Free NFL Picks For Today, Saturday 8/24/2024
LA Rams vs. Houston Texans NFL Pick Prediction 8/24/2024
Rams at Texans—LA Rams is 2-0 after their 13-9 road win at LA Chargers. Rams always sit starters in the preseason and the Chargers sat theirs here. Stetson Bennett went the whole way hitting 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards with a touchdown and interceptions. They finished with 338 yards and rushed for 4.2 yards a carry. The Rams held the Chargers to 259 yards with 160 passing yards. Houston is 2-0 in the preseason after their 28-10 home win to NY Giants. Daniel Jones saw extended work and hit 11 of 18 for 138 yards with two interceptions. Tommy DeVito hit 10 of 19 for 75 yards. They finished with 279 yards with 3.4 yards a carry. On defense NY allowed 369 yards to the Astros with 255 passing yards.
The Pick:
The teams had a joint practice on Thursday. LA plays no starters in the preseason. Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn are the two available quarterbacks with the suspension to Jimmy Garoppolo. Texans head coach Ryan saws this is the final exam for his reserves as the team must reduce from 90 to 53 on their roster hinting that starters may not start. The backup QBs for the Texans are Davis Mills, Case Keenum and Tim Boyle for that battle.
The Pick:
The Texans defense in their past two preseason games has allowed 11.5 points per game. The Rams have averaged 13 points and allowed an average of 10.5 points in the preseason. LA was the second lowest scoring offense in the preseason last year, and it looks like this season as well. Play LA and Houston under 34.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions NFL Pick Prediction 8/24/2024
Steelers at Lions—Pittsburgh is 0-2 in the preseason following their 9-3 home defeat to Buffalo. Russell Wilson completed 8 of 10 passes for 47 yards. Justin Fields hit 11 of 17 for 92 yards. Pittsburgh finished with only 219 offensive yards with 3.9 yards per run. On defense they held the Bills to only 245 yards with 78 through the air. Detroit improved to 1-1 in the preseason with their 24-23 road win at KC. The Lions sat starters with the Chiefs playing theirs for over one quarter. Nate Sudfeld was 12 of 15 for 150 yards with a touchdown and pick. Hendon Hooker contributed 12 of 15 completions for 150 yards. The Lions finished with 459 yards with 342 passing yards. On defense they allowed 276 yards to the Chiefs with 202 through the air.
The Pick:
Pittsburgh will again split work between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The offensive line performed poorly last week. Backup quarterbacks Nate Sudfeld and Hendon Hooker will once again split work as they battle for the number two. The Lions held up OK facing the Chiefs starters and covered a seven-point underdog. Lions’ backup receivers are talented. The Steelers are averaging 7.5 points per game in the preseason. Play Detroit +7.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles NFL Pick Prediction 8/24/2024
Vikings at Eagles—Minnesota is 2-0 in the preseason after their 27-12 road win at Cleveland. Nick Mullens completed 11 of 21 for 135 yards and a touchdown. Jaren Hall hit 4 of 5 for 87 yards. They finished with 303 yards with 113 rushing for 4.2 yards a carry. On defense the Vikings allowed 288 yards to the Browns with 232 yards through the air. Philadelphia is 2-0 in the preseason after their 13-13 road win at New England. Tanner McKee hit 15 of 19 for 140 yards. Kenny Pickett went 11 of 13 for 67 yards. Will Grier saw limited work going 3 of 5 for 35 yards. Philadelphia finished with 283 yards with 210 passing. Defensively the Eagles held the Patriots to 159 yards with 90 through the air.
The Pick:
Jaren Hall will get the start for the Vikings. The backups are Nick Mullens and Matt Corral who are expected to get snaps. Starter Sam Darnold will sit. Philadelphia is unlikely to play starters as they look to cut down to 53 from 90 and fill those reserve roles. The Eagles lack of scoring this preseason the concern. The Vikings are averaging 25.5 points per game this preseason. Play Minnesota +2.
Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills NFL Pick Prediction 8/24/2024
Panthers at Bills—Carolina is 0-2 in the preseason after their 15-12 home defeat to NY Jets. Jack Plummer hit 11 of 18 for 42 yards. Jake Luton contributed 2 of 2 passing for 19 yards. The Panthers finished with 156 yards with 56 passing. On defense they held the Jets to 202 yards with 85 through the air. Ten penalties for the Panthers for 84 yards.
The Pick:
Carolina is expected to start Bryce Young and the starters. Their head coach plan is to give them some exposure. The two healthy backups are Andy Dalton and Jack Plummer. Jake Luton is injured. The Bills will sit their starters. With Mitch Trubisky banged up the healthy backups are Ben DiNucci and Anthony Brown Jr. Brown was just recently signed as he was cut early in the preseason by the Raiders. Carolina was the second lowest scoring team in the preseason last year. This year they are averaging 7.5 points per game in the preseason. The Bills have averaged 7.5 points per game in the preseason as well. Anthony Brown has running ability to move chains and could have success against the Panthers backups. Play Buffalo +4.5.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers NFL Pick Prediction 8/24/2024
Ravens at Packers—Baltimore improved to 2-1 in the preseason after their 13-12 home win to Atlanta. Both teams sat their starters. Josh Johnson hit 11 of 11 for 120 yards and a touchdown. Emory Jones connected on 7 of 9 for 100 yards and a touchdown. Devin Leary saw limited action going 3 of 5 for 24 yards. The Ravens finished with 301 yards with just 2.4 yards per run. On defense they allowed 343 yards to the Falcons with 151 rushing for 4.9 yards per carry. Green Bay fell to 1-1 following their 27-2 road defeat at Denver. Denver played starters and Green Bay did not. Michael Pratt completed 10 of 16 for 52 yards. Sean Clifford hit 6 of 10 for 43 yards. The Packers finished with only 168 yards with 3.4 yards a carry. On defense Green Bay allowed 263 yards to the Broncos with 154 passing.
