New York Giants at New England Patriots Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/31/2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Gillette Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The New England Patriots host the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, August 31, 2017. The opening line for this game has New England as 2.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 38. The Patriots had an over/under record of 8-10-0 and they were 15-3-0 against the spread last year. The Giants had an ATS record of 9-7-1 while their over/under record was 5-12-0.

Valuable New York Giants Betting Trends

The New York Giants were 5-12-0 against the over/under last season

The New York Giants were 9-7-1 against the spread last year

Important New England Patriots Betting Trends

The New England Patriots were 8-10-0 against the over/under last season

The New England Patriots were 15-3-0 against the spread last year

Key New York Giants Injuries

08/28/17 WR Dwayne Harris Upper Body "?" Sunday vs. Dallas
08/28/17 CB Eli Apple Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Dallas
08/28/17 DT Jay Bromley Knee "?" Sunday vs. Dallas
08/28/17 LB Keenan Robinson Concussion "?" Sunday vs. Dallas
08/28/17 LB Mark Herzlich Stinger "?" Sunday vs. Dallas
08/28/17 WR Tavarres King Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Dallas
08/28/17 WR Brandon Marshall Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Dallas
08/23/17 WR Odell Beckham Jr Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Dallas
08/18/17 WR Sterling Shepard Ankle probable Sunday vs. Dallas

Key New England Patriots Injuries

08/28/17 LB Elandon Roberts Ribs "?" Thursday vs. Kansas City
08/25/17 WR Julian Edelman ACL out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New York Giants ran for 1,412 yards as a team last year, which ranked 29th in the NFL. They ran 398 times, averaging 3.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Giants were penalized on offense 88 times for 857 yards last season, which had them 31st in the league in penalties. They were 26th in the NFL in points scored with 310. They ran 1,018 plays last season for 5,291 yards, which ranked them 25th in the league in total offense. The Giants averaged 5.2 yards per play, which was 22nd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 289 1st downs last year, placing them 29th overall as an offensive unit. Eli Manning averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 10.7 yards per completion last season. He completed 377 passes on 598 attempts for a completion percentage of 63.0%. His QBR last year was 51.8 while is quarterback rating was 86.0. He threw for 4,027 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Giants rush defense allowed 397 attempts for 1,417 yards last year, putting them in 4th place in the league against the run. New York committed 104 penalties for 853 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 8th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 29.9% of possessions on defense, which was 5th in the league. They were 2nd in the league in points allowed on defense with 284. They surrendered a total of 5,435 yards on D, which was 10th in the NFL. The Giants were ranked 6th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense gave up 6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 7th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 369 passes on 630 attempts against the New York Giants defense last season, placing them 20th and 29th in the National Football League. The New York pass defense also gave up a total of 4,018 yards through the air, which was 23rd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The New York Giants attempted 22 field goals last season and made 21, which was 26th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 95.5%. New York Giants kickers made 89% of their extra points, going 31 for 35 last year. Their punters totaled 4,298 yards on 93 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That placed them 11th in the NFL in punting average. New York was ranked 3rd in the league in punt returns last season with 45. They accumulated 275 punt return yards and averaged 6.1 yards per return, which was 29th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 19 yards. They returned 31 kicks for 739 yards on special teams, ranking 16th in kick return yardage. The Giants averaged 23.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 46 yards last year. They were 26th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,453.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New England Patriots were 3rd in the National Football League in points scored with 441 last year. They ran 1,056 plays for 6,180 yards, which ranked them 4th in the NFL in total offense. The Patriots averaged 5.9 yards per play, which was 5th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 351 1st downs last season, ranking them 5th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground New England ran for 1,872 yards as a unit, which ranked 7th in the league. They ran 482 times, averaging 3.9 yards per rush as a unit. The Patriots were penalized on offense 93 times for 819 yards last year, which had them 28th in the NFL in penalties. Tom Brady passed for 3,554 yards last year. He completed 291 throws while attempting 432 passes for a completion percentage of 67.4%. His quarterback rating last season was 112.2 and his QBR was 83.0. He averaged 12.2 yards per completion and 8.2 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

New England was 1st in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 250. They gave up a total of 5,223 yards on D, which was 8th in the league. The Patriots were 8th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense allowed 6 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 6th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 368 throws on 596 attempts against the New England defense last season, ranking them 17th and 26th in the league. The New England Patriots pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,806 yards in the air, which was 12th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 368 attempts for 1,417 yards last season, putting them in 3rd place in the NFL against the run. The Patriots had 113 penalties for 930 yards on defense last year. That placed them 17th in the league. They allowed a score on 26.8% of possessions on defense, which was 1st in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

New England was 2nd in the NFL in punt returns with 45 last year. They totaled 309 punt return yards and averaged 6.9 yards per return, which was 25th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 30 yards. They returned 29 kicks for 542 yards on special teams, placing them 25th in kick return yardage. The Patriots averaged 18.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 73 yards last season. They were 6th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,179. The New England Patriots tried 32 field goals last season and made 27, which was 14th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 84.4%. New England kickers made 94% of their extra points, going 46 for 49 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,218 yards on 72 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That ranked them 22nd in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Giants/Patriots NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Giants +2.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink