Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/25/2018

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Houston Texans head to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, August 25, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles as 2.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 42.5. The Texans were 7-9-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 7-9-0. The Rams were 9-8-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 11-6-0.

Valuable Houston Texans Betting Trends

The Houston Texans were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Houston Texans were 7-9-0 against the spread last year

Important Los Angeles Rams Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Rams were 11-6-0 against the over/under last season

The Los Angeles Rams were 9-8-0 against the spread last year

Key Houston Texans Injuries

08/19/18 CB Kevin Johnson Concussion is questionable Sunday vs New England
08/08/18 QB Deshaun Watson Knee is upgraded to probable Week #1 of regular season Sunday vs New England
08/03/18 S Andre Hal Illness is out indefinitely
08/03/18 RB D'Onta Foreman Achilles is out indefinitely

Key Los Angeles Rams Injuries

08/11/18 CB Kevin Peterson ACL IR
08/03/18 DT Dominique Easley Knee is questionable Monday vs Oakland
08/03/18 DE Morgan Fox Knee is out for season
07/07/18 G Jamon Brown Suspension 2-game suspension (eligible to return 9/23 vs LA Chargers)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Houston Texans were 17th in the National Football League in points scored with 338 last year. They ran 1,027 plays for 5,120 yards, which ranked them 20th in the NFL in total offense. The Texans averaged 5 yards per play, which was 20th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 313 1st downs last season, ranking them 14th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Houston ran for 1,842 yards as a unit, which ranked 14th in the league. They ran 448 times, averaging 4.1 yards per rush as a unit. The Texans were penalized on offense 124 times for 1,050 yards last year, which had them 3rd in the NFL in penalties. Deshaun Watson passed for 1,699 yards last year. He completed 126 throws while attempting 204 passes for a completion percentage of 61.8%. His quarterback rating last season was 103. He averaged 13.5 yards per completion and 8.3 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Houston was 32nd in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 436. They gave up a total of 5,546 yards on D, which was 20th in the league. The Texans were 29th in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Their pass defense allowed 7.1 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 30th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 321 throws on 501 attempts against the Houston Texans defense last season, ranking them 6th and 3rd in the league. The Houston pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,799 yards in the air, which was 24th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 440 attempts for 1,747 yards last season, putting them in 13th place in the NFL against the run. The Texans had 122 penalties for 1128 yards on defense last year. That placed them 31st in the league. They allowed a score on 39.7% of possessions on defense, which was 29th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Houston was 11th in the NFL in punt returns with 36 last year. They totaled 296 punt return yards and averaged 8.2 yards per return, which was 18th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 49 yards. They returned 27 kicks for 558 yards on special teams, placing them 28th in kick return yardage. The Texans averaged 20.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last season. They were 20th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,340. The Houston Texans tried 25 field goals last season and made 20, which was 25th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 80.0%. Houston Texans kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 32 for 35 last season. Their punters accumulated 4,507 yards on 92 punts, averaging 49 yards per punt. That ranked them 2nd in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Los Angeles Rams ran for 1,953 yards as a team last year, which ranked 8th in the NFL. They ran 454 times, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Rams were penalized on offense 107 times for 922 yards last season, which had them 16th in the league in penalties. They were 1st in the NFL in points scored with 478. They ran 1,000 plays last season for 5,784 yards, which ranked them 10th in the league in total offense. The Rams averaged 5.8 yards per play, which was 7th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 311 1st downs last year, placing them 16th overall as an offensive unit. Jared Goff averaged 8 yards per pass attempt and 12.9 yards per completion last season. He completed 296 passes on 477 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.1%. His quarterback rating last year was 100.5. He threw for 3,804 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Rams rush defense allowed 417 attempts for 1,959 yards last year, putting them in 28th place in the league against the run. Los Angeles committed 102 penalties for 808 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 3rd in the NFL. They gave up a score on 30.6% of possessions on defense, which was 8th in the league. They were 12th in the league in points allowed on defense with 329. They surrendered a total of 5,434 yards on D, which was 19th in the NFL. The Rams were ranked 19th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense gave up 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 11th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 324 passes on 555 attempts against the Los Angeles defense last season, placing them 8th and 20th in the National Football League. The Los Angeles Rams pass defense also gave up a total of 3,475 yards through the air, which was 13th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Los Angeles Rams attempted 43 field goals last season and made 40, which was 2nd in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 93.0%. Los Angeles kickers made 94% of their extra points, going 48 for 51 last year. Their punters totaled 3,113 yards on 65 punts, averaging 47.9 yards per punt. That placed them 4th in the NFL in punting average. Los Angeles was ranked 2nd in the league in punt returns last season with 45. They accumulated 458 punt return yards and averaged 10.2 yards per return, which was 4th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 53 yards. They returned 40 kicks for 1,001 yards on special teams, ranking 3rd in kick return yardage. The Rams averaged 25 yards per kick return and had a long of 103 yards last year. They were 3rd in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,435.

Who will win tonight's Texans/Rams NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Rams -2.5

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