NFL Hall of Fame Game Betting Preview

The NFL preseason gets started Thursday night with the Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The two teams getting the honor this year are the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys.

If you’re having a hard time remembering who won last year’s Hall of Fame Game, that’s because there wasn’t one. Some bad paint and unplayable field conditions forced the NFL to cancel last year’s contest. As the game returns the oddsmakers are expecting a close one with the Bovada Sportsbook listing the Cowboys as a slim 1.5-point favorite.

Dallas will be playing in its fifth Hall of Fame Game, while it will be the fourth for Arizona. The Cowboys' last Hall of Fame Game appearance was in 2013 when they defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-20 as a 3-point underdog. In their five games, they are 2-3 straight-up.

Arizona’s last Hall of Fame Game was in 2012 when they lost to the New Orleans Saints 17-10 as a 2.5-point underdog. Their Hall of Fame Game record is 1-2-1 SU.

Betting on the preseason can be difficult sometimes since bettors seldom know how long each team’s starters will see the field. Arizona coach Bruce Arians has helped by announcing that quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald won’t play at all.

For the Cowboys don’t expect to see Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott much, if at all. Prescott may only have one season under his belt, but considering what happened to Tony Romo in the preseason last year Dallas would be smart to keep him sidelined as much as possible.

Dallas and Arizona last met in the regular season in November 2014 when the Cardinals upset the Cowboys 28-17 as a 1.5-point road underdog. Overall Arizona has won four straight regular season contests versus Dallas both SU and ATS.

In the preseason it’s same story. Arizona defeated Dallas in their last preseason matchup in 2013 by a score of 12-7 as a 3.5-point favorite. The Cardinals have won their last three preseason matchups with Dallas both SU and ATS.

Dallas has been a poor preseason pick for bettors for several seasons. Last year the Cowboys were 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS in the preseason. In their last 13 preseason games Dallas boasts a terrible 2-11 record SU and 4-9 mark ATS.

Unfortunately for bettors the Cardinals aren’t much better in their recent preseason history. Arizona was 1-3 SU and ATS in the preseason last year and in their last 11 own 3-8 SU and 4-6-1 ATS records.