Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/30/2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Heinz Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Carolina Panthers head to Heinz Field to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, August 30, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh as 2 point favorites. The total has been set at 36. The Panthers were 10-7-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 10-7-0. The Steelers were 7-10-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 7-10-0.

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 Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 7-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Pittsburgh Steelers were 7-10-0 against the spread last year

Key Carolina Panthers Injuries

08/21/18 T Matt Kalil Knee is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
08/03/18 TE Chris Manhertz Foot is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
08/03/18 RB Fozzy Whittaker Knee IR
07/29/18 T Daryl Williams Knee is out indefinitely

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

08/03/18 WR Antonio Brown Quad is probable Sunday vs Cleveland
08/03/18 WR Eli Rogers Undisclosed is doubtful Sunday vs Cleveland
08/03/18 T Jerald Hawkins Quad IR
08/03/18 G Ramon Foster Knee is questionable Sunday vs Cleveland
08/03/18 LB Ryan Shazier Back IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers ran for 1,667 yards as a team last year, which ranked 20th in the NFL. They ran 437 times, averaging 3.8 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Steelers were penalized on offense 101 times for 897 yards last season, which had them 21st in the league in penalties. They were 8th in the NFL in points scored with 406. They ran 1,051 plays last season for 6,047 yards, which ranked them 3rd in the league in total offense. The Steelers averaged 5.8 yards per play, which was 6th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 348 1st downs last year, placing them 3rd overall as an offensive unit. Ben Roethlisberger averaged 7.6 yards per pass attempt and 11.8 yards per completion last season. He completed 360 passes on 561 attempts for a completion percentage of 64.2%. His quarterback rating last year was 93.4. He threw for 4,251 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Steelers rush defense allowed 385 attempts for 1,693 yards last year, putting them in 10th place in the league against the run. Pittsburgh committed 110 penalties for 1,041 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 28th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 30.3% of possessions on defense, which was 7th in the league. They were 7th in the league in points allowed on defense with 308. They surrendered a total of 4,910 yards on D, which was 5th in the NFL. The Steelers were ranked 14th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense gave up 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 9th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 297 passes on 499 attempts against the Pittsburgh defense last season, placing them 3rd and 2nd in the National Football League. The Pittsburgh Steelers pass defense also gave up a total of 3,217 yards through the air, which was 5th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Pittsburgh Steelers attempted 38 field goals last season and made 35, which was 5th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 92.1%. Pittsburgh kickers made 95% of their extra points, going 37 for 39 last year. Their punters totaled 2,763 yards on 64 punts, averaging 43.2 yards per punt. That placed them 30th in the NFL in punting average. Pittsburgh was ranked 22nd in the league in punt returns last season with 30. They accumulated 207 punt return yards and averaged 6.9 yards per return, which was 23rd in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 27 yards. They returned 33 kicks for 630 yards on special teams, ranking 18th in kick return yardage. The Steelers averaged 19.1 yards per kick return and had a long of 96 yards last year. They were 6th in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,038.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Steelers -2

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 Josh Schonwald