Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/30/2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Paul Brown Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Indianapolis Colts head to Paul Brown Stadium to play the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, August 30, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Cincinnati as 1.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 36. The Colts were 8-8-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 6-10-0. The Bengals were 9-7-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 7-9-0.

Valuable Indianapolis Colts Betting Trends

The Indianapolis Colts were 6-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Indianapolis Colts were 8-8-0 against the spread last year

Important Cincinnati Bengals Betting Trends

The Cincinnati Bengals were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Cincinnati Bengals were 9-7-0 against the spread last year

Key Indianapolis Colts Injuries

08/10/18 RB Marlon Mack Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Cincinnati
08/03/18 LB Anthony Walker Jr. Groin is questionable Sunday vs Cincinnati
07/25/18 QB Andrew Luck Shoulder is upgraded to probable Week #1 Sunday vs Cincinnati
06/29/18 RB Robert Turbin Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/4 vs New England)

Key Cincinnati Bengals Injuries

07/28/18 OL Rod Taylor ACL IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Indianapolis Colts were 30th in the National Football League in points scored with 263 last year. They ran 993 plays for 4,553 yards, which ranked them 31st in the NFL in total offense. The Colts averaged 4.6 yards per play, which was 32nd in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 267 1st downs last season, ranking them 31st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Indianapolis ran for 1,661 yards as a unit, which ranked 22nd in the league. They ran 451 times, averaging 3.7 yards per rush as a unit. The Colts were penalized on offense 92 times for 779 yards last year, which had them 27th in the NFL in penalties.

Defensive Statistics

Indianapolis was 30th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 404. They gave up a total of 5,873 yards on D, which was 30th in the league. The Colts were 30th in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Their pass defense allowed 7.3 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 31st in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 320 throws on 513 attempts against the Indianapolis Colts defense last season, ranking them 5th and 5th in the league. The Indianapolis pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,946 yards in the air, which was 28th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 488 attempts for 1,927 yards last season, putting them in 26th place in the NFL against the run. The Colts had 102 penalties for 822 yards on defense last year. That placed them 5th in the league. They allowed a score on 39.7% of possessions on defense, which was 30th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Indianapolis was 26th in the NFL in punt returns with 27 last year. They totaled 162 punt return yards and averaged 6 yards per return, which was 28th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 30 yards. They returned 28 kicks for 590 yards on special teams, placing them 25th in kick return yardage. The Colts averaged 21.1 yards per kick return and had a long of 60 yards last season. They were 32nd in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 5,639. The Indianapolis Colts tried 34 field goals last season and made 29, which was 15th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 85.3%. Indianapolis Colts kickers made 92% of their extra points, going 22 for 24 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,765 yards on 85 punts, averaging 44.3 yards per punt. That ranked them 22nd in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cincinnati Bengals ran for 1,366 yards as a team last year, which ranked 31st in the NFL. They ran 377 times, averaging 3.6 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Bengals were penalized on offense 110 times for 1,027 yards last season, which had them 12th in the league in penalties. They were 26th in the NFL in points scored with 290. They ran 927 plays last season for 4,488 yards, which ranked them 32nd in the league in total offense. The Bengals averaged 4.8 yards per play, which was 28th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 267 1st downs last year, placing them 30th overall as an offensive unit. Andy Dalton averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 11.2 yards per completion last season. He completed 297 passes on 496 attempts for a completion percentage of 59.9%. His quarterback rating last year was 86.6. He threw for 3,320 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Bengals rush defense allowed 489 attempts for 2,046 yards last year, putting them in 30th place in the league against the run. Cincinnati committed 106 penalties for 906 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 15th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 37% of possessions on defense, which was 24th in the league. They were 16th in the league in points allowed on defense with 349. They surrendered a total of 5,425 yards on D, which was 18th in the NFL. The Bengals were ranked 7th in yards per play allowed with 5. Their pass defense gave up 5.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 4th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 336 passes on 561 attempts against the Cincinnati defense last season, placing them 15th and 23rd in the National Football League. The Cincinnati Bengals pass defense also gave up a total of 3,379 yards through the air, which was 8th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Cincinnati Bengals attempted 20 field goals last season and made 18, which was 27th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 90.0%. Cincinnati kickers made 94% of their extra points, going 32 for 34 last year. Their punters totaled 4,102 yards on 89 punts, averaging 46.1 yards per punt. That placed them 11th in the NFL in punting average. Cincinnati was ranked 1st in the league in punt returns last season with 47. They accumulated 409 punt return yards and averaged 8.7 yards per return, which was 14th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 40 yards. They returned 34 kicks for 670 yards on special teams, ranking 16th in kick return yardage. The Bengals averaged 19.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 41 yards last year. They were 31st in the league in all-purpose yards with 5,831.

Who will win tonight's Colts/Bengals NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Bengals -1.5

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