Written by Iain Schreiber
The Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers will face off in the first preseason game of 2026 tonight, August 6th, at 8pm ET, in Canton, Ohio. The wait is finally over for fans and bettors as the 2026 NFL season begins.
The annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game honors Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, and the 2026 class of Drew Brees, Roger Craig, and Adam Vinatieri.
The Panthers are currently a -1.5 point and -118 moneyline favorite on Draft Kings, with a 34.5-point total. On Action, the Panthers have received 51% of bets, a near-even split.
Kenny Pickett starts for the Panthers, a player with NFL starting experience and a Super Bowl win as a backup with the Eagles in 2024. His 30 career starts in the NFL are valuable to have as a backup. Pickett’s experience gives the Panthers an early edge.
Carolina also added undrafted quarterback Haynes King, a dual threat from Georgia Tech, who passed for 2,951 yards and 14 touchdowns, and rushed for 953 yards and 15 touchdowns in college. I hope to see a decent bit of playing time from King tonight.
The Cardinals have a revamped backfield, led by first-round pick Jeremiyah Love at running back and third-round quarterback Carson Beck. Love will not play tonight, as the Cardinals see him as a week one starter and want to preserve his health.
Beck is expected to start for the Cardinals, making his unofficial NFL debut. Spending time at both Georgia and Miami in college, Beck has faced a very high level of competition. In his most recent season with the Hurricanes, they fell just short of a national championship, losing to Indiana. I am interested to see how Beck handles the pressures of his first start tonight, but I do not expect to be blown away.
Mike LaFleur coaches the Cardinals in his first appearance as head coach. Brother of Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, Mike has worked with some of the best in the league. Most recently, Mike was the offensive coordinator of the LA Rams from 2023-2025. I look forward to seeing glimpses of what LaFleur’s offense philosophy truly is.
Other Panthers players to watch tonight are wide receivers Jimmy Horn Jr. and John Metchie III. Without Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, the Panthers’ receiving corps will be a mix of different players.
The Cardinals’ running backs will decide this game. Without Love, Tyler Allgeier and Trey Benson will be the primary running backs. Allgeier, acquired from the Falcons, is a power back who excels in the red zone. Benson, drafted in 2024, showed promise last season with his limited attempts. A strong run game can ease pressure on Beck and give the Cardinals an edge.
Predictions
Historically, Hall of Fame Games have leaned towards the lower-scoring side of the spectrum. With two rookie QBs getting playing time, this trend will likely continue. Both teams will sit core starters, leaving the game in the hands of backups and rookies with little experience.
Carson Beck and other QBs will get reps for the Cardinals, making it hard for their offense to find a rhythm. Add in the fact that you have a new head coach and playcaller in LaFleur, the under 34.5 points stands out as my favorite bet.
The spread is tricky, but I give the edge to Carolina. Kenny Pickett starts and brings more NFL experience than Arizona’s projected QBs. That being said, give me the Panthers at -1.5.
The Hall of Fame Game may not be a big deal come September, but today it is every NFL fan’s chance at seeing the first look of the 2026 season. Remember to take tonight’s performances with a grain of salt. The preseason is for teams to figure out what they have and what backups can move up the depth chart. I know for me personally, I am beyond excited to get my first real taste of football since February.
Under 34.5 / Panthers -1.5
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