2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game Betting Odds (Thursday)
It’s the first contest of every NFL preseason. Tom Benson (formerly Fawcett) Stadium in Canton, OH, hosting the annual Hall of Fame Game Thursday evening. It’s been played since 1962.
This time around, the Chicago Bears meet the Houston Texans, again in conjunction with the enshrinements. Chicago will have former standout return man Devin Hester and defensive lineman Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers among the inductees, while the Yexans’ long-time, record-setting wide receiver Andre Johnson is also part of the Class of 2024.
While the enshrinement ceremony is a Saturday event, it’s the Bears as two-point favorites in the Thursday game, according to NFL Hall of Fame Game odds. Over/under is set at 32 points
These two franchises are in very different positions entering this season, as the Bears are looking to get to where the Texans have been. Do not expect a ton of quality football in this early-’exhibition’ game, as any number of players are Bears and Texans in name only.
Here’s a look at what one might see in this game,,,
Is Williams Playing?
The Chicago Bears, with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, chose former Southern Cal quarterback Caleb Williams. He has already been named the starter, with a loaded offense surrounding him this season
Chicago hasn’t yet made a decision about Williams taking the field Thursday. Expect that many of the veterans sit out, which will take away some of the intrigue,
Chicago, after a 7-10 season in 2023, hopes to be competitive in the NFC North this season. It’s a tough division, as both the Detroit Lions (winners) and Green Bay Packers (wild-card) made the playoffs.
Chicago was an aggregate -19 last season, suggesting it was in the majority of the games. That was largely due to its defense, which again should be among the better units in the conference.
Texans to Improve?
Having finished 10-7 and a surprise winner of the AFC Sout=th last season, Houston was led by Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback C.J. Stroud (4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions). While the Yexans have the sort of offense the Bears hope to be, defense in Houston needs to do a better job of getting off the field.
Stroud scared his employer in this past Saturday’s practice, as a teammate stepped on his foot.
With Houston more of an established team than the Bears, it is probably treating the Hall of Fame Game a bit differently. There’s not a sense of urgency, though this is a nice bonus of getting the extra practice time.
Take the Bears
Over/under is suggesting a low-scoring affair, which isn’t surprising given there don’t figure to be a lot of regulars playing coupled with defense usually ahead of offense early in the preseason.
While both of these teams are expected to acquit themselves well this season, it’s the Texans appearing to be in much better shape overall. Houston will be a popular pick to again win the AFC South, priced as +105 favorites, as per NFL division odds.
Do not expect to see many stars on the field in this gamer, which is a glorified open practice.
Since the Bears invade Canton with more to accomplish, Chicago -2 is the play. Go over, too.
Today’s History Lesson
Here are previous results of the Hall of Fame Games…
Aug. 11, 1962
New York Giants - 21
St. Louis Cardinals - 21
Sept. 8, 1963
Cleveland Browns – 7
Pittsburgh Steelers – 16
Sept. 6, 1964
Baltimore Colts - 48
Pittsburgh Steelers - 17
Sept. 12, 1965
Detroit Lions - 3
Washington Redskins - 20
Aug. 5, 1967
Cleveland Browns - 13
