two other very good wide receivers, Michael Floyd and speedster John Brown, plus David Johnson is dangerous out of the backfield. So I see Fitzgerald going over on this prop.