Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Chargers Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/18/2018

Saturday, August 18, 2018

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The Los Angeles Chargers host the Seattle Seahawks at StubHub Center on Saturday, August 18, 2018. The opening line for this game has Los Angeles as 1.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 37.5. The Chargers had an over/under record of 4-12-0 and they were 8-7-1 against the spread last year. The Seahawks had an ATS record of 6-9-1 while their over/under record was 7-9-0.

Valuable Seattle Seahawks Betting Trends

The Seattle Seahawks were 7-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Seattle Seahawks were 6-9-1 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 Seattle Seahawks Injuries

08/03/18 DE Dion Jordan Shin is "?" Sunday vs Denver
08/03/18 WR Doug Baldwin Knee is "?" Sunday vs Denver
07/26/18 S Kam Chancellor Neck is out for season

Key Los Angeles Chargers Injuries

08/03/18 DT Corey Liuget Foot is out indefinitely
08/03/18 G Forrest Lamp Knee is "?" Sunday vs Kansas City
08/03/18 TE Hunter Henry Knee is out for season
08/03/18 CB Trevor Williams Ankle is "?" Sunday vs Kansas City
07/27/18 CB Jason Verrett Achilles is out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Seattle Seahawks ran for 1,629 yards as a team last year, which ranked 23rd in the NFL. They ran 409 times, averaging 4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Seahawks were penalized on offense 148 times for 1,342 yards last season, which had them 1st in the league in penalties. They were 11th in the NFL in points scored with 366. They ran 1,007 plays last season for 5,286 yards, which ranked them 15th in the league in total offense. The Seahawks averaged 5.2 yards per play, which was 18th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 299 1st downs last year, placing them 19th overall as an offensive unit. Russell Wilson averaged 7.2 yards per pass attempt and 11.7 yards per completion last season. He completed 339 passes on 553 attempts for a completion percentage of 61.3%. His quarterback rating last season was 95.4. He threw for 3,983 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Seahawks rush defense allowed 452 attempts for 1,824 yards last year, putting them in 19th place in the league against the run. Seattle committed 102 penalties for 878 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 11th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 33.2% of possessions on defense, which was 14th in the league. They were 14th in the league in points allowed on defense with 332. They surrendered a total of 5,171 yards on D, which was 11th in the NFL. The Seahawks were ranked 4th in yards per play allowed with 4.9. Their pass defense gave up 5.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 6th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 325 passes on 554 attempts against the Seattle Seahawks defense last season, placing them 10th and 18th in the National Football League. The Seattle pass defense also gave up a total of 3,347 yards through the air, which was 6th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Seattle Seahawks attempted 29 field goals last season and made 21, which was 24th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 72.4%. Seattle Seahawks kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 37 for 38 last year. Their punters totaled 4,140 yards on 92 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That placed them 15th in the NFL in punting average. Seattle was ranked 13th in the league in punt returns last season with 36. They accumulated 237 punt return yards and averaged 6.6 yards per return, which was 24th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 27 yards. They returned 43 kicks for 1,004 yards on special teams, ranking 2nd in kick return yardage. The Seahawks averaged 23.3 yards per kick return and had a long of 99 yards last year. They were 10th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,849.

Useful Offensive Statistics

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

Defensive Statistics

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

Special Teams Stats

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

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Seahawks +1.5

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