- The Carolina Panthers are 1.5-point favorites over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL Hall of Fame Game.
- The total sits at 35.0 points with Kenny Pickett starting for Carolina and Kedon Slovis expected under center for Arizona.
- Back the Panthers on the 1.5-point spread in the first taste of NFL action on Thursday night.
CANTON, Ohio – Thursday night’s NFL Hall of Fame Game kicks off 21-consecutive Thursdays with a football game, including a mix of NFL and college football action. It won’t be the prettiest display of football, but there are legal sports betting odds available to get in on the first NFL preseason game of the 2026-27 season.
NFL Hall Of Fame Game Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | -1.5 (-110) | -120 | O 35 Points (-115) |
| Arizona Cardinals | +1.5 (-110) | +100 | U 35 Points |
*Odds from BetOnline Sportsbook as of August 3, 3:06 p.m. ET
The game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday with Carolina holding a 1.5-point edge on the spread. Carolina will start Super Bowl Champion Kenny Pickett, while the starter for Arizona has yet to be officially named.
Panthers QB Kenny Pickett will start Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game vs. the Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/sfcNILJmFJ— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 3, 2026
Expect Georgia Tech alum Haynes King to also command qb reps for the Panthers. As for Arizona, third-string quarterbacks Kelon Slovis and Carson Beck expect to take most of the snaps. Gardner Minshew is currently listed as the backup on the Cardinals’ depth chart.
Back Carolina -1.5 In Thursday’s NFL HOF Game
King’s rushing ability could prove to be the difference in this game between back ups learning new offenses. Mobile quarterbacks provide an edge with backup offensive linemen unlikely to provide a stable pocket, so ride with the Panthers to cover the 1.5-point spread in this one.
Carolina earned their spot in the Hall of Fame Game with the induction of linebacker Luke Kuechly, while the Arizona Cardinals get the nod for Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction. Kuechly will then go on as Netflix’s top NFL analyst starting with the Sept. 10’s international opener in Melbourne, Australia, where NFL betting sites list the Los Angeles Rams as 3.5-point favorites against the San Francisco 49ers.
Results from past Hall of Fame games show the point total is a mixed bag. Thursday’s 35.0-point total went over in back-to-back games but went under in five of the six games prior.
