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UKBetting on the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game: Top Picks & Storylines
Carolina and Arizona are preparing to kick off the 2026 NFL preseason with this year’s Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. As part of the annual Hall of Fame Weekend, this year’s newest gold jacket recipients will also be honored at the HoF Game.
The five finalists for this year’s class include Roger Craig (1983-1993), Adam Vinatieri (1996-2019), Luke Kuechly (2012-2019), Larry Fitzgerald (2004-2020), and Drew Brees (2001-2020). Continue reading to see the latest odds for the 2026 Hall of Fame Game and my picks for the first game of the preseason.
What is the NFL Hall of Fame Game?
The Hall of Fame Game is the first preseason game hosted yearly in Canton, Ohio at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. This game is recognized as the official kickoff for the new NFL season, and teams are chosen based off of connections to the incoming Hall of Fame class of players. Currently, the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers hold the record for the most Hall of Fame Game appearances with 7 games played.
What Teams are Playing in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game?
Here are the details you need to know about the 2026 Hall of Fame Game before making your picks at the top NFL betting sites.
- Matchup: Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Date: August 6th, 2026
- Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio
- Start time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern
- Channel: NBC and Peacock
Carolina and Arizona were chosen as the two teams to compete in this year’s HoF Game. Two inductees, Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly, spent their entire careers with Arizona and Carolina, respectively.
It will be the Cardinals’ sixth total appearance, tying them with the Browns and the Bears for the second-most of all-time. The Panthers, on the other hand, are appearing in the HoF Game for the second time, leaving the Ravens as the only team with just one appearance.
Arizona is 1-3-1 in its previous five HoF Game appearances. The Cardinals, then playing in St. Louis, played in the very first HoF Game in 1962, playing to a tie with the Giants. Arizona won its second appearance, a 21-13 victory over the Bills in 1974, but has been winless since.
Carolina won its only previous HoF Game showing, beating the Jaguars 20-14 in 1995 in a battle of the league’s two expansion teams that season.
2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game Odds
Lucky Rebel provided the following odds for this year’s Hall of Fame Game between Carolina and Arizona.
| Team | Moneyline | Point Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | -117 | -1.0 (-108) | Over 35.5 (-110) |
| Arizona Cardinals | -103 | +1.0 (-112) | Under 35.5 (-110) |
Arizona is the designated home team, but the Cardinals are 1.0 point underdogs on Thursday against the Panthers. Carolina is a slight moneyline favorite at -117. The oddsmakers have the over/under listed at 35.5 total points.
Carolina was a playoff team last year after winning a three-way tiebreaker to claim the NFC South division title. Arizona, conversely, had the third-worst record last season and is projected to be one of the worst teams in the league again this year. With that in mind, it is not surprising that Carolina is favored in Canton.
You can shop the latest Hall of Fame Game odds at Lucky Rebel. Or read our free Lucky Rebel review to find out more about this football sportsbook.
Who is Playing in the Hall of Fame Game?
Many NFL teams limit their starters’ snaps in the preseason, and the Hall of Fame Game is no exception. Few, if any, regular starters will suit up for either team on Thursday.
In fact, Panthers’ Head Coach Dave Canales announced that no Carolina starters will play in the game. Canales also said that backup QB Kenny Pickett will be the starting QB for the Panthers, and undrafted rookie Haynes King will be his backup.
Arizona’s starting QB is tougher to figure out. At the time of writing, new HC Mike LaFleur has not yet announced a starter or a rotation. All three QBs on Arizona’s depth chart could see action.
The team recently reached a new deal with presumptive starter Jacoby Brissett, who had been holding out. Brissett does not need a lot of reps, but playing this week could help him make up for time he lost during his holdout. Gardner Minshew II took the majority of QB1 reps over rookie Carson Beck in Brissett’s absence.
Third overall pick RB Jeremiyah Love was listed as RB2 on Arizona’s first official depth chart, but there is no guarantee he will suit up Thursday.
Best 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game Bets
- Arizona Cardinals (-103)
- Arizona Cardinals +1.0 (-112)
- Under 35.5 (-110)
Betting on teams comprised almost entirely of backups is tough to do. However, for this year’s Hall of Fame Game matchup, I recommend wagering on the Cardinals to pull off the upset over the Panthers in a low-scoring game.
Arizona Cardinals (-103)
The HoF Game is played at a neutral site in Canton, Ohio, but the designated home teams have still had an advantage historically. Since 2010, only four away teams have won the Hall of Fame Game.
