The NFL is officially back with the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, and the bettors are heading to the sportsbooks. Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET, the Los Angeles Chargers take on the Detroit Lions at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. This is the first live NFL action since February’s Super Bowl, and while it’s technically an exhibition game that’s part of the NFL’s Enshrinement Week, there’s still plenty to analyze and bet on.
Bookmakers have set tight lines for this one, with Detroit slightly favored by just a half a point and the total sitting at just 32.5. If you’re planning to bet on the Hall of Fame Game, it’s important to remember what kind of game this is. Starters won’t play much, if at all, and this is more about evaluating backups, rookies, and roster hopefuls. Sure, the starters will suit up, but that makes handicapping different from regular-season matchups.
The Lions are favored by 0.5 points, which is essentially a coin flip. This line tells us the sportsbooks expect this to be a tight, low-scoring game, which is no surprise considering the nature of this game.
Detroit has one of the more stable QB rooms going into tonight. Hendon Hooker is expected to get the start, and while he hasn’t played much in the NFL yet, he’s looked sharp in the limited action he’s had. More importantly, he’s had time in Detroit’s system and was known in college for protecting the ball and making good, tactical decisions.
Now let's contrast that with the Chargers, who will likely start Trey Lance and rotate in DJ Uiagalelei later in the game. Both are high-upside, but relatively inconsistent. Lance still has issues with accuracy and decision-making, and Uiagalelei has never played an NFL snap. That inconsistency under center could come into play, especially early on.
However, betting preseason spreads can be dangerous, so we generally stay away from these. These games are often decided by late turnovers or special teams plays involving guys who won’t even make the 53-man roster when the regular season comes around. Nonetheless, it’s fun to watch.
If you’re set on betting the spread, Detroit -0.5 is the slightly safer side thanks to their quarterback stability. However, we recommend keeping your bet size modest — there’s no edge big enough to justify a large bet here unless you’re just tossing a coin and seeing what happens.
The total is listed at 32.5, which is low even for a preseason game. But it makes sense when you consider all things.
These early preseason games tend to be very sloppy. Timing between quarterbacks and receivers isn’t there yet, and offensive lines are made up of second- and third-stringers. On top of that, coaches often keep the playbooks very vanilla. Add in cooler summer temps in Canton and a conservative pace, and it all points to a low-scoring game, and we can’t argue that.
Both teams also bring in coaching staffs that emphasize physicality and defense. Jim Harbaugh, in his first preseason game as Chargers head coach, is known for wanting to run the ball and control the clock. We expect Omarion Hampton, the rookie first-rounder, to get a heavy workload to see what he can do. He’s good, but he’s also learning on the fly against professional defenders.
The Lions lost their OC and DC this offseason, and that type of transition usually results in more growing pains than fireworks, especially in a game like this. With that, we expect them to keep things basic, leaning on the run and short passes to get reps in for Hooker and rookie wideout Tre Harris.
With both teams more focused on evaluation than execution, the under 32.5 at -105 looks like a solid bet. A final score in the 16–13 range wouldn’t be surprising to us.
On the moneyline, the Lions are -122, while the Chargers are +102. Again, this reflects the bookmakers seeing this game as a coin flip, but the better value is clearly on the underdog.
That’s because QB play in preseason is the great equalizer. If Trey Lance can play to his potential — even just for a couple of drives — that could be enough to tilt this game by 14 points. He has a big arm and can really extend plays with his legs. Tack on the fact that he is fighting for a future roster spot, and it’s a bit clearer why. That urgency can matter in these games.
Then there’s DJ Uiagalelei, the undrafted rookie. He’s expected to play the second half, and he’s the kind of wild card who can change a game against third-string defenders. He stands out as he’s a big, strong athlete with enough raw ability to rip off big plays — even if his decision-making is still developing. Of course, that’ll come with time and experience.
Detroit has the better top-line roster, but most of those guys won’t be on the field. In preseason, you're betting on depth, hunger, and chaos — everything you’d expect from a game on July 31st. Chargers +102 gives you that with a nice return.
Most sportsbooks won’t post many player props for the Hall of Fame Game, and we haven’t seen any yet. However, if they do, keep an eye on rushing yards for Omarion Hampton. With Najee Harris sitting out, the rookie should get tons of work on the field. He’s Harbaugh’s kind of back — physical, one-cut, and efficient. If his line is anywhere under 40 yards, it could be worth a look.
You can also check in-game betting once it becomes clear how much playing time guys like Brenden Rice or Tre Harris are getting. If either one gets hot early, live betting on team totals or alternate spreads becomes a smart move.
A sneaky angle we like to take a look at is turnover props. Backup QBs and young receivers often mean miscommunication, which undoubtedly leads to fumbles and picks. If your book offers an “over 1.5 turnovers” prop, that’s usually gold in a game like this. We haven’t seen any yet, but there’s still time for the sportsbooks to update their props.
Coaching matters in these games. While not necessarily for wins and losses, it is in how players are deployed.
This is Jim Harbaugh’s first NFL game since returning from Michigan. That matters quite a bit as he wants to build a tough, run-first culture. That usually shows up early, even in preseason. We expect a heavy dose of the run game and long drives that chew clock — again, something that can affect the total bets.
On the other side of the field, the Lions have new coordinators on both sides of the ball. It’s unclear how they’ll approach their first action, but typically, new systems mean less cohesion early on, which will unquestionably lead to busted plays or penalties — another edge for the under or those lucrative turnover prop bets.
Detroit will want to see how Hooker operates in rhythm, but we’re not expecting them to air it out with depth players. The Lions are deep at receiver, so a lot of guys are fighting for spots. That might mean more quick throws and yards after catch attempts, rather than deep bombs.
It’s easy to get excited when the NFL finally returns. We’re losing our minds around the office because NFL betting is finally back. But the Hall of Fame Game isn’t a regular-season showdown between 2 powerhouse teams fighting for a playoff spot. It’s an exhibition where the main stars are rookies, backups, and future practice squad players.
That doesn’t mean there’s no value to bet on, you just have to know where to look.
If you’re betting tonight, we think the smartest angle is the under 32.5. Sloppy football, conservative play-calling, and inexperienced QBs all point toward a low-scoring game.
If you want some action on the winner, Chargers +102 gives you the better value, especially with a more mobile QB room and a rookie running back likely to get a lot of volume.
Keep your bet unit size small, don’t chase props unless you see clear angles, and enjoy the first taste of football in nearly 6 months. There’s plenty of NFL action just around the corner.