Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/31/2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

NRG Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Dallas Cowboys head to NRG Stadium to play the Houston Texans on Thursday, August 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 2.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 38. The Cowboys were 10-7-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 7-10-0. The Texans were 7-10-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 8-10-0.

Valuable Dallas Cowboys Betting Trends

The Dallas Cowboys were 7-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Dallas Cowboys were 10-7-0 against the spread last year

Important Houston Texans Betting Trends

The Houston Texans were 8-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Houston Texans were 7-10-1 against the spread last year

Key Dallas Cowboys Injuries

08/28/17 OL Chaz Green Ankle "?" Sunday vs. NY Giants
08/28/17 DE Randy Gregory Suspension out for season
08/27/17 LB Anthony Hitchens Knee out indefinitely
08/12/17 DT Tyrone Crawford Ankle "?" Sunday vs. NY Giants
08/11/17 RB Ezekiel Elliott Suspension 6-game suspension (eligible to return 10/29 vs. Washington)
07/22/17 DL David Irving Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/8 vs. Green Bay)

Key Houston Texans Injuries

08/28/17 RB Alfred Blue Ankle doubtful Sunday vs. Jacksonville
08/28/17 WR Braxton Miller Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Jacksonville
08/28/17 WR DeAndre Hopkins Hand probable Sunday vs. Jacksonville
08/25/17 WR Jaelen Strong Suspension expected to miss Sunday vs. Jacksonville
08/02/17 WR Will Fuller Collarbone out indefinitely
07/30/17 T Derek Newton Knee PUP

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Dallas Cowboys were 5th in the National Football League in points scored with 421 last year. They ran 1,010 plays for 6,027 yards, which ranked them 5th in the NFL in total offense. The Cowboys averaged 6 yards per play, which was 4th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 358 1st downs last season, ranking them 4th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Dallas ran for 2,396 yards as a unit, which ranked 2nd in the league. They ran 499 times, averaging 4.8 yards per rush as a unit. The Cowboys were penalized on offense 105 times for 879 yards last year, which had them 18th in the NFL in penalties. Dak Prescott passed for 3,667 yards last year. He completed 311 throws while attempting 459 passes for a completion percentage of 67.8%. His quarterback rating last season was 104.9 and his QBR was 81.5. He averaged 11.8 yards per completion and 8.0 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Dallas was 5th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 306. They gave up a total of 5,503 yards on D, which was 14th in the league. The Cowboys were 17th in yards per play allowed with 5.5. Their pass defense allowed 6.2 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 13th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 425 throws on 633 attempts against the Dallas Cowboys defense last season, ranking them 32nd and 30th in the league. The Dallas pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,167 yards in the air, which was 26th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 340 attempts for 1,336 yards last season, putting them in 1st place in the NFL against the run. The Cowboys had 90 penalties for 784 yards on defense last year. That placed them 3rd in the league. They allowed a score on 35.1% of possessions on defense, which was 16th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Dallas was 22nd in the NFL in punt returns with 28 last year. They totaled 198 punt return yards and averaged 7.1 yards per return, which was 22nd in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 39 yards. They returned 24 kicks for 492 yards on special teams, placing them 28th in kick return yardage. The Cowboys averaged 20.5 yards per kick return and had a long of 33 yards last season. They were 15th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,885. The Dallas Cowboys tried 32 field goals last season and made 27, which was 18th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 84.4%. Dallas Cowboys kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 46 for 46 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,662 yards on 59 punts, averaging 28 yards per punt. That ranked them 19th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Houston Texans ran for 1,859 yards as a team last year, which ranked 8th in the NFL. They ran 456 times, averaging 4.1 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Texans were penalized on offense 87 times for 868 yards last season, which had them 32nd in the league in penalties. They were 28th in the NFL in points scored with 279. They ran 1,071 plays last season for 5,035 yards, which ranked them 29th in the league in total offense. The Texans averaged 4.7 yards per play, which was 31st in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 305 1st downs last year, placing them 23rd overall as an offensive unit. Tom Savage averaged 6.3 yards per pass attempt and 10.0 yards per completion last season. He completed 46 passes on 73 attempts for a completion percentage of 63.0%. His QBR last year was 63.1 while is quarterback rating was 80.9. He threw for 461 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Texans rush defense allowed 397 attempts for 1,595 yards last year, putting them in 12th place in the league against the run. Houston committed 114 penalties for 949 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 20th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 31.7% of possessions on defense, which was 7th in the league. They were 11th in the league in points allowed on defense with 328. They surrendered a total of 4,821 yards on D, which was 1st in the NFL. The Texans were ranked 5th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense gave up 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 4th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 319 passes on 522 attempts against the Houston defense last season, placing them 3rd and 3rd in the National Football League. The Houston Texans pass defense also gave up a total of 3,226 yards through the air, which was 2nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Houston Texans attempted 41 field goals last season and made 35, which was 2nd in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 85.4%. Houston kickers made 88% of their extra points, going 22 for 25 last year. Their punters totaled 3,424 yards on 72 punts, averaging 39 yards per punt. That placed them 6th in the NFL in punting average. Houston was ranked 7th in the league in punt returns last season with 39. They accumulated 427 punt return yards and averaged 10.9 yards per return, which was 7th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 67 yards. They returned 30 kicks for 557 yards on special teams, ranking 23rd in kick return yardage. The Texans averaged 18.6 yards per kick return and had a long of 39 yards last year. They were 28th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,261.

Who will win tonight's Cowboys/Texans NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Texans -2.5

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