New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/25/2018

Saturday, August 25, 2018

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The New Orleans Saints head to StubHub Center to play the Los Angeles Chargers 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 43.5. The Saints were 10-8-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 11-7-0. The Chargers were 8-7-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 4-12-0.

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 Los Angeles Chargers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Chargers were 4-12-0 against the over/under last season

The Los Angeles Chargers were 8-7-1 against the spread last year

Key New Orleans Saints Injuries

08/03/18 WR Brandon Coleman Undisclosed PUP
05/21/18 RB Mark Ingram Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/08 vs Washington)

Key Los Angeles Chargers Injuries

08/19/18 S Jaylen Watkins ACL IR
08/03/18 DT Corey Liuget Foot is out indefinitely
08/03/18 G Forrest Lamp Knee is questionable Sunday vs Kansas City
08/03/18 TE Hunter Henry Knee IR
08/03/18 CB Trevor Williams Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Kansas City
07/27/18 CB Jason Verrett Achilles IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Los Angeles Chargers ran for 1,595 yards as a team last year, which ranked 24th in the NFL. They ran 419 times, averaging 3.8 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Chargers were penalized on offense 108 times for 927 yards last season, which had them 15th in the league in penalties. They were 13th in the NFL in points scored with 355. They ran 1,020 plays last season for 6,026 yards, which ranked them 4th in the league in total offense. The Chargers averaged 5.9 yards per play, which was 4th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 337 1st downs last year, placing them 5th overall as an offensive unit. Philip Rivers averaged 7.9 yards per pass attempt and 12.5 yards per completion last season. He completed 360 passes on 575 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.6%. His quarterback rating last year was 96. He threw for 4,515 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Chargers rush defense allowed 430 attempts for 2,098 yards last year, putting them in 31st place in the league against the run. Los Angeles committed 109 penalties for 996 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 26th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 28.5% of possessions on defense, which was 4th in the league. They were 3rd in the league in points allowed on defense with 272. They surrendered a total of 5,254 yards on D, which was 15th in the NFL. The Chargers were ranked 16th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense gave up 5.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 5th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 329 passes on 524 attempts against the Los Angeles defense last season, placing them 12th and 7th in the National Football League. The Los Angeles Chargers pass defense also gave up a total of 3,156 yards through the air, which was 3rd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Los Angeles Chargers attempted 30 field goals last season and made 20, which was 26th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 66.7%. Los Angeles kickers made 88% of their extra points, going 37 for 42 last year. Their punters totaled 3,560 yards on 74 punts, averaging 48.1 yards per punt. That placed them 3rd in the NFL in punting average. Los Angeles was ranked 25th in the league in punt returns last season with 28. They accumulated 259 punt return yards and averaged 9.3 yards per return, which was 9th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 65 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 474 yards on special teams, ranking 30th in kick return yardage. The Chargers averaged 19 yards per kick return and had a long of 44 yards last year. They were 7th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,879.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Chargers -2.5

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