Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/26/2017

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Heinz Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

Heinz Field is the venue for the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, August 26, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh as 4 point favorites. The total has been set at 41. The Steelers were 11-8-0 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 7-12-0. The Colts were 7-8-1 ATS and their over/under record was 9-7-0.

Valuable 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

Important Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 7-12-0 against the over/under last season

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 11-8-0 against the spread last year

Key Indianapolis Colts Injuries

08/18/17 TE Erik Swoope Knee "?" Sunday vs. LA Rams
08/17/17 C Ryan Kelly Foot out indefinitely
07/30/17 S Clayton Geathers Neck PUP
07/29/17 QB Andrew Luck Shoulder "?" Sunday vs. LA Rams

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

07/30/17 WR Canaan Severin Undisclosed PUP
07/30/17 WR Martavis Bryant Suspension out indefinitely

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Indianapolis Colts ran for 1,628 yards as a unit last year, 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 season, which had them 21st in the NFL in penalties. They were 8th in the National Football League in points scored with 411. They ran 1,037 plays last year 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. Scott Tolzien completed 23 throws while attempting 37 passes for a completion percentage of 62.2% last year. He passed for 216 yards. He averaged 9.4 yards per completion and 5.8 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 64.7 and his QBR was 31.8.

Defensive Statistics

The Colts rush defense gave up 409 attempts for 1,926 yards last season, putting them in 25th place in the NFL against the run. They had 125 penalties for 1155 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. Indianapolis was 22nd in the NFL in points surrendered on defense 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 Colts defense last season, ranking them 23rd and 19th in the league. The Indianapolis pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,200 yards in the air, which was 27th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

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 Colts 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. 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.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 11th in the NFL in points scored with 399 last season. They ran 1,026 plays last year for 5,962 yards, which ranked them 7th in the league in total offense. The Steelers averaged 5.8 yards per play, which was 8th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 336 1st downs last year, placing them 12th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Pittsburgh ran for 1,760 yards as a team, which ranked 14th in the NFL. They ran 409 times last year, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Steelers were penalized on offense 112 times for 1,068 yards last season, which had them 10th in the league in penalties. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 3,819 yards last season. He completed 328 passes on 509 attempts for a completion percentage of 64.4%. His QBR last year was 66.3 while is quarterback rating was 95.4. He averaged 7.5 yards per pass attempt and 11.6 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Pittsburgh was 10th in the league in points allowed on defense with 327 last year. They surrendered a total of 5,482 yards on D, which was 12th in the NFL. The Steelers were ranked 14th in yards per play allowed with 5.5. Their pass defense gave up 6.2 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 12th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 381 passes on 590 attempts against the Pittsburgh defense last season, placing them 26th and 23rd in the National Football League. The Pittsburgh Steelers pass defense also gave up a total of 3,882 yards through the air, which was 16th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 369 attempts for 1,600 yards last year, putting them in 13th place in the league against the run. The Steelers committed 109 penalties for 920 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 14th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 34.5% of possessions on defense, which was 12th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Pittsburgh was ranked 29th in the league in punt returns last season with 22. They accumulated 185 punt return yards and averaged 8.4 yards per return, which was 16th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 33 yards. They returned 28 kicks for 603 yards on special teams, ranking 21st in kick return yardage. The Steelers averaged 21.5 yards per kick return and had a long of 44 yards last year. They were 14th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,925. The Pittsburgh Steelers attempted 28 field goals last season and made 24, which was 22nd in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 85.7%. Pittsburgh kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 37 for 37 last year. Their punters totaled 3,100 yards on 69 punts, averaging 22 yards per punt. That placed them 21st in the NFL in punting average.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Steelers -4

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