After months of waiting, our first taste of NFL action is finally here. The Cardinals and Panthers will go head-to-head at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 6 in Canton, Ohio, for the annual Hall of Fame Game, which is the first preseason contest of the 2026-27 NFL season.
Let’s take a look at the opening odds on DraftKings Sportsbook for this exhibition between the Cardinals and Panthers.
Hall of Fame Game Opening Odds
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Panthers open as a 1.5-point favorite over the Cardinals and this game presents a total of 36.5 points.
The Panthers finished 8-9 and won the NFC South last season, earning the team its first playoff berth in seven years. Carolina faced the Rams in the Wild Card Round and put up a real fight, losing 34-31. The Panthers are led by QB Bryce Young and reigning offensive Rookie of the Year, WR Tetairoa McMillan.
Former second-round pick RB Jonathon Brooks is also finally healthy after tearing his ACL for the second time three games into his rookie season in 2024. He missed the 2025 season as a result. The Panthers have high hopes for Brooks this season, but it’s unlikely he plays much in this preseason contest, as the team is likely taking a very cautious approach with the back.
While the Panthers made the playoffs last season, the Cardinals finished dead-last in the NFC at 3-14 and missed the postseason for the fourth straight year. Arizona has All-Pro TE Trey McBride at the helm, who is coming off a career-best season, in which he finished with 126 catches for 1,239 yard and 11 touchdowns, and rookie RB Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame, who the Cardinals selected third-overall in the NFL draft.
However, quarterback is once again a big question mark for the team, as Jacoby Brissett is expected to open the season as the starter, despite going 1-11 last season. Backing him up is veteran Garden Minishew, who should see some work in this exhibition.
On paper, the Panthers are the clear favorite for this matchup, but this is a preseason game, so expect both teams to play their key players minimally and for both coaching staffs to experiment on both sides of the ball.
