San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/18/2018

Saturday, August 18, 2018

NRG Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

NRG Stadium is the venue for the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans on Saturday, August 18, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 1.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 37.5. The Texans were 7-9-0 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 7-9-0. The 49ers were 9-7-0 ATS and their over/under record was 8-8-0.

Valuable San Francisco 49ers Betting Trends

The San Francisco 49ers were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The San Francisco 49ers were 9-7-0 against the spread last year

Important 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

Key San Francisco 49ers Injuries

08/03/18 DL Arik Armstead Hamstring is "?" Sunday vs Minnesota
08/03/18 WR Victor Bolden Jr. Suspension 4- game suspension (elgible to return 10/7 vs Arizona)
07/03/18 LB Reuben Foster Suspension 2-game suspension (eligible to return 9/23 vs Kansas City)

Key Houston Texans Injuries

08/03/18 S Andre Hal Illness is out indefinitely
08/03/18 RB D'Onta Foreman Achilles is out indefinitely
04/22/18 QB Deshaun Watson Knee is "?" Sunday vs New England

Useful Offensive Statistics

The San Francisco 49ers ran for 1,664 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 21st in the league. They ran 408 times, averaging 4.1 yards per rush as a unit. The 49ers were penalized on offense 123 times for 988 yards last season, which had them 4th in the NFL in penalties. They were 20th in the National Football League in points scored with 331. They ran 1,058 plays last year for 5,589 yards, which ranked them 12th in the NFL in total offense. The 49ers averaged 5.3 yards per play, which was 16th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 321 1st downs last season, ranking them 11th overall as an offensive unit. Jimmy Garoppolo completed 120 throws while attempting 178 passes for a completion percentage of 67.4% last year. He passed for 1,560 yards. He averaged 13 yards per completion and 8.8 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 96.2.

Defensive Statistics

The 49ers rush defense gave up 491 attempts for 1,861 yards last season, putting them in 22nd place in the NFL against the run. They had 97 penalties for 791 yards on defense last year. That placed them 1st in the league. They allowed a score on 37.8% of possessions on defense, which was 27th in the NFL. San Francisco was 25th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 383. They gave up a total of 5,625 yards on D, which was 24th in the league. The 49ers were 20th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense allowed 6.6 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 26th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 344 throws on 544 attempts against the San Francisco 49ers defense last season, ranking them 19th and 13th in the league. The San Francisco pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,764 yards in the air, which was 22nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The San Francisco 49ers tried 41 field goals last season and made 39, which was 3rd in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 95.1%. San Francisco 49ers kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 28 for 29 last season. Their punters accumulated 3,255 yards on 75 punts, averaging 43.4 yards per punt. That ranked them 28th in the NFL in punting average. San Francisco was 17th in the NFL in punt returns with 34 last year. They totaled 304 punt return yards and averaged 8.9 yards per return, which was 13th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 39 yards. They returned 31 kicks for 570 yards on special teams, placing them 27th in kick return yardage. The 49ers averaged 18.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 34 yards last season. They were 12th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,773.

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

Houston was 32nd in the league in points allowed on defense with 436 last year. They surrendered a total of 5,546 yards on D, which was 20th in the NFL. The Texans were ranked 29th in yards per play allowed with 5.7. Their pass defense gave up 7.1 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 30th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 321 passes on 501 attempts against the Houston defense last season, placing them 6th and 3rd in the National Football League. The Houston Texans pass defense also gave up a total of 3,799 yards through the air, which was 24th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 440 attempts for 1,747 yards last year, putting them in 13th place in the league against the run. The Texans committed 122 penalties for 1,128 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 31st in the NFL. They gave up a score on 39.7% of possessions on defense, which was 29th in the league.

Special Teams Stats

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

Who will win tonight's 49ers/Texans NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Texans -1.5

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