Hall of Fame Game: Prediction on the Over/Under, Plus Odds

NFL betting lines show up faster than you think. No one has to wait until mid-September to put money down on a professional football game.

That’s because the Hall of Fame game is Thursday, August 4 at 8 p.m. EDT, in Canton, Ohio. The game will be televised on NBC.

This year, the Hall of Fame game will feature the Jacksonville Jaguars squaring off with the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Hall of Fame Game Odds 

• Hall of Fame Game Spread: The Las Vegas Raiders are currently priced as a 2-point favorite.
• Raiders Money Line: -130
• Jaguars Money Line: +105
• Over/Under: 33.5 total points

How to Bet on the 2022 Hall of Fame Game

The odds are for the Hall of Fame game are available right now at the BetMGM online sportsbook.

Betting on the Hall of Fame game might seem unnecessary. Indeed, I don’t often recommend getting too heavy on preseason NFL betting. It’s a fractional unit play, if it’s anything at all.

However, in this particular case, there are some interesting angles to consider betting.

Hall of Fame Game Prediction

I believe the over will hit (33.5 total points) in the Hall of Fame game, as I expect both teams’ offenses to play well in a contest typically known for low offensive output and shoddy quarterback play.

Why the Over Will Hit for the Hall of Fame Game

• Since 2010, seven of the nine Hall of Fame games played have featured 33 points or less. In some cases, the games featured way less.
• The average number of points in Hall of Fame games since 2010 is 28.3.

The total trends generally point to an under here, which is one potential reason why the vig is slightly higher on that market side.

However, I’m strongly considering an over in this spot. 

Consider the key names that will dictate the offensive output in this game. Preseason football is often marred by third and fourth-string quarterbacks who will almost certainly never touch the turf during the regular season.

Yet this game features backups with decent resumes, considering the circumstances.

Las Vegas likely won’t play Derek Carr much, if at all, but Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens are serviceable preseason guys who can probably put together a few drives.

For the Jags, Mullens’ former teammate C.J. Beathard is likely to see extended time on the field. I wouldn’t rule out a few snaps for Trevor Lawrence, either.

The play-callers are significant, too. Josh McDaniels and Doug Pederson will call plays for this game, so I’m not expecting three yards and a cloud of dust for the full 60 minutes.

If you’re playing the Hall of Fame Game total, I’m recommending a contrarian play on the over. 

Hall of Fame Game Money Line Prediction

If you’re determined to back money line pick for the Hall of Fame, take the value with Jaguars +105.

My general rule for NFL preseason sides is to take the dog on the money line or pass. It’s very difficult to predict which teams will win in the preseason.

In the long run, though, betting preseason underdogs like this will result in positive ROI.

Because the preseason is more about evaluating talent than playing to win the game, the value almost always lies with the plus-rated odds. Of course, there are some exceptions, but in general, that’s my rule.

The Raiders are 3-0 in Hall of Fame games and made the playoffs in 2021. The Jaguars were an absolute sideshow under Urban Meyer last year.

Still, the game is priced as a virtual pick ‘em, with a slight lean toward the Raiders, because preseason games are often coin-flip picks.

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