Hall of Fame Game 2023: Odds, Prediction for NFL Opener

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

That’s because the Hall of Fame game is just a few more days away: Thursday, Aug. 3, at 8 p.m.

NFL Hall of Fame Game 2023

The NFL Hall of Fame game is a unique, ceremonial game played in Canton, Ohio. It marks the beginning of the NFL preseason.

The first Hall of Fame game was played more than 50 years ago, when the New York Giants tied with the St. Louis Cardinals (no, not those Cardinals) on Aug. 11, 1962. 

This year’s game will feature a pair of capable AFC teams. 

New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns

The 2023 Hall of Fame game marks the return of the Cleveland Browns to the Hall of Fame game. 

Canton, which is located between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, often features an AFC North team. The Steelers and Ravens have been popular selections, but the nearby Browns haven’t been featured at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton since 1999.

Facing them is one of the trendiest teams of the offseason: the New York Jets. Gang Green might be facing the longest playoff drought in professional sports right now, but the Jets playoff odds took a big leap this offseason with the free-agency addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Hall of Fame Game Odds

• Hall of Fame Game Spread: The Cleveland Browns are currently priced as a 1.5-point favorite.
• Browns Moneyline: -120
• Jets Moneyline: +100
• Over/Under: 33.5 total points

How to Bet on the 2023 Hall of Fame Game

The odds 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. 

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

Hall of Fame Game Prediction

When it comes to preseason NFL betting, the absolute most important factor is motivation. 

In a typical NFL game, we know that every team is trying to win the game in 99% of instances. Preseason football is a whole other kind of contest, with different coaching staffs carrying various philosophies about how to best utilize preseason.

Bettors can’t know exactly what Robert Saleh and Kevin Stefanski’s specific beliefs about preseason games are, but history tells us that the Jets are an unbeaten 5-0-1 in the preseason since Saleh took over as head coach of the Jets in 2021.

Jets HC Robert Saleh said Aaron Rodgers will NOT play Thursday against the Browns in the Hall of Fame game. Zach Wilson gets the start.#DawgPound

— Alec (@alecsapolin) July 30, 2023

We now know that neither Rodgers nor Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will play in Thursday’s game, which means bettors will get a healthy dose of Joshua Dobbs vs. Zach Wilson.

If you believe Wilson is motivated to play better after his de facto benching for 2023, that could be an advantage in the Jets’ category.

There’s also just the general roster matchup, which I believe favors the Jets. Cleveland wants to run the ball, and the Jets are built to stop the run. This will be strength against strength, but I suspect the edge will go to the Jets – especially with backups in the game. After talent falls away, it’s easier to disrupt something than create something.

Clearly, I like the idea of Jets moneyline +100.

I have less strong feelings about the total, but I’ll offer some boilerplate advice: as is the case most years, the NFL Hall of Fame game is under or pass. Seven of the last 10 HOF games have finished with 33 points or fewer. 

A Jets/Under parlay could be interesting, but personally, I’d rather just play the Jets moneyline straight. If you want to go after the higher payout, the parlay is definitely there for you.