The 2026 NFL season gets underway on Thursday when Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers head to Canton to take part in the Hall of Fame Game.
Carolina last played in the pre-season opener in 1995, while Arizona return to Canton for the first time since 2017.
Both teams have a point to prove in the first game of the new season, but neither organisation are expected to let many, if any, of their regular starters feature.
Arizona Cardinals v Carolina Panthers Betting Tips
Best Bet - Carolina Panthers Money Line @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Over 35.5 points @ 10/11
Bet Builder - Carolina Panthers to win both halves & Both teams to score 15+ points @ 20/1
Arizona Cardinals v Carolina Panthers Prediction
Best Bet - Carolina Panthers Money Line @ 1/1
NFL players are used to travelling for the majority of the season, but Carolina have an advantage as they have a much shorter commute to Ohio.
Arizona's players are just a few weeks into their preparations under a new head coach in Mike LaFleur and the last thing most of their team need is a lengthy journey to play in a game that carries little significance.
While Arizona are having to teach their roster a new system under LaFleur, the Panthers are heading into year three under coach Dave Canales and experience is crucial at this early stage of the season.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett signed a one-year deal with the Panthers and he is expected to start on Thursday and that is a major boost to their chances of winning.
Carolina finished last season with an 8-9 record, which was enough to win the NFC South and make the playoffs, while Arizona finished the year 3-14 and the value lies with Carolina in a game close to home.
Alternative Bet - Over 35.5 points @ 10/11
The Hall of Fame Game is a game for players at the bottom of the depth chart to impress and that can lead to high-scoring games.
While backup and fringe players are used, the last four editions have all contained over 35.5 points and the last time that failed to happen was August 2021.
With Pickett in charge of Carolina's offence, the Panthers could rack up a few touchdowns nice and early, which will force Arizona to try a few things when they have the ball.
The game is a glorified fitness test as it is more about the pre-match activities and there's enough value to back a high-scoring affair.
Arizona Cardinals v Carolina Panthers Bet Builder Tip
Carolina Panthers to win both halves
Both teams to score 15+ points
Pays @ 20/1
With LaFleur in charge of his first game, there is bound to be mistakes made on the Cardinals' sideline from a young and inexperienced team.
Carolina should settle into their rhythm quickly and they can also rely on third-string QB Haynes King to bring some excitement to the party.
He is a dual-threat quarterback who will look to impress once Pickett leaves the field and he can add to Carolina's momentum.
Carolina should have enough quality to win and score several touchdowns, but in a game with so little importance in the grand scheme of things, backing both teams to score 15 points or more is hard to ignore.
The Panthers have already placed three players on the Injured Reserve list this summer, so if Canales makes multiple changes in the second half, that may allow Arizona to score a touchdown or two in the closing stages.
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Key Match Stats
Arizona Cardinals finished the 2025 season with a 3-14 record
Carolina Panthers ended the 2025 campaign with an 8-9 record, which was enough to top the NFC South
Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett has completed 4,953 passing yards since making his NFL debut
Over 35.5 points has landed in the last four editions of the NFL Hall of Fame Game
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
