Northwestern vs Stanford Expert NCAA Football Picks 8/31/2019
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Stanford Stadium
Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game
Stanford Stadium is the venue for the game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday, August 31, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Stanford as 7 point favorites. The Cardinal were 7-5-1 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 7-6-0. The Wildcats were 7-5-2 ATS and their over/under record was 7-7-0.
Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends
The Northwestern Wildcats were 7-7-0 against the over/under last season
The Northwestern Wildcats were 7-5-2 against the spread last year
Important Stanford Cardinal Betting Trends
The Stanford Cardinal were 7-6-0 against the over/under last season
The Stanford Cardinal were 7-5-1 against the spread last year
Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries
No key injuries to report
Key Stanford Cardinal Injuries
No key injuries to report
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Northwestern Wildcats ran for 1,609 yards as a team last year, which ranked 112th in the nation. They ran 518 times, averaging 3.1 yards per rush as a unit. The Wildcats were penalized on offense 41 times for 363 yards last year, which had them 130th in the country in penalties. They were 84th in Division 1 in points scored with 339. They ran 1,044 plays last year for 4,962 yards, which ranked them 32nd in the nation in total offense. The Wildcats averaged 4.7 yards per play, which was 125th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 288 1st downs last season, ranking them 37th overall as an offensive unit.
Defensive Statistics
The Wildcats rush defense gave up 477 attempts for 1,814 yards last season, putting them in 36th place in the country against the run. They had 99 penalties for 946 yards on defense last year. That placed them 124th in Division 1. Northwestern was 51st in college football in points surrendered on defense with 325. They gave up a total of 5,473 yards on D, which was 96th in the nation. The Wildcats were 58th in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Opponent offenses completed 323 throws on 504 attempts against the Northwestern Wildcats defense last season, ranking them 130th and 130th in the country. The Northwestern pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,657 yards in the air, which was 127th overall in total pass defense.
Special Teams Stats
The Northwestern Wildcats tried 15 field goals last year and made 10, which was 105th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 63%. Northwestern Wildcats kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 39 for 41 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,199 yards on 78 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That ranked them 78th in the NCAA in punting average. Northwestern was 26th in the country in punt returns with 24 last season. They totaled 146 punt return yards and averaged 6.1 yards per return, which was 96th in D-1. They returned 17 kicks for 370 yards on special teams, which put them 112th in kick return yardage. The Wildcats averaged 22 yards per kick return and they were 87th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,477.
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Cardinal were 71st in Division 1 in points scored with 369 last year. They ran 807 plays last season for 4,953 yards, which ranked them 27th in the nation in total offense. The Stanford Cardinal averaged 6.1 yards per play, which was 43rd in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 251 1st downs last year, placing them 82nd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Stanford ran for 1,403 yards as a team, which ranked 121st in the country. They ran 384 times, averaging 3.7 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Cardinal were penalized on offense 72 times for 549 yards last season, which had them 79th in the nation in penalties.
Related: Get NCAA Football predictions on all of today's games
Defensive Statistics
Stanford was 37th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 298 last season. They surrendered a total of 5,331 yards on D, which was 87th in Division 1. The Cardinal were ranked 69th in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Opposing offenses completed 283 passes on 465 attempts against the Stanford defense last season, placing them 123rd and 116th in the country. The Stanford Cardinal pass defense also gave up a total of 3,432 yards through the air, which was 117th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 476 attempts for 1,899 yards last year, putting them in 49th place in D-1 against the run. The Cardinal committed 82 penalties for 796 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 106th in the nation.
Special Teams Stats
Stanford was ranked 30th in the nation in punt returns with 23 last year. They accumulated 244 punt return yards and averaged 10.2 yards per return, which was 49th in college football. They returned 33 kicks for 696 yards on special teams, ranking 45th in kick return yardage. The Stanford Cardinal averaged 22 yards per kick return and they were 66th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,893. The Cardinal attempted 16 field goals last season and made 16, which was 52nd in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 94%. Stanford kickers made 95% of their extra points, going 42 for 43 last year. Their punters totaled 2,995 yards on 68 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That placed them 19th in Division 1 in punting average.
Who will win tonight's Wildcats/Cardinal college football game against the spread?
Tony's Pick: Take the Cardinal -7
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