Philadelphia Eagles - 28
Aug. 3, 1968
Dallas Cowboys - 24
Chicago Bears - 30
Sept. 13, 1969
Green Bay Packers - 38
Atlanta Falcons - 24
Aug. 8, 1970
New Orleans Saints - 14
Minnesota Vikings - 13
July 31, 1971
Houston Oilers - 6
Los Angeles Rams – 17
July 29, 1972
Kansas City Chiefs - 23
New York Giants - 17
July 28, 1973
San Francisco 49ers - 20
New England Patriots - 7
July 27, 1974
Buffalo Bills - 13
St. Louis Cardinals – 21
Aug. 2, 1975
Washington Redskins - 17
Cincinnati Bengals - 9
July 24, 1976
Denver Broncos - 10
Detroit Lions- 7
July 30, 1977
Chicago Bears - 20
New York Jets- 6
July 29, 1978
Miami Dolphins - 3
Philadelphia Eagles - 17
July 28, 1979
Dallas Cowboys - 13
Oakland Raiders - 20
Aug. 2, 1980
San Diego Chargers - 0
Green Bay Packers - 0
*Game Ended With 5:29 Left Because of Severe Storm
Aug. 1, 1981
Atlanta Falcons - 10
Cleveland Browns - 24
Aug. 7, 1982
Baltimore Colts - 14
Minnesota Vikings - 30
July 30, 1983
New Orleans Saints - 14
Pittsburgh Steelers - 27
July 28, 1984
Seattle Seahawks - 38
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 0
Aug. 3, 1985
New York Giants - 21
Houston Oilers - 20
Aug. 2, 1986
New England Patriots - 21
St. Louis Cardinals - 16
Aug. 8, 1987
San Francisco 49ers - 20
Kansas City Chiefs - 7
July 30, 1988
Cincinnati Bengals - 14
Los Angeles Rams - 7
Aug. 5, 1989
Washington Redskins - 31
Buffalo Bills - 6
Aug. 4, 1990
Cleveland Browns – 0
Chicago Bears - 13
July 27, 1991
Detroit Lions - 14
Denver Broncos - 3
Aug. 1, 1992
New York Jets - 41
Philadelphia Eagles - 14
July 31, 1993
Green Bay Packers - 3
Los Angeles Raiders - 19
July 30, 1994
San Diego Chargers - 17
Atlanta Falcons - 21
July 29, 1995
Carolina Panthers - 20
Jacksonville Jaguars - 14
July 27, 1996
Indianapolis Colts - 10
New Orleans Saints - 3
July 26, 1997
Minnesota Vikings - 28
Seattle Seahawks - 26
Aug. 1, 1998
Pittsburgh Steelers - 6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 30
Aug. 9, 1999
Dallas Cowboys - 17
Cleveland Browns - 20
July 31, 2000
New England Patriots - 20
San Francisco 49ers - 0
Aug. 6, 2001
St. Louis Rams - 17
Miami Dolphins - 10
Aug. 5, 2002
Houston Texans - 17
New York Giants - 34
Aug. 4, 2003
Green Bay Packers - 0
Kansas City Chiefs - 9
*Game ended with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter due to lightning and heavy rain.
Aug. 9, 2004
Denver Broncos - 17
Washington Redskins - 20
Aug. 8, 2005
Chicago Bears - 27
Miami Dolphins - 24
Aug. 6, 2006
Oakland Raiders - 16
Philadelphia Eagles - 10
Aug. 5, 2007
New Orleans Saints - 7
Pittsburgh Steelers - 20
Aug. 3, 2008
Indianapolis Colts - 16
Washington Redskins - 30
Aug. 9, 2009
Buffalo Bills - 18
Tennessee Titans - 21
Aug. 8, 2010
Dallas Cowboys - 16
Cincinnati Bengals - 7
Aug. 7, 2011
Chicago Bears
St. Louis Rams
*Game canceled due to lockout.
Aug. 5, 2012
Arizona Cardinals - 10
New Orleans Saints - 17
Aug. 4, 2013
Miami Dolphins - 20
Dallas Cowboys – 24
Aug. 3, 2014
New York Giants - 17
Buffalo Bills - 13
Aug. 9, 2015
Pittsburgh Steelers - 3
Minnesota Vikings - 14
Aug. 7, 2016
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
*Game canceled due to field conditions.
Aug. 3, 2017
Arizona Cardinals - 18
Dallas Cowboys - 20
Aug. 2, 2018
Chicago Bears - 16
Baltimore Ravens - 17
Aug. 1, 2019
Denver Broncos - 14
Atlanta Falcons - 10
Aug. 6, 2020
Dallas Cowboys
Pittsburgh Steelers
*Game canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Aug. 5, 2021
Pittsburgh Steelers - 16
Dallas Cowboys - 3
Aug. 4, 2022
Las Vegas Raiders - 27
Jacksonville Jaguars - 11
Aug. 3, 2023
New York Jets - 16
Cleveland Browns - 21
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