Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/30/2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Ford Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Detroit Lions host the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field on Thursday, August 30, 2018. The opening line for this game has Detroit as 2.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 36.5. The Lions had an over/under record of 10-6-0 and they were 8-7-1 against the spread last year. The Browns had an ATS record of 4-12-0 while their over/under record was 7-9-0.

Valuable Cleveland Browns Betting Trends

The Cleveland Browns were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Cleveland Browns were 4-12-0 against the spread last year

Important Detroit Lions Betting Trends

The Detroit Lions were 10-6-0 against the over/under last season

The Detroit Lions were 8-7-1 against the spread last year

Key Cleveland Browns Injuries

08/25/18 WR Josh Gordon Not Suspended is upgraded to probable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
08/03/18 DB Howard Wilson Knee IR
08/03/18 OL Kevin Zeitler Calf is out indefinitely
07/25/18 DB Jabrill Peppers PUP is out indefinitely
07/25/18 WR Ricardo Louis Neck IR
06/15/18 T Donald Stephenson Suspension 2-games suspension (eligible to return 9/20 vs NY Jets)

Key Detroit Lions Injuries

08/03/18 DE Ezekiel Ansah Knee is questionable Monday vs NY Jets

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cleveland Browns ran for 1,714 yards as a team last year, which ranked 18th in the NFL. They ran 384 times, averaging 4.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Browns were penalized on offense 110 times for 924 yards last season, which had them 13th in the league in penalties. They were 32nd in the NFL in points scored with 234. They ran 1,008 plays last season for 4,942 yards, which ranked them 24th in the league in total offense. The Browns averaged 4.9 yards per play, which was 23rd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 290 1st downs last year, placing them 22nd overall as an offensive unit. Tyrod Taylor averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 10.6 yards per completion last season. He completed 263 passes on 420 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.6%. His quarterback rating last season was 89.2. He threw for 2,799 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Browns rush defense allowed 467 attempts for 1,566 yards last year, putting them in 7th place in the league against the run. Cleveland committed 101 penalties for 906 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 16th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 36.2% of possessions on defense, which was 22nd in the league. They were 31st in the league in points allowed on defense with 410. They surrendered a total of 5,250 yards on D, which was 14th in the NFL. The Browns were ranked 10th in yards per play allowed with 5.1. Their pass defense gave up 6.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 24th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 360 passes on 525 attempts against the Cleveland Browns defense last season, placing them 23rd and 8th in the National Football League. The Cleveland pass defense also gave up a total of 3,684 yards through the air, which was 19th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Cleveland Browns attempted 20 field goals last season and made 15, which was 31st in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 75.0%. Cleveland Browns kickers made 96% of their extra points, going 25 for 26 last year. Their punters totaled 3,827 yards on 82 punts, averaging 46.7 yards per punt. That placed them 9th in the NFL in punting average. Cleveland was ranked 8th in the league in punt returns last season with 38. They accumulated 221 punt return yards and averaged 5.8 yards per return, which was 29th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 25 yards. They returned 35 kicks for 790 yards on special teams, ranking 9th in kick return yardage. The Browns averaged 22.6 yards per kick return and had a long of 71 yards last year. They were 23rd in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,262.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Detroit Lions were 7th in the National Football League in points scored with 410 last year. They ran 980 plays for 5,404 yards, which ranked them 13th in the NFL in total offense. The Lions averaged 5.5 yards per play, which was 10th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 296 1st downs last season, ranking them 21st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Detroit ran for 1,221 yards as a unit, which ranked 32nd in the league. They ran 363 times, averaging 3.4 yards per rush as a unit. The Lions were penalized on offense 104 times for 968 yards last year, which had them 18th in the NFL in penalties. Matthew Stafford passed for 4,446 yards last year. He completed 371 throws while attempting 565 passes for a completion percentage of 65.7%. His quarterback rating last season was 99.3. He averaged 12 yards per completion and 7.9 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Detroit was 21st in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 376. They gave up a total of 5,692 yards on D, which was 27th in the league. The Lions were 25th in yards per play allowed with 5.5. Their pass defense allowed 6.4 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 22nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 366 throws on 570 attempts against the Detroit defense last season, ranking them 27th and 28th in the league. The Detroit Lions pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,892 yards in the air, which was 27th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 432 attempts for 1,800 yards last season, putting them in 18th place in the NFL against the run. The Lions had 110 penalties for 971 yards on defense last year. That placed them 24th in the league. They allowed a score on 32.3% of possessions on defense, which was 11th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Detroit was 10th in the NFL in punt returns with 37 last year. They totaled 517 punt return yards and averaged 14 yards per return, which was 1st in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 88 yards. They returned 32 kicks for 583 yards on special teams, placing them 26th in kick return yardage. The Lions averaged 18.2 yards per kick return and had a long of 35 yards last season. They were 11th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,791. The Detroit Lions tried 35 field goals last season and made 30, which was 13th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 85.7%. Detroit kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 40 for 41 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,189 yards on 73 punts, averaging 43.7 yards per punt. That ranked them 25th in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Browns/Lions NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Browns +2.5

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