Cardinals vs. Panthers predictions, odds, spread, date: 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game picks by top NFL expert
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- The Arizona Cardinals face the Carolina Panthers in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET from Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
- Carolina is a 1.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 35.5 points at DraftKings.
- Mike LaFleur debuts as Arizona's head coach after the Cardinals finished 4-13 in 2025.
- The Panthers went 8-9 last season but won the NFC South for a surprise playoff berth.
- R.J. White, SportsLine's managing editor of betting and Fantasy content, is leaning Over 35.5 points, noting the last four HOF Games reached 37+ points — the highest of which was 41.
- White cautioned the lean is fragile: "we don't have much of a margin for error, particularly if the Panthers coaching staff is on autopilot."
Why it matters: White's Over 35.5 lean rests on a narrow scoring band — the last four HOF Games hit 37+ but topped out at 41, giving bettors little margin for error. White himself flagged that the lean breaks if Carolina's staff runs the game on autopilot rather than letting LaFleur attempt an offensive debut statement for Arizona.