More importantly, signs are pointing toward Arizona playing at least some of its starters, including QB Jacoby Brissett. Playing live action reps, even at preseason speed, will help Brissett and the other starters master new HC Mike LaFleur’s offense.
Brissett struggled to produce wins last year, earning a 1-11 record as a starter, but he did rack up plenty of yards. The veteran QB averaged a career-best 280.5 passing YPG in his starts last season.
Minshew II is also an experienced journeyman QB and could see plenty of action against Carolina. If Brissett and Minshew II can take advantage of the Panthers’ backups, Arizona will be in a great position to pull off the upset this week.
For what it is worth, Carolina had a middle-of-the-road defense last season. The Panthers starters allowed 327.2 YPG, which ranked 16th in the NFL. Brissett and the other QBs will likely be without the likes of Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr., but they should be able to move the ball against the Panthers.
Arizona Cardinals +1.0 (-112)
A 1.0-point spread does not give you a lot of wiggle room, but it does offer some protection in what should be a low-scoring game.
There are plenty of reasons to doubt the Cardinals in this game, especially Arizona’s defense. Brissett and the offense showed some flashes last year and put up a ton of yards. The Cardinals defense, on the other hand, allowed a lot of yards and points.
Arizona’s defense gave up 359.5 total YPG last season, the sixth-most in the NFL. The Cardinals also allowed 28.7 PPG, the fourth-most in the league.
Pickett has struggled in the NFL, which is why he is on his fifth team in as many years. However, a soft Cards defense should allow the former first-rounder to shine somewhat. King is an unknown in the NFL, but he did win the ACC Player of the Year last season.
The best shot for either team to cover a spread this small is to win outright. As mentioned above, I think the Cardinals will pull off the upset, so I am siding with Arizona at +1.0 in this point spread wager.
Under 35.5 (-110)
Last season, the Chargers beat the Lions 34-7 in the Hall of Fame Game. It was the highest-scoring HoF Game since 2013 when the Dolphins and Cowboys combined for 44 points.
Also, since 2010, six Hall of Fame Games have had 30 or fewer total combined points.
Carolina’s starting offense will be on the sideline from the first kickoff. Arizona is expected to play some starters, but they are unlikely to see a ton of snaps.
Looking at last season’s stats, it is easy to see why both teams finished under .500. Arizona could move the ball, averaging 325.8 total YPG, but most of their production came when the Cardinals were down multiple scores. The Panthers, on the other hand, were one of just six teams with fewer than 300 total YPG.
Also, neither the Panthers nor the Cardinals averaged over 21 PPG. In other words, points should be at a premium on Thursday.
NFL Hall of Fame Game Betting Tips
After six months off from betting on the NFL, you may be a little rusty. Here are three tips to help you succeed at betting on this year’s Hall of Fame Game.
Know the Starting Lineups and Playing Time
As mentioned above, starters typically do not play in the Hall of Fame Game. With that in mind, it is especially important for bettors to know who is suiting up for the game.
Also, since it is the preseason, it is highly unlikely that one player will take all the reps at most positions. Instead, coaches will limit the playing times for all players to ensure there are plenty of reps to go around.
This is vital to assessing as many players as possible during the game, but it can also change the outcome of the game if inexperienced players are taking more snaps.
Expect a Low Scoring Game
According to Pro Football Focus, teams averaged 23.0 PPG last season. If both teams hit that mark this week, they would easily cover the over on total points.
However, preseason scoring is typically lower than regular-season games.
Mastering timing, learning new schemes, and everything else that goes into running an NFL offense takes time. Also, teams play few, if any, starters, leading to low-scoring games in most preseason matchups.
Research HoF Game Trends
The Hall of Fame Game is unique in many ways, including its own exclusive trends.
Some recent tendencies to be aware of are:
- Home teams are 7-3 in the last 10 HoF Games
- 6 of the last 8 HoF Games had 33+ total points
Winning the game can also be a curse. The last team to win a playoff game the same year they won the HoF Game was the 2005 Chicago Bears.
Betting on the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game
Thursday’s 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game officially ends the pro football betting offseason. See the guide above for everything you need to know about this year’s HoF Game between Carolina and Arizona, including my predictions.
Lucky Rebel is the best place to wager on your Hall of Fame Game picks. It has odds on the game and a great welcome offer worth up to $1,250 in bonus funds on your first deposit.
