Baltimore Ravens at New Orleans Saints Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/31/2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

Mercedes-Benz Superdome is the venue for the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, August 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has New Orleans as 4 point favorites. The total has been set at 39. The Saints were 10-5-1 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 9-7-0. The Ravens were 7-9-0 ATS and their over/under record was 7-9-0.

Valuable Baltimore Ravens Betting Trends

The Baltimore Ravens were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Baltimore Ravens were 7-9-0 against the spread last year

Important New Orleans Saints Betting Trends

The New Orleans Saints were 9-7-0 against the over/under last season

The New Orleans Saints were 10-5-1 against the spread last year

Key Baltimore Ravens Injuries

08/28/17 WR Breshad Perriman Hamstring "?" Sunday vs. Cincinnati
08/28/17 CB Maurice Canady Knee out indefinitely
08/23/17 RB Danny Woodhead Hamstring "?" Sunday vs. Cincinnati
08/12/17 G Alex Lewis Shoulder out for season
08/01/17 TE Crockett Gillmore MCL out for season
07/30/17 CB Tavon Young ACL out for season
07/27/17 QB Joe Flacco Back is upgraded to probable Sunday vs. Cincinnati
07/25/17 RB Kenneth Dixon Knee out for season
07/22/17 WR Michael Campanaro Toe PUP
07/02/17 TE Darren Waller Suspension out for season

Key New Orleans Saints Injuries

08/28/17 DT Nick Fairley Heart out indefinitely
08/16/17 CB Delvin Breaux Fibula expected to miss 4-6 weeks
07/30/17 LB Dannell Ellerbe Foot out for season
07/30/17 T Terron Armstead Shoulder PUP

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Baltimore Ravens ran for 1,463 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 28th in the league. They ran 367 times, averaging 4 yards per rush as a unit. The Ravens were penalized on offense 125 times for 1,111 yards last season, which had them 5th in the NFL in penalties. They were 21st in the National Football League in points scored with 343. They ran 1,079 plays last year for 5,563 yards, which ranked them 17th in the NFL in total offense. The Ravens averaged 5.2 yards per play, which was 21st in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 316 1st downs last season, ranking them 21st overall as an offensive unit. Joe Flacco completed 436 throws while attempting 672 passes for a completion percentage of 64.9% last year. He passed for 4,317 yards. He averaged 9.9 yards per completion and 6.4 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 83.5 and his QBR was 58.4.

Defensive Statistics

The Ravens rush defense gave up 384 attempts for 1,430 yards last season, putting them in 5th place in the NFL against the run. They had 94 penalties for 900 yards on defense last year. That placed them 11th in the league. They allowed a score on 28.1% of possessions on defense, which was 2nd in the NFL. Baltimore was 9th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 321. They gave up a total of 5,154 yards on D, which was 7th in the league. The Ravens were 9th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense allowed 6.1 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 8th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 369 throws on 578 attempts against the Baltimore Ravens defense last season, ranking them 19th and 17th in the league. The Baltimore pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,724 yards in the air, which was 9th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Baltimore Ravens tried 39 field goals last season and made 38, which was 1st in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 97.4%. Baltimore Ravens kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 27 for 27 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,665 yards on 80 punts, averaging 32 yards per punt. That ranked them 13th in the NFL in punting average. Baltimore was 13th in the NFL in punt returns with 32 last year. They totaled 246 punt return yards and averaged 7.7 yards per return, which was 21st in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 28 yards. They returned 28 kicks for 636 yards on special teams, placing them 17th in kick return yardage. The Ravens averaged 22.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 60 yards last season. They were 20th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,688.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New Orleans Saints were 2nd in the NFL in points scored with 469 last season. They ran 1,105 plays last year for 6,816 yards, which ranked them 1st in the league in total offense. The Saints averaged 6.2 yards per play, which was 3rd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 395 1st downs last year, placing them 1st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground New Orleans ran for 1,742 yards as a team, which ranked 16th in the NFL. They ran 404 times last year, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Saints were penalized on offense 107 times for 969 yards last season, which had them 17th in the league in penalties. Drew Brees threw for 5,208 yards last season. He completed 471 passes on 673 attempts for a completion percentage of 70.0%. His QBR last year was 72.0 while is quarterback rating was 101.7. He averaged 7.7 yards per pass attempt and 11.1 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

New Orleans was 31st in the league in points allowed on defense with 454 last year. They surrendered a total of 6,006 yards on D, which was 27th in the NFL. The Saints were ranked 31st in yards per play allowed with 6. Their pass defense gave up 7.2 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 31st in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 378 passes on 582 attempts against the New Orleans defense last season, placing them 24th and 20th in the National Football League. The New Orleans Saints pass defense also gave up a total of 4,380 yards through the air, which was 32nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 396 attempts for 1,626 yards last year, putting them in 14th place in the league against the run. The Saints committed 104 penalties for 881 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 9th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 45.3% of possessions on defense, which was 32nd in the league.

Special Teams Stats

New Orleans was ranked 27th in the league in punt returns last season with 23. They accumulated 221 punt return yards and averaged 9.6 yards per return, which was 9th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 59 yards. They returned 28 kicks for 462 yards on special teams, ranking 31st in kick return yardage. The Saints averaged 16.5 yards per kick return and had a long of 31 yards last year. They were 1st in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,683. The New Orleans Saints attempted 34 field goals last season and made 28, which was 13th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 82.4%. New Orleans kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 49 for 50 last year. Their punters totaled 2,752 yards on 57 punts, averaging 23 yards per punt. That placed them 4th in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Ravens/Saints NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Saints -4

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