Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/17/2018

Friday, August 17, 2018

Bank of America Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Miami Dolphins travel to Bank of America Stadium to take on the Carolina Panthers on Friday, August 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Carolina as 3 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 37.5. The Dolphins had an ATS record of 5-9-2 last season while their over/under record was 8-8-0. The Panthers had an over/under record of 10-7-0 and they were 10-7-0 against the spread.

Valuable Miami Dolphins Betting Trends

The Miami Dolphins were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The Miami Dolphins were 5-9-2 against the spread last year

Important 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

Key Miami Dolphins Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Carolina Panthers Injuries

08/03/18 TE Chris Manhertz Foot is "?" Sunday vs Dallas
08/03/18 RB Fozzy Whittaker Knee is out for season
07/29/18 T Daryl Williams Knee is out indefinitely

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Miami Dolphins were 28th in the NFL in points scored with 281 last season. They ran 995 plays last year for 4,923 yards, which ranked them 25th in the league in total offense. The Dolphins averaged 4.9 yards per play, which was 22nd in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 284 1st downs last year, placing them 25th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Miami ran for 1,388 yards as a team, which ranked 29th in the NFL. They ran 360 times last year, averaging 3.9 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Dolphins were penalized on offense 137 times for 1,154 yards last season, which had them 2nd in the league in penalties.

Defensive Statistics

Miami was 29th in the league in points allowed on defense with 393 last year. They surrendered a total of 5,371 yards on D, which was 16th in the NFL. The Dolphins were ranked 21st in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Their pass defense gave up 6.5 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 23rd in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 339 passes on 528 attempts against the Miami Dolphins defense last season, placing them 16th and 9th in the National Football League. The Miami pass defense also gave up a total of 3,603 yards through the air, which was 16th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 431 attempts for 1,768 yards last year, putting them in 14th place in the league against the run. The Dolphins committed 122 penalties for 1077 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 30th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 36.6% of possessions on defense, which was 23rd in the league.

Special Teams Stats

Miami was ranked 9th in the league in punt returns last season with 37. They accumulated 271 punt return yards and averaged 7.3 yards per return, which was 20th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 27 yards. They returned 40 kicks for 827 yards on special teams, ranking 7th in kick return yardage. The Dolphins averaged 20.7 yards per kick return and had a long of 37 yards last year. They were 22nd in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,278. The Miami Dolphins attempted 23 field goals last season and made 21, which was 23rd in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 91.3%. Miami Dolphins kickers made 90% of their extra points, going 26 for 29 last year. Their punters totaled 3,695 yards on 83 punts, averaging 44.5 yards per punt. That placed them 19th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Carolina Panthers ran for 2,102 yards as a unit last year, 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 season, which had them 32nd in the NFL in penalties. They were 12th in the National Football League in points scored with 363. They ran 1,026 plays last year 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. Cam Newton completed 291 throws while attempting 492 passes for a completion percentage of 59.1% last year. He passed for 3,302 yards. He averaged 11.3 yards per completion and 6.7 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 80.7.

Defensive Statistics

The Panthers rush defense gave up 353 attempts for 1,409 yards last season, putting them in 3rd place in the NFL against the run. They 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. Carolina was 11th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense 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 defense last season, ranking them 22nd and 15th in the league. The Carolina Panthers pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,665 yards in the air, which was 18th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

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 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. 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.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Dolphins +3

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