Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/24/2018

Friday, August 24, 2018

Raymond James Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Detroit Lions head to Raymond James Stadium to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, August 24, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Tampa Bay as 1 point favorites. The total has been set at 44.5. The Lions were 8-7-1 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 10-6-0. The Buccaneers were 6-9-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 8-8-0.

Valuable 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

Important Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 6-9-1 against the spread last year

Key Detroit Lions Injuries

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

Key Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injuries

08/10/18 CB Vernon Hargreaves Groin is questionable Sunday vs. New Orleans
08/03/18 LB Kendell Beckwith Ankle is questionable Sunday vs New Orleans
06/21/18 QB Jameis Winston Suspension 3-game Suspension (eligible to return 9/30 vs Chicago)

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 Lions defense last season, ranking them 27th and 28th in the league. The Detroit 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 Lions 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.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran for 1,450 yards as a team last year, which ranked 27th in the NFL. They ran 389 times, averaging 3.7 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Buccaneers were penalized on offense 104 times for 795 yards last season, which had them 19th in the league in penalties. They were 18th in the NFL in points scored with 335. They ran 1,034 plays last season for 5,816 yards, which ranked them 9th in the league in total offense. The Buccaneers averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 8th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 352 1st downs last year, placing them 2nd overall as an offensive unit. Ryan Fitzpatrick averaged 6.8 yards per pass attempt and 11.5 yards per completion last season. He completed 96 passes on 163 attempts for a completion percentage of 58.9%. His quarterback rating last year was 86. He threw for 1,103 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Buccaneers rush defense allowed 440 attempts for 1,880 yards last year, putting them in 23rd place in the league against the run. Tampa Bay committed 109 penalties for 937 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 21st in the NFL. They gave up a score on 38.9% of possessions on defense, which was 28th in the league. They were 24th in the league in points allowed on defense with 382. They surrendered a total of 6,049 yards on D, which was 32nd in the NFL. The Buccaneers were ranked 32nd in yards per play allowed with 6. Their pass defense gave up 7.3 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 32nd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 371 passes on 549 attempts against the Tampa Bay defense last season, placing them 32nd and 14th in the National Football League. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass defense also gave up a total of 4,169 yards through the air, which was 32nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers attempted 34 field goals last season and made 25, which was 19th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 73.5%. Tampa Bay kickers made 90% of their extra points, going 28 for 31 last year. Their punters totaled 2,857 yards on 66 punts, averaging 43.3 yards per punt. That placed them 29th in the NFL in punting average. Tampa Bay was ranked 32nd in the league in punt returns last season with 20. They accumulated 192 punt return yards and averaged 9.6 yards per return, which was 6th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 44 yards. They returned 20 kicks for 432 yards on special teams, ranking 31st in kick return yardage. The Buccaneers averaged 21.6 yards per kick return and had a long of 50 yards last year. They were 14th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,681.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Buccaneers -1

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