The Pick:
The teams competed in a joint practice this week. Baltimore starters won’t play. Media speculation is that the Packers veteran starters will sit based on their volume of work during the joint practice. The backups behind Jackson are Josh Johnson, Devin Leary and Emory Jones. Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt are in a battle for the backup job. The Raven’s defense has held teams to an average of 12.5 points per game. The quarterback rotation was uninspiring. Play Baltimore and Green Bay under 34.
LA Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys NFL Pick Prediction 8/24/2024
Chargers at Cowboys—LA Chargers fell to 0-2 with their 13-9 home defeat to LA Rams. Both teams sat starters. Eastin Stick completed 8 of 13 throws for 85 yards and an interception. Luis Perez was 13 of 20 for 78 yards. The Chargers finished with 259 yards with 99 rushing for 3.7 yards per carry. On defense they held the Rams to 338 yards with 213 passing. Dallas improved to 1-1 in the preseason with their 27-12 road win at Las Vegas. Dallas sat their starters against a Raiders team that played them. Trey Lance hit 15 of 23 for 151 yards and a touchdown. Cooper Rush hit 1 of 3 for six yards. Dallas finished with 294 yards with 137 passing for 4.4 yards per carry. On defense they allowed 315 yards to the Raiders with 247 passing.
The Pick:
Neither team will play starters. Easten Stick is expected to play for the entire game at quarterback for the Chargers with Luis Perez the backup. John Harbaugh during the preseason is about evaluating the back half of the roster. Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are the two available quarterbacks for the Cowboys. Chargers have been held to a total of 12 points in their two preseason games. Dallas’ defense in the preseason is allowing 12.5 points per game. Play LA and Dallas under 33.5.
NY Giants vs. NY Jets NFL Pick Prediction 8/24/2024
Giants at Jets—NY Giants is 1-1 with their 28-10 road defeat to Houston. Both teams played starters. Daniel Jones completed 11 of 18 for 138 yards with two interceptions. Tommy DeVito was 10 of 19 for 75 yards. The Giants finished with 279 yards with 74 rushing for 3.4 yards a carry. On defense NYG allowed 369 yards to the Texans with 255 passing. NY Jets are 2-0 with their 15-12 road win at Carolina. The Jets and Panthers sat starters. Andrian Martinez hit 7 of 17 passes for 67 yards. Andrew Peasley was 7 of 11 for 33 yards. NYJ finished with 202 yards with 117 rushing for 4.2 yards a carry. On defense the Jets held the Panthers to 156 yards with 56 passing.
The Pick:
The teams went through a joint practice this week. Daniel Jones is unlikely to play. Drew Lock is banged up. Tommy DeVito looks like will play the entire game for the Giants at quarterback. Aaron Rodgers will not play, and backup Jordan Travis is out. Their starters will not play either. The options at quarterback for the Jets are Tyrod Taylor, Adrian Martinez and Andrew Peasley. The Jets defense has allowed an average of 14.5 points in the preseason. The running ability of Martinez and Peasley could help the Jets late in the game. Play NY Jets +2.5.
Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks NFL Pick Prediction 8/24/2024
Browns at Seahawks—Cleveland fell to 0-2 in the preseason with their 27-12 home defeat to Minnesota. Both teams sat starters. Tyler Huntley hit 14 of 20 for 135 yards and two interceptions. Dorian Thompson Robinson was 13 of 17 for 126 yards and a pick. The Browns finished with 288 yards with only 56 rushing for 2.4 yards a carry. On defense the Browns allowed 303 yards to the Vikings with 190 passing. Seattle fell to 1-1 after their 16-15 road defeat to Tennessee. Both teams sat starters. Sam Howell hit 11 of 14 passes for 153 yards. PJ Walker was 4 of 8 for 38 yards. The Seahawks finished with 239 yards with 64 rushing for 3.6 yards a carry and only 2 of 9 on third down. On defense they allowed 338 yards to the Titans with 222 passing.
The Pick:
Cleveland is expected to play starters for a quarter. But quarterback Deshaun Watson experienced soreness this week and was limited in practice on Wednesday. Also, the offensive line is banged up so it remains to be seen if Watson will line up under center with backups on the line. The quarterbacks behind Watson are Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson Robinson. Seattle expects to play their starters for a bit. Behind Geno Smith are Sam Howell and PJ Walker. The Browns offense is averaging 11 points per game while the defense is giving up an average of 25 per game. The Seahawks defense has limited opponents to an average of 9.5 points per game. Play Seattle +1.