New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/9/2018

Thursday, August 9, 2018

TIAA Bank Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Jacksonville Jaguars host the New Orleans Saints at TIAA Bank Field on Thursday, August 9, 2018. The opening line for this game has Jacksonville as 3 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 35. The Jaguars had an over/under record of 9-10-0 and they were 11-8-0 against the spread last year. The Saints had an ATS record of 10-8-0 while their over/under record was 11-7-0.

Valuable New Orleans Saints Betting Trends

The New Orleans Saints were 11-7-0 against the over/under last season

The New Orleans Saints were 10-8-0 against the spread last year

Important Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Trends

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 9-10-0 against the over/under last season

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 11-8-0 against the spread last year

Key New Orleans Saints Injuries

05/21/18 RB Mark Ingram Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/08 vs Washington)

Key Jacksonville Jaguars Injuries

07/25/18 TE David Grinnage Knee is out indefinitely
07/20/18 DE Dante Fowler Jr. Suspension 1 game suspension (eligible to return 9/16 vs New England)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New Orleans Saints ran for 2,070 yards as a team last year, which ranked 5th in the NFL. They ran 444 times, averaging 4.7 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Saints were penalized on offense 105 times for 967 yards last season, which had them 17th in the league in penalties. They were 4th in the NFL in points scored with 448. They ran 1,000 plays last season for 6,259 yards, which ranked them 2nd in the league in total offense. The Saints averaged 6.3 yards per play, which was 1st in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 332 1st downs last year, placing them 8th overall as an offensive unit. Drew Brees averaged 8.1 yards per pass attempt and 11.2 yards per completion last season. He completed 386 passes on 536 attempts for a completion percentage of 72%. His quarterback rating last season was 103.9. He threw for 4,334 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Saints rush defense allowed 406 attempts for 1,787 yards last year, putting them in 16th place in the league against the run. New Orleans committed 108 penalties for 850 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 7th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 33.3% of possessions on defense, which was 16th in the league. They were 10th in the league in points allowed on defense with 326. They surrendered a total of 5,384 yards on D, which was 17th in the NFL. The Saints were ranked 23rd in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Their pass defense gave up 6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 16th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 329 passes on 554 attempts against the New Orleans Saints defense last season, placing them 13th and 17th in the National Football League. The New Orleans pass defense also gave up a total of 3,597 yards through the air, which was 15th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The New Orleans Saints attempted 36 field goals last season and made 31, which was 11th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 86.1%. New Orleans Saints kickers made 94% of their extra points, going 47 for 50 last year. Their punters totaled 2,822 yards on 60 punts, averaging 47 yards per punt. That placed them 8th in the NFL in punting average. New Orleans was ranked 16th in the league in punt returns last season with 34. They accumulated 218 punt return yards and averaged 6.4 yards per return, which was 25th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 24 yards. They returned 36 kicks for 825 yards on special teams, ranking 8th in kick return yardage. The Saints averaged 22.9 yards per kick return and had a long of 106 yards last year. They were 2nd in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,447.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Jacksonville Jaguars were 5th in the National Football League in points scored with 417 last year. They ran 1,078 plays for 5,855 yards, which ranked them 6th in the NFL in total offense. The Jaguars averaged 5.4 yards per play, which was 11th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 332 1st downs last season, ranking them 7th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Jacksonville ran for 2,262 yards as a unit, which ranked 1st in the league. They ran 527 times, averaging 4.3 yards per rush as a unit. The Jaguars were penalized on offense 112 times for 936 yards last year, which had them 11th in the NFL in penalties. Blake Bortles passed for 3,687 yards last year. He completed 315 throws while attempting 523 passes for a completion percentage of 60.2%. His quarterback rating last season was 84.7. He averaged 11.7 yards per completion and 7 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Jacksonville was 2nd in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 268. They gave up a total of 4,578 yards on D, which was 2nd in the league. The Jaguars were 1st in yards per play allowed with 4.6. Their pass defense allowed 4.8 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 1st in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 289 throws on 509 attempts against the Jacksonville defense last season, ranking them 1st and 4th in the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars pass defense also surrendered a total of 2,718 yards in the air, which was 1st overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 429 attempts for 1,860 yards last season, putting them in 21st place in the NFL against the run. The Jaguars had 112 penalties for 1,050 yards on defense last year. That placed them 29th in the league. They allowed a score on 23.9% of possessions on defense, which was 1st in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Jacksonville was 14th in the NFL in punt returns with 35 last year. They totaled 325 punt return yards and averaged 9.3 yards per return, which was 8th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 72 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 551 yards on special teams, placing them 29th in kick return yardage. The Jaguars averaged 22 yards per kick return and had a long of 68 yards last season. They were 9th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,854. The Jacksonville Jaguars tried 35 field goals last season and made 30, which was 12th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 85.7%. Jacksonville kickers made 90% of their extra points, going 37 for 41 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,835 yards on 88 punts, averaging 43.6 yards per punt. That ranked them 26th in the NFL in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Saints/Jaguars NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Saints +3

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