2026 NFL Preseason Odds: Cardinals Underdogs in HOF Game

The 2026 NFL preseason began on Thursday, Aug. 6, with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. This year’s exhibition featured the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers. As of Aug. 3, significant betting activity indicated strong support for the Cardinals as underdogs.

Cardinals-Panthers Odds

• Spread: Panthers -1.5
• Moneyline: Panthers -120 (bet $10 to win $18.33 total); Cardinals +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)
• Over/Under: 35.5 points scored by both teams combined

According to BetMGM, 78% of the betting money was on Arizona to cover the 1.5 points against Carolina, while 73% backed the score to go over 35.5 points.

From a historical perspective, the Panthers had only appeared in the Hall of Fame Game once before, in 1995, when they achieved a 20-14 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Conversely, the Cardinals, having participated in the Hall of Fame Game five times before, compiled a record of 1-3-1 leading into the 2026 game.

In terms of regular-season performance, the Panthers entered this matchup with an 8-9 record in 2025, having secured first place in the NFC South before being eliminated by the Rams in the Wild Card round with a score of 34-31. The Cardinals, however, struggled significantly, finishing the previous season with a 3-14 record and placing 16th overall in the NFC.

As anticipation built for the Hall of Fame Game, NFL fans demonstrated their enthusiasm for football's return, signaling a renewed excitement for the 2026 season.