The 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game will see the Carolina Panthers face off against the Arizona Cardinals in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday, with the Panthers looking to bounce back from a poor preseason record.
Mike LaFleur makes his coaching debut when his Arizona Cardinals battle the Carolina Panthers in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday. Carolina, meanwhile, finished 8-9 in 2025, good enough to win the NFC South title.
The game marks a crucial test for both teams, with the Panthers looking to build on their regular-season success and the Cardinals seeking to put their 3-14 season behind them. Arizona is coming off a 3-14 season which saw it finish fourth in the NFC West.
Carolina has won just one of its last eight preseason games, while Arizona is 4-5 in the preseason during that same stretch. This inconsistency will likely make for an intriguing matchup between the two teams.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Carolina is a 1.5-point favorites in the latest Panthers vs. Cardinals odds, while the over/under for total points scored in the game is 34.5.
The first-half total is 16.5. SportsLine's Larry Hartstein, a former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, is backing the Over 34.5 combined points for over/under betting. Hartstein has studied Panthers vs. Cardinals from every angle and is leaning Over 34.5 combined points.
In last year's preseason opener, both the Cardinals and Panthers easily cleared that margin. For the season, Arizona averaged 20.9 points per game, while Carolina averaged 18.3. In the last 10 head-to-head meetings, the Over is also 6-3-1, while the Over has cleared in six of the last 10 Cardinals games.
Third-round draft pick Carson Beck is expected to see a lot of action for the Cardinals. In 16 games in 2025, the former University of Miami standout threw for 3,813 yards and 30 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions.
The Panthers, meanwhile, are battling a number of camp injuries and are expected to start Kenny Pickett at quarterback against the Cardinals. He will handle the opening series before giving way to rookie Haynes King. Regular starters like Bryce Young are not expected to see action.
Fans can visit SportsLine now to see the picks from Hartstein, who finished the 2025 season on a 50-37-1 run (57.5%). Anybody following his NFL betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.
The game is a chance for both teams to test their mettle ahead of the regular season. With Hartstein's expert analysis, fans can get a better understanding of what to expect from the matchup.
Source: CBS