The 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game is set to ignite the preseason as the Arizona Cardinals face off against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday in Canton, Ohio. This matchup marks the debut of new head coach Mike LaFleur for Arizona, who aims to bounce back from a disappointing 4-13 record in 2025. On the other hand, Carolina, which finished 8-9 last year, looks to capitalize on its unexpected postseason appearance after clinching the NFC South.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Tom Benson Stadium, the esteemed home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The latest odds indicate that the Panthers are a 1.5-point favorite, with an over/under set at 35.5 points.

Before placing any bets or making predictions, insights from NFL expert R.J. White are essential. White, who has been with CBS Sports since 2014 and serves as the managing editor of betting and Fantasy content, has consistently proven his expertise, particularly with NFL picks since 2017. His analysis has yielded significant returns for bettors.

Key betting lines include:

• Spread: Carolina -1.5
• Over/Under: 35.5 points
• Money Line: Carolina -120, Arizona +100

After thorough analysis, White leans towards the Over 35.5 points. He notes that recent Hall of Fame Games have trended towards higher scores, with the last four games averaging over 37 points. He states, "I'm a slight lean on the Over after the last four HOF Games made it to 37+ points, but the highest scoring of the four only made it to 41, so we don't have much margin for error."

For those interested in making informed picks, White has identified a critical x-factor influencing the spread. Follow his expert insights at SportsLine to see which team he favors in this intriguing matchup.