Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/31/2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Levi's Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

Levi's Stadium is the venue for the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, August 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has San Francisco as 1 point favorites. The total has been set at 38. The 49ers were 4-11-1 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 10-6-0. The Chargers were 7-9-0 ATS and their over/under record was 9-6-1.

Valuable Los Angeles Chargers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Chargers were 9-6-1 against the over/under last season

The Los Angeles Chargers were 7-9-0 against the spread last year

Important San Francisco 49ers Betting Trends

The San Francisco 49ers were 10-6-0 against the over/under last season

The San Francisco 49ers were 4-11-1 against the spread last year

Key Los Angeles Chargers Injuries

08/28/17 WR Mike Williams Back out indefinitely
08/28/17 DT Tenny Palepoi Suspension expected to start Monday vs. Denver
08/28/17 WR Tyrell Williams Groin "?" Monday vs. Denver
08/25/17 CB Jason Verrett Knee probable Monday vs. Denver
08/24/17 C Max Tuerk Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/8 vs. NY Giants)
08/18/17 LB Jerry Attaochu Hamstring "?" Monday vs. Denver
08/14/17 LB Denzel Perryman Ankle expected to miss 4-6 weeks

Key San Francisco 49ers Injuries

08/18/17 DB Jimmie Ward Hamstring probable Sunday vs. Carolina

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Los Angeles Chargers ran for 1,510 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 26th in the league. They ran 398 times, averaging 3.8 yards per rush as a unit. The Chargers were penalized on offense 107 times for 780 yards last season, which had them 16th in the NFL in penalties. They were 9th in the National Football League in points scored with 410. They ran 1,014 plays last year for 5,708 yards, which ranked them 14th in the NFL in total offense. The Chargers averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 14th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 340 1st downs last season, ranking them 10th overall as an offensive unit. Philip Rivers completed 349 throws while attempting 578 passes for a completion percentage of 60.4% last year. He passed for 4,386 yards. He averaged 12.6 yards per completion and 7.6 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 87.9 and his QBR was 64.5.

Defensive Statistics

The Chargers rush defense gave up 410 attempts for 1,567 yards last season, putting them in 10th place in the NFL against the run. They had 119 penalties for 837 yards on defense last year. That placed them 6th in the league. They allowed a score on 39.8% of possessions on defense, which was 26th in the NFL. Los Angeles was 29th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 423. They gave up a total of 5,554 yards on D, which was 16th in the league. The Chargers were 12th in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Their pass defense allowed 6.5 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 20th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 364 throws on 580 attempts against the Los Angeles Chargers defense last season, ranking them 16th and 18th in the league. The Los Angeles pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,987 yards in the air, which was 20th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Los Angeles Chargers tried 32 field goals last season and made 26, which was 20th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 81.3%. Los Angeles Chargers kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 42 for 46 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,732 yards on 59 punts, averaging 32 yards per punt. That ranked them 10th in the NFL in punting average. Los Angeles was 14th in the NFL in punt returns with 32 last year. They totaled 212 punt return yards and averaged 6.6 yards per return, which was 27th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 21 yards. They returned 28 kicks for 508 yards on special teams, placing them 27th in kick return yardage. The Chargers averaged 18.1 yards per kick return and had a long of 30 yards last season. They were 23rd in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,616.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The San Francisco 49ers were 27th in the NFL in points scored with 309 last season. They ran 996 plays last year for 4,930 yards, which ranked them 31st in the league in total offense. The 49ers averaged 4.9 yards per play, which was 30th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 287 1st downs last year, placing them 30th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground San Francisco ran for 2,019 yards as a team, which ranked 4th in the NFL. They ran 458 times last year, averaging 4.4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The 49ers were penalized on offense 99 times for 831 yards last season, which had them 25th in the league in penalties. Brian Hoyer threw for 1,445 yards last season. He completed 134 passes on 200 attempts for a completion percentage of 67.0%. His QBR last year was 61.1 while is quarterback rating was 98.0. He averaged 7.2 yards per pass attempt and 10.8 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

San Francisco was 32nd in the league in points allowed on defense with 480 last year. They surrendered a total of 6,502 yards on D, which was 32nd in the NFL. The 49ers were ranked 29th in yards per play allowed with 5.9. Their pass defense gave up 6.9 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 28th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 322 passes on 521 attempts against the San Francisco defense last season, placing them 4th and 2nd in the National Football League. The San Francisco 49ers pass defense also gave up a total of 3,848 yards through the air, which was 14th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 548 attempts for 2,654 yards last year, putting them in 32nd place in the league against the run. The 49ers committed 93 penalties for 780 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 2nd in the NFL. They gave up a score on 41.4% of possessions on defense, which was 29th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

San Francisco was ranked 28th in the league in punt returns last season with 23. They accumulated 216 punt return yards and averaged 9.4 yards per return, which was 10th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 33 yards. They returned 38 kicks for 749 yards on special teams, ranking 15th in kick return yardage. The 49ers averaged 19.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 41 yards last year. They were 31st in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,150. The San Francisco 49ers attempted 21 field goals last season and made 18, which was 31st in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 85.7%. San Francisco kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 33 for 34 last year. Their punters totaled 4,402 yards on 100 punts, averaging 23 yards per punt. That placed them 26th in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Chargers/49ers NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the 49ers -1

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