Our long national nightmare is over — NFL football is BACK, baby!
That’s right, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game kicks off the 2024 NFL Preseason on Thursday with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, preceded by a special edition of Countdown at 7 p.m. ET that will serve as Jason Kelce’s introduction to broadcasting. ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters will call the game. ESPN also notes that Laura Rutledge will speak with Hall of Fame enshrinees throughout the game.
The Bears started as -125 favorites on the moneyline over at DraftKings Sportsbook, but once the Bears announced they would not be playing their starters, the odds flipped with the spread going from Chicago -1.5 to +1, the total dropping from 32 to 31.5 and money line to favoring Houston at -122. The Texans are also not expected to play their starters, and the odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, as of Thursday morning, now have the Texans as -135 favorites on the money line and -1.5 on the spread with the total set at 30.5.
Of course, the Bears and Texans will be well represented in Saturday’s Enshrinement ceremony, with former Texans WR Andre Johnson and former Bears Devin Hester and Steve “Mongo” McMichael set to get their gold jackets.
It should be an interesting season for both teams, as the Bears begin a new era with a new QB in Caleb Williams. The No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft has +100 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to be the rookie passing yard leader and will direct a revamped Chicago offense. Chicago currently has -120 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to return to the playoffs.
Bears TE Cole Kmet recently joined GoJo and Golic and said you can see the talent Williams brings to the huddle.
The Texans are coming off a surprising turnaround season under head coach DeMeco Ryans and reigning Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. The Texans shocked the football world in 2023, going 10-7 en route to a division championship after going just 3-13 in 2022. The Texans currently have -190 odds to return to the playoffs and have +1600 odds to win the Super Bowl after adding WR Stefon Diggs in the offseason.
And for those who will be in the mood for some DFS football, we have good news for you — Week 1 salaries are live in the DraftKings NFL Lobby! So start building those lineups and get ready for some football!
Set your Week 1 fantasy football lineups over at the DraftKings NFL Contest Lobby!
GOJO & GOLIC TEXANS PREVIEW
GOJO & GOLIC BEARS PREVIEW
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
