Football season is finally here. While training camps have just begun and the regular-season opener – a Super Bowl LX rematch between the New England Patriots and defending champion Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 9 – is still a month away, the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game kicks off Thursday night as the Carolina Panthers take on the Arizona Cardinals at 8 p.m. ET at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
The Hall of Fame Game serves as the opening event of Enshrinement Weekend and typically features teams with direct ties to members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s incoming class. The 2026 Hall of Fame class includes senior inductee Roger Craig and modern-era inductees Drew Brees, Adam Vinatieri, Luke Kuechly, and Larry Fitzgerald. This year’s team connections come from Kuechly, who spent his entire eight-year career with Carolina while earning seven Pro Bowl selections and the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, and Fitzgerald, who spent all 17 seasons of his career with Arizona, earning 11 Pro Bowl selections, one First-Team All-Pro honor, and the 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
While the Hall of Fame Game marks the first live football action following a long offseason, it rarely features star players, regular starters, or key veterans, as teams prioritize avoiding injuries. Instead, fans can expect to see backups, reserves, and rookies competing for roster spots and positioning themselves higher on the depth chart.
Given the nature of the Hall of Fame Game and the projected roster usage for this matchup, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook is offering fewer football betting markets than it would for a typical regular-season NFL game. Even so, football is finally back, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the return of NFL action on Thursday night.
Can You Bet on the NFL Hall of Fame Game?
Yes, you can absolutely bet on the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
Unlike regular-season NFL games, Hall of Fame Game betting markets are limited because most starters either don’t play or see only a handful of snaps. Instead, the focus is typically on the moneyline, spread, and total.
The Hall of Fame Game still provides an early look at players who could make an impact during the upcoming season. There are also several storylines worth following, including the quarterback situations for both the Panthers and the Cardinals.
Former first-round pick and Super Bowl LIX champion Kenny Pickett is expected to start for Carolina on Thursday night as he looks to secure the backup role behind Bryce Young while also proving to other teams that he’s still capable of starting in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Cardinals selected former Georgia and Miami quarterback Carson Beck in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Although Arizona also has veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II on the roster, Beck remains in the mix for the starting job, and Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game will be his first opportunity to make his case.
Panthers vs. Cardinals Odds
It’s difficult to predict the quality of play – or which players will suit up and for how long – but with the Panthers coming off an NFC South title in 2025 and the Cardinals carrying the longest Super Bowl odds (+50000) among all 32 NFL teams, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists Carolina as a slight favorite in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game:
- Moneyline: Panthers -130, Cardinals +105
- Spread: Panthers -1.5 (-105), Cardinals +1.5 (-115)
- Total: Over 34.5 Points (-110), Under 34.5 Points (-110)
Available Betting Markets at Hard Rock Bet
Due to the nature of the NFL Hall of Fame Game, betting options are more limited than those available for a typical regular-season matchup. As of publication, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook offers the following betting markets:
- Moneyline
- Point Spread
- Total (Over/Under)
- Alternate Spread
- Alternate Total
- Cardinals Total Points
- Panthers Total Points
- First Team To Score
- 1st Half Spread
- 1st Half Total Points
- 1st Half Winner
- 1st Quarter Winner
Additional betting markets may be added closer to kickoff.
Panthers vs. Cardinals Game Info
- š Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, OH
- š Date: Thursday, Aug. 6
- ā° Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET
- šŗš» TV/Streaming: NBC
Referenced odds are subject to change.
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