The NFL Hall of Fame Game might not feature the full playbook or the starting quarterbacks for more than a series or two, but it’s still the first taste of football after a long offseason, and, more importantly, it’s the first NFL game bettors can wager on. The 2025 edition features the Los Angeles Chargers taking on the Detroit Lions at a neutral site in Canton, Ohio, on July 31.

While the result won’t count toward the regular season, betting on this game can still offer value if you know what to look for.

Betting the Spread

In preseason openers like the Hall of Fame Game, coaching tendencies, roster depth, and backup quarterback play matter more than headline talent. The Lions opened as slight favourites and remain -1.5 on the spread, now paying out at +100. That line suggests Sports Interaction oddsmakers see this matchup as close, but the market is leaning slightly toward Los Angeles, likely due to early sharp action.

The Chargers are now +1.5 favourites at -120, which means bettors are paying a little extra juice to take the points with L.A. Essentially, the spread movement tells you that more money has come in on the Chargers since the line opened, enough to shift the vig but not the number.

It’s worth noting that teams in the Hall of Fame Game often play deep into their benches, so this line is less about Justin Herbert vs. Jared Goff and more about which roster has better depth and more to prove.

Moneyline and Totals

If you’re just betting on a winner, both teams are priced at -110 on the moneyline. In a coin-flip game like this one, the spread may offer more value, but moneyline bettors won’t find much separation in price.

As for the total, it’s set at 32.5, with both the Over and Under listed at -110. That’s one of the lowest totals you’ll see all year, but it’s typical for the Hall of Fame Game, where clock stoppages are rare, starters sit early, and coaches keep things conservative. Historically, unders have been a profitable trend in this game, with 12 of the last 16 Hall of Fame Games going under the total.

Reading the NFL HOF Game Betting Trends

So far it seems that early bettors are backing the Lions, likely based on Dan Campbell’s reputation for bringing intensity, even in preseason. But betting against the public in a game like this can pay off. It’s not uncommon for sharper bettors to wait and fade the early hype, especially if they believe the depth chart favours the underdog.

Also keep in mind that while the public may flock to Detroit due to their high-profile 2024 season, preseason success doesn’t always track with regular-season expectations. Betting the Chargers to cover might be the contrarian move here, especially with added value on the +1.5 at -120.

Betting on the Hall of Fame Game isn’t about stars or storylines, it’s about understanding depth charts, coaching strategies, and how the market moves in response to early action. The total is low for a reason, and sharp bettors will dig deeper into the rosters before placing a wager.

If you’re jumping back into NFL betting, this is a great opportunity to shake off the rust and look for edges before the full preseason begins. Just remember: this isn’t about picking a Super Bowl contender it’s about reading between the lines of a very specific betting opportunity.