Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/31/2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, August 31, 2017. The opening line for this game has Atlanta as 3.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 39. The Jaguars had an ATS record of 8-8-0 last season while their over/under record was 10-6-0. The Falcons had an over/under record of 15-2-1 and they were 12-6-0 against the spread.

Valuable Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Trends

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 10-6-0 against the over/under last season

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 8-8-0 against the spread last year

Important Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends

The Atlanta Falcons were 15-2-1 against the over/under last season

The Atlanta Falcons were 12-6-0 against the spread last year

Key Jacksonville Jaguars Injuries

08/28/17 RB T.J. Yeldon Hamstring "?" Sunday vs. Houston
08/26/17 QB Blake Bortles None expected to start Sunday vs. Houston
08/14/17 WR Marqise Lee Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Houston
08/04/17 LS Carson Tinker Knee out for season

Key Atlanta Falcons Injuries

08/28/17 RB Devonta Freeman Concussion probable Sunday vs. Chicago
08/28/17 CB Jalen Collins Suspension 10-game suspension (eligible to return 11/26 vs. Tampa Bay)
07/30/17 WR Devin Fuller ACL out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 25th in the NFL in points scored with 318 last season. They ran 1,052 plays last year for 5,359 yards, which ranked them 23rd in the league in total offense. The Jaguars averaged 5.1 yards per play, which was 26th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 321 1st downs last year, placing them 19th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Jacksonville ran for 1,631 yards as a team, which ranked 22nd in the NFL. They ran 392 times last year, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Jaguars were penalized on offense 129 times for 1,187 yards last season, which had them 2nd in the league in penalties. Blake Bortles threw for 3,905 yards last season. He completed 368 passes on 625 attempts for a completion percentage of 58.9%. His QBR last year was 49.2 while is quarterback rating was 78.8. He averaged 6.2 yards per pass attempt and 10.6 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Jacksonville was 25th in the league in points allowed on defense with 400 last year. They surrendered a total of 5,147 yards on D, which was 6th in the NFL. The Jaguars were ranked 3rd in yards per play allowed with 5. Their pass defense gave up 5.9 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 5th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 345 passes on 551 attempts against the Jacksonville Jaguars defense last season, placing them 11th and 13th in the National Football League. The Jacksonville pass defense also gave up a total of 3,444 yards through the air, which was 5th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 446 attempts for 1,703 yards last year, putting them in 19th place in the league against the run. The Jaguars committed 101 penalties for 948 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 19th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 39.3% of possessions on defense, which was 24th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Jacksonville was ranked 5th in the league in punt returns last season with 40. They accumulated 220 punt return yards and averaged 5.5 yards per return, which was 32nd in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 42 yards. They returned 37 kicks for 881 yards on special teams, ranking 8th in kick return yardage. The Jaguars averaged 23.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 100 yards last year. They were 22nd in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,657. The Jacksonville Jaguars attempted 34 field goals last season and made 27, which was 17th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 79.4%. Jacksonville Jaguars kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 29 for 32 last year. Their punters totaled 3,589 yards on 77 punts, averaging 46.6 yards per punt. That placed them 8th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Atlanta Falcons ran for 1,928 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 5th in the league. They ran 421 times, averaging 4.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Falcons were penalized on offense 104 times for 848 yards last season, which had them 19th in the NFL in penalties. They were 1st in the National Football League in points scored with 540. They ran 995 plays last year for 6,653 yards, which ranked them 2nd in the NFL in total offense. The Falcons averaged 6.7 yards per play, which was 1st in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 379 1st downs last season, ranking them 2nd overall as an offensive unit. Matt Ryan completed 373 throws while attempting 534 passes for a completion percentage of 69.9% last year. He passed for 4,944 yards. He averaged 13.3 yards per completion and 9.3 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 117.1 and his QBR was 83.3.

Defensive Statistics

The Falcons rush defense gave up 370 attempts for 1,672 yards last season, putting them in 17th place in the NFL against the run. They had 113 penalties for 974 yards on defense last year. That placed them 24th in the league. They allowed a score on 39.2% of possessions on defense, which was 23rd in the NFL. Atlanta was 27th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 406. They gave up a total of 5,939 yards on D, which was 25th in the league. The Falcons were 22nd in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Their pass defense allowed 6.2 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 14th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 422 throws on 655 attempts against the Atlanta defense last season, ranking them 31st and 32nd in the league. The Atlanta Falcons pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,267 yards in the air, which was 28th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Atlanta Falcons tried 37 field goals last season and made 34, which was 5th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 91.9%. Atlanta kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 56 for 57 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,244 yards on 48 punts, averaging 46.8 yards per punt. That ranked them 7th in the NFL in punting average. Atlanta was 26th in the NFL in punt returns with 24 last year. They totaled 273 punt return yards and averaged 11.4 yards per return, which was 5th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 73 yards. They returned 23 kicks for 484 yards on special teams, placing them 29th in kick return yardage. The Falcons averaged 21 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last season. They were 2nd in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,645.

Who will win tonight's Jaguars/Falcons NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Jaguars +3.5

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