Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/9/2018

Thursday, August 9, 2018

New Era Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Carolina Panthers travel to New Era Field to take on the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, August 9, 2018. The opening line for this game has Buffalo as 1 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 34. The Panthers had an ATS record of 10-7-0 last season while their over/under record was 10-7-0. The Bills had an over/under record of 8-9-0 and they were 10-6-1 against the spread.

Valuable Carolina Panthers Betting Trends

The Carolina Panthers were 10-7-0 against the over/under last season

The Carolina Panthers were 10-7-0 against the spread last year

Important Buffalo Bills Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bills were 8-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Buffalo Bills were 10-6-1 against the spread last year

Key Carolina Panthers Injuries

07/29/18 T Daryl Williams Knee is out indefinitely

Key Buffalo Bills Injuries

07/12/18 RB LeSean McCoy Possible Suspension is "?" Sunday vs Baltimore

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Carolina Panthers were 12th in the NFL in points scored with 363 last season. They ran 1,026 plays last year for 5,179 yards, which ranked them 19th in the league in total offense. The Panthers averaged 5 yards per play, which was 21st in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 320 1st downs last year, placing them 12th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Carolina ran for 2,102 yards as a team, which ranked 4th in the NFL. They ran 490 times last year, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Panthers were penalized on offense 83 times for 682 yards last season, which had them 32nd in the league in penalties. Cam Newton threw for 3,302 yards last season. He completed 291 passes on 492 attempts for a completion percentage of 59.1%. His quarterback rating last year was 80.7. He averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 11.3 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Carolina was 11th in the league in points allowed on defense with 327 last year. They surrendered a total of 5,074 yards on D, which was 7th in the NFL. The Panthers were ranked 18th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense gave up 6.1 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 19th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 351 passes on 550 attempts against the Carolina Panthers defense last season, placing them 22nd and 15th in the National Football League. The Carolina pass defense also gave up a total of 3,665 yards through the air, which was 18th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 353 attempts for 1,409 yards last year, putting them in 3rd place in the league against the run. The Panthers committed 101 penalties for 867 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 9th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 33.9% of possessions on defense, which was 18th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Carolina was ranked 5th in the league in punt returns last season with 40. They accumulated 318 punt return yards and averaged 8 yards per return, which was 19th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 60 yards. They returned 34 kicks for 758 yards on special teams, ranking 11th in kick return yardage. The Panthers averaged 22.3 yards per kick return and had a long of 103 yards last year. They were 16th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,497. The Carolina Panthers attempted 30 field goals last season and made 29, which was 17th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 96.7%. Carolina Panthers kickers made 92% of their extra points, going 34 for 37 last year. Their punters totaled 3,267 yards on 71 punts, averaging 46 yards per punt. That placed them 12th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Buffalo Bills ran for 2,017 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 6th in the league. They ran 487 times, averaging 4.1 yards per rush as a unit. The Bills were penalized on offense 98 times for 872 yards last season, which had them 23rd in the NFL in penalties. They were 22nd in the National Football League in points scored with 302. They ran 1,010 plays last year for 4,842 yards, which ranked them 29th in the NFL in total offense. The Bills averaged 4.8 yards per play, which was 27th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 278 1st downs last season, ranking them 26th overall as an offensive unit. A.J. McCarron completed 7 throws while attempting 14 passes for a completion percentage of 50% last year. He passed for 66 yards. He averaged 9.4 yards per completion and 4.7 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 63.4.

Defensive Statistics

The Bills rush defense gave up 466 attempts for 1,994 yards last season, putting them in 29th place in the NFL against the run. They had 97 penalties for 873 yards on defense last year. That placed them 10th in the league. They allowed a score on 37.2% of possessions on defense, which was 25th in the NFL. Buffalo was 18th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 359. They gave up a total of 5,682 yards on D, which was 26th in the league. The Bills were 15th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense allowed 6.1 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 17th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 370 throws on 573 attempts against the Buffalo defense last season, ranking them 30th and 29th in the league. The Buffalo Bills pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,688 yards in the air, which was 20th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Buffalo Bills tried 33 field goals last season and made 29, which was 14th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 87.9%. Buffalo kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 29 for 29 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,528 yards on 79 punts, averaging 44.7 yards per punt. That ranked them 17th in the NFL in punting average. Buffalo was 31st in the NFL in punt returns with 24 last year. They totaled 213 punt return yards and averaged 8.9 yards per return, which was 10th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 40 yards. They returned 32 kicks for 640 yards on special teams, placing them 17th in kick return yardage. The Bills averaged 20 yards per kick return and had a long of 29 yards last season. They were 30th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 5,956.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Panthers +1

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