Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/31/2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Lucas Oil Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Indianapolis Colts host the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, August 31, 2017. The opening line for this game has Indianapolis as 2.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 37. The Colts had an over/under record of 9-7-0 and they were 7-8-1 against the spread last year. The Bengals had an ATS record of 7-9-0 while their over/under record was 6-10-0.

Valuable Cincinnati Bengals Betting Trends

The Cincinnati Bengals were 6-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Cincinnati Bengals were 7-9-0 against the spread last year

Important Indianapolis Colts Betting Trends

The Indianapolis Colts were 9-7-0 against the over/under last season

The Indianapolis Colts were 7-8-1 against the spread last year

Key Cincinnati Bengals Injuries

08/28/17 HB Jeremy Hill Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Baltimore
08/28/17 LB Vontaze Burfict Possible Suspension "?" Sunday vs Baltimore
08/25/17 S Shawn Williams Elbow expected to miss 4-6 weeks
07/21/17 CB Adam Jones Suspension expected to miss Sunday vs Baltimore.

Key Indianapolis Colts Injuries

08/28/17 CB Vontae Davis Groin "?" Sunday vs. LA Rams
08/25/17 WR Chester Rogers Hamstring "?" Sunday vs. LA Rams
08/18/17 TE Erik Swoope Knee "?" Sunday vs. LA Rams
08/17/17 C Ryan Kelly Foot out indefinitely
07/29/17 QB Andrew Luck Shoulder "?" Sunday vs. LA Rams

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cincinnati Bengals ran for 1,769 yards as a team last year, which ranked 13th in the NFL. They ran 446 times, averaging 4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Bengals were penalized on offense 88 times for 726 yards last season, which had them 30th in the league in penalties. They were 24th in the NFL in points scored with 325. They ran 1,050 plays last season for 5,711 yards, which ranked them 13th in the league in total offense. The Bengals averaged 5.4 yards per play, which was 18th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 341 1st downs last year, placing them 9th overall as an offensive unit. Andy Dalton averaged 7.5 yards per pass attempt and 11.6 yards per completion last season. He completed 364 passes on 563 attempts for a completion percentage of 64.7%. His QBR last year was 58.3 while is quarterback rating was 91.8. He threw for 4,206 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Bengals rush defense allowed 412 attempts for 1,812 yards last year, putting them in 21st place in the league against the run. Cincinnati committed 105 penalties for 950 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 21st in the NFL. They gave up a score on 34.7% of possessions on defense, which was 13th in the league. They were 8th in the league in points allowed on defense with 315. They surrendered a total of 5,612 yards on D, which was 17th in the NFL. The Bengals were ranked 11th in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Their pass defense gave up 6.1 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 9th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 374 passes on 593 attempts against the Cincinnati Bengals defense last season, placing them 22nd and 25th in the National Football League. The Cincinnati pass defense also gave up a total of 3,800 yards through the air, which was 11th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Cincinnati Bengals attempted 35 field goals last season and made 28, which was 12th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 80.0%. Cincinnati Bengals kickers made 83% of their extra points, going 29 for 35 last year. Their punters totaled 3,613 yards on 78 punts, averaging 38 yards per punt. That placed them 9th in the NFL in punting average. Cincinnati was ranked 8th in the league in punt returns last season with 38. They accumulated 246 punt return yards and averaged 6.5 yards per return, which was 28th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 24 yards. They returned 39 kicks for 1,003 yards on special teams, ranking 2nd in kick return yardage. The Bengals averaged 25.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 84 yards last year. They were 4th in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,224.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Indianapolis Colts were 8th in the National Football League in points scored with 411 last year. They ran 1,037 plays for 5,830 yards, which ranked them 10th in the NFL in total offense. The Colts averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 13th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 351 1st downs last season, ranking them 6th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Indianapolis ran for 1,628 yards as a unit, which ranked 23rd in the league. They ran 409 times, averaging 4 yards per rush as a unit. The Colts were penalized on offense 103 times for 883 yards last year, which had them 21st in the NFL in penalties. Scott Tolzien passed for 216 yards last year. He completed 23 throws while attempting 37 passes for a completion percentage of 62.2%. His quarterback rating last season was 64.7 and his QBR was 31.8. He averaged 9.4 yards per completion and 5.8 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Indianapolis was 22nd in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 392. They gave up a total of 6,126 yards on D, which was 30th in the league. The Colts were 30th in yards per play allowed with 6. Their pass defense allowed 6.8 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 25th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 378 throws on 582 attempts against the Indianapolis defense last season, ranking them 23rd and 19th in the league. The Indianapolis Colts pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,200 yards in the air, which was 27th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 409 attempts for 1,926 yards last season, putting them in 25th place in the NFL against the run. The Colts had 125 penalties for 1,155 yards on defense last year. That placed them 31st in the league. They allowed a score on 41.5% of possessions on defense, which was 30th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Indianapolis was 30th in the NFL in punt returns with 22 last year. They totaled 182 punt return yards and averaged 8.3 yards per return, which was 17th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 30 yards. They returned 32 kicks for 804 yards on special teams, placing them 13th in kick return yardage. The Colts averaged 25.1 yards per kick return and had a long of 99 yards last season. They were 7th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,105. The Indianapolis Colts tried 31 field goals last season and made 27, which was 16th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 87.1%. Indianapolis kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 44 for 44 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,711 yards on 56 punts, averaging 22 yards per punt. That ranked them 3rd in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Bengals/Colts NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Bengals +2.5

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