Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings Preseason NFL Picks & Predictions 8/24/2018

Friday, August 24, 2018

U.S. Bank Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Seattle Seahawks travel to U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, August 24, 2018. The opening line for this game has Minnesota as 3.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 40.5. The Seahawks had an ATS record of 6-9-1 last season while their over/under record was 7-9-0. The Vikings had an over/under record of 9-9-0 and they were 11-7-0 against the spread.

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 Minnesota Vikings Betting Trends

The Minnesota Vikings were 9-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Minnesota Vikings were 11-7-0 against the spread last year

Key Seattle Seahawks Injuries

08/15/18 RB Rashaad Penny Finger is questionable Sunday vs Denver
08/03/18 DE Dion Jordan Shin is questionable Sunday vs Denver
08/03/18 WR Doug Baldwin Knee is questionable Sunday vs Denver
07/26/18 S Kam Chancellor Neck is out for season

Key Minnesota Vikings Injuries

08/10/18 C Nick Easton Neck IR
08/03/18 LB Kentrell Brothers Suspension 4- game suspension (elgible to return 10/7 vs Philadelphia)
08/03/18 T Mike Remmers Ankle is questionable Sunday vs San Francisco
08/03/18 C Pat Elflein Ankle PUP

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Seattle Seahawks were 11th in the NFL in points scored with 366 last season. They ran 1,007 plays last year 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. On the ground Seattle ran for 1,629 yards as a team, which ranked 23rd in the NFL. They ran 409 times last year, 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. Russell Wilson threw for 3,983 yards last season. He completed 339 passes on 553 attempts for a completion percentage of 61.3%. His quarterback rating last year was 95.4. He averaged 7.2 yards per pass attempt and 11.7 yards per completion.

Defensive Statistics

Seattle was 14th in the league in points allowed on defense with 332 last year. 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. Their rushing defense allowed 452 attempts for 1,824 yards last year, putting them in 19th place in the league against the run. The Seahawks 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.

Special Teams Stats

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. 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.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Minnesota Vikings ran for 1,957 yards as a unit last year, which ranked 7th in the league. They ran 501 times, averaging 3.9 yards per rush as a unit. The Vikings were penalized on offense 100 times for 949 yards last season, which had them 22nd in the NFL in penalties. They were 10th in the National Football League in points scored with 382. They ran 1,055 plays last year for 5,710 yards, which ranked them 11th in the NFL in total offense. The Vikings averaged 5.4 yards per play, which was 13th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 334 1st downs last season, ranking them 6th overall as an offensive unit. Kirk Cousins completed 347 throws while attempting 540 passes for a completion percentage of 64.3% last year. He passed for 4,093 yards. He averaged 11.8 yards per completion and 7.6 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 93.9.

Defensive Statistics

The Vikings rush defense gave up 364 attempts for 1,337 yards last season, putting them in 2nd place in the NFL against the run. They had 105 penalties for 928 yards on defense last year. That placed them 20th in the league. They allowed a score on 27.9% of possessions on defense, which was 3rd in the NFL. Minnesota was 1st in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 252. They gave up a total of 4,415 yards on D, which was 1st in the league. The Vikings were 2nd in yards per play allowed with 4.6. Their pass defense allowed 5.2 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 2nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 324 throws on 555 attempts against the Minnesota defense last season, ranking them 7th and 19th in the league. The Minnesota Vikings pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,078 yards in the air, which was 2nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Minnesota Vikings tried 38 field goals last season and made 32, which was 9th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 84.2%. Minnesota kickers made 87% of their extra points, going 34 for 39 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,995 yards on 71 punts, averaging 42.2 yards per punt. That ranked them 32nd in the NFL in punting average. Minnesota was 6th in the NFL in punt returns with 39 last year. They totaled 372 punt return yards and averaged 9.5 yards per return, which was 7th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 46 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 619 yards on special teams, placing them 21st in kick return yardage. The Vikings averaged 24.8 yards per kick return and had a long of 39 yards last season. They were 8th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,877.

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

Guy's Pick: Take the Seahawks +3.5

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