The National Football League's 2026 season will commence with the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, featuring the Arizona Cardinals against the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina is positioned as a slight favorite, listed at -120 and giving 1.5 points against the spread. The game will mark the head coaching debut for the Cardinals' Mike LaFleur, who will send out a rookie quarterback to execute his initial game plan.
Arizona's starting quarterback will be Carson Beck, a former college player from Georgia. He will face off against Carolina's veteran quarterback Kenny Pickett. Following Pickett, Haynes King, an undrafted free agent from Georgia Tech and Texas A&M, is expected to receive significant playing time. Beck's backup for the Cardinals in this game is Kedon Slovis.
Notable absences include Panthers' rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, who is anticipated to be inactive. This matchup is significant as it typically features other roster hopefuls vying for attention.
Historically, underdogs have performed well in the Hall of Fame Game, holding a 7-4 straight-up record and an 8-2-1 record against the spread in recent contests. Despite a projected low total of 34.5 points for this game, betting trends suggest a higher scoring affair. The 'Over' has hit in the last four seasons for this specific game, indicating a tendency for more points than initially expected.
Expert predictions suggest betting on the game to exceed 34.5 total points. Additionally, there is a specific wager recommended on Carson Beck to throw a touchdown pass, with odds at +235.
The game is scheduled to be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, kicking off the 2026 NFL season.