Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/26/2017

Saturday, August 26, 2017

AT&T Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Oakland Raiders head to AT&T Stadium to play the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, August 26, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Dallas as 3 point favorites. The total has been set at 45. The Raiders were 10-7-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 12-5-0. The Cowboys were 10-7-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 7-10-0.

Valuable Oakland Raiders Betting Trends

The Oakland Raiders were 12-5-0 against the over/under last season

The Oakland Raiders were 10-7-0 against the spread last year

Important 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

Key Oakland Raiders Injuries

07/30/17 LB Aldon Smith Suspension out indefinitely
07/30/17 DE Jihad Ward Foot PUP

Key Dallas Cowboys Injuries

08/12/17 DT Tyrone Crawford Ankle "?" Sunday vs. New York 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 expected to miss weeks 1-4

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Oakland Raiders were 7th in the National Football League in points scored with 416 last year. They ran 1,048 plays for 5,973 yards, which ranked them 6th in the NFL in total offense. The Raiders averaged 5.7 yards per play, which was 10th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 333 1st downs last season, ranking them 13th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Oakland ran for 1,922 yards as a unit, which ranked 6th in the league. They ran 434 times, averaging 4.4 yards per rush as a unit. The Raiders were penalized on offense 147 times for 1,247 yards last year, which had them 1st in the NFL in penalties. Derek Carr passed for 3,937 yards last year. He completed 357 throws while attempting 560 passes for a completion percentage of 63.8%. His quarterback rating last season was 96.7 and his QBR was 62.1. He averaged 11.0 yards per completion and 7.0 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Oakland was 20th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 385. They gave up a total of 6,001 yards on D, which was 26th in the league. The Raiders were 32nd in yards per play allowed with 6.1. Their pass defense allowed 7.3 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 32nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 328 throws on 541 attempts against the Oakland Raiders defense last season, ranking them 5th and 6th in the league. The Oakland pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,120 yards in the air, which was 24th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 421 attempts for 1,881 yards last season, putting them in 23rd place in the NFL against the run. The Raiders had 115 penalties for 1062 yards on defense last year. That placed them 30th in the league. They allowed a score on 35.3% of possessions on defense, which was 17th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Oakland was 4th in the NFL in punt returns with 41 last year. They totaled 380 punt return yards and averaged 9.3 yards per return, which was 11th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 47 yards. They returned 26 kicks for 534 yards on special teams, placing them 26th in kick return yardage. The Raiders averaged 20.5 yards per kick return and had a long of 50 yards last season. They were 12th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,973. The Oakland Raiders tried 35 field goals last season and made 29, which was 10th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 82.9%. Oakland Raiders kickers made 95% of their extra points, going 37 for 39 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,938 yards on 81 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That ranked them 1st in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Cowboys -3

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