Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/31/2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Bank of America Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Bank of America Stadium to play the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, August 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Carolina as 3.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 39. The Steelers were 11-8-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 7-12-0. The Panthers were 6-9-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 7-8-1.

Valuable 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

Important Carolina Panthers Betting Trends

The Carolina Panthers were 7-8-1 against the over/under last season

The Carolina Panthers were 6-9-1 against the spread last year

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

07/30/17 WR Martavis Bryant Suspension out indefinitely

Key Carolina Panthers Injuries

08/12/17 DT Vernon Butler Knee "?" Sunday vs. San Francisco

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Carolina Panthers ran for 1,814 yards as a team last year, which ranked 10th in the NFL. They ran 453 times, averaging 4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Panthers were penalized on offense 98 times for 835 yards last season, which had them 26th in the league in penalties. They were 15th in the NFL in points scored with 369. They ran 1,052 plays last season for 5,499 yards, which ranked them 19th in the league in total offense. The Panthers averaged 5.2 yards per play, which was 24th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 318 1st downs last year, placing them 20th overall as an offensive unit. Cam Newton averaged 6.9 yards per pass attempt and 13.0 yards per completion last season. He completed 270 passes on 510 attempts for a completion percentage of 52.9%. His QBR last year was 53.1 while is quarterback rating was 75.8. He threw for 3,509 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Panthers rush defense allowed 376 attempts for 1,465 yards last year, putting them in 6th place in the league against the run. Carolina committed 112 penalties for 907 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 12th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 36.2% of possessions on defense, which was 19th in the league. They were 26th in the league in points allowed on defense with 402. They surrendered a total of 5,756 yards on D, which was 21st in the NFL. The Panthers were ranked 23rd in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Their pass defense gave up 6.5 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 22nd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 409 passes on 612 attempts against the Carolina defense last season, placing them 30th and 28th in the National Football League. The Carolina Panthers pass defense also gave up a total of 4,291 yards through the air, which was 29th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Carolina Panthers attempted 38 field goals last season and made 30, which was 9th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 78.9%. Carolina kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 31 for 34 last year. Their punters totaled 3,481 yards on 76 punts, averaging 29 yards per punt. That placed them 15th in the NFL in punting average. Carolina was ranked 20th in the league in punt returns last season with 29. They accumulated 202 punt return yards and averaged 7 yards per return, which was 23rd in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 19 yards. They returned 37 kicks for 828 yards on special teams, ranking 11th in kick return yardage. The Panthers averaged 22.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 59 yards last year. They were 17th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,806.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Panthers -3.5

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