Texans Slightly Favored for 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game
NFL Hall of Fame Game: Odds, Betting Trends and More

The wait for football is almost over. The Houston Texans and Chicago Bears will open the NFL preseason with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
Starters may play only one series, if not at all, but that shouldn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for kickoff.
- Chicago opened as a 1.5-point favorite, though the NFL spreads now flipped in favor of Houston at -1. Bettors shouldn’t read too much into that shift, as it is highly unlikely either starting quarterback plays. The Texans are also -122 on the moneyline, with Chicago +102 to win outright.
Meanwhile, the projected total is 31.5. Oddsmakers are giving a slight edge to the Over at -115, despite the fact the Under has cashed in seven of the last nine instances.
What can bettors expect? Let’s look closer at the matchup for the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game and dive into the odds.
NFL Hall of Fame Game 
- 🏈Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears
- 📅 Date/Time: Thursday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. ET
- 📍 Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; Canton, Ohio
- 📺 How to Watch: ESPN, ABC, ESPN+
Backups to Start
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said “We’ll see” when asked Monday if C.J. Stroud would suit up. Assuming the reigning NFL Rookie of the Year doesn’t play, the starting nod will presumably go to backup David Mills. Veterans Case Keenum and Tim Boyle should get most of the work under center.
The same seems true for the Bears and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, who replaces Justin Fields as the quarterback of the future for the Windy City franchise. Head coach Matt Eberflus plans to instead give starting reps to Tyson Bagent, with Brett Rypien and undrafted rookie Austin Reed backing him up.
Bagent, an undrafted rookie in 2023, started four games in place of Fields last season and went 2-2. He completed 65.7% of his passes but also threw twice as many interceptions (six) as touchdowns (three) during his brief cameo.
Neither Bagent nor Mills will generate much excitement compared to Williams or Stroud, a prime contender for 2024 NFL MVP, especially with defenses traditionally having an edge on their offensive counterparts this time of year.
We’ll see plenty of backups and a lot of variance in the play-calling, which can make it difficult for bettors to choose a side for the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game.
Value in Under
Ryan plans to treat the Hall of Fame Game as it’s intended: an opportunity to get reps for less-experienced players.
“For the guys who are out there, it’s important,” Ryans told reporters Monday. “That’s the first thing that we have to understand that all these guys are vying for a spot on this team. They’re vying for a spot — a chance to play in the NFL and make it, so we don’t take it lightly.”
Because of that, the game tends to be disjointed and lacks much substance. Scoring is generally on the lower side, as the Hall of Fame Game has averaged only 31.3 combined points over the last three seasons. Furthermore, the Under has hit in seven of the previous nine years. The 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game may be no different.
Both teams possess quality playmakers — the Texans, for example, acquired wide receiver Stefon Diggs after finishing 13th in the NFL in scoring, while the Bears added the prohibitive Rookie of the Year favorite in Williams — but that means next to nothing for Thursday, as neither will play.
Thus, all bettors can do is lean on recent trends to the best of their knowledge.
For 2024 NFL schedule betting odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine
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