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Marking the official start of the new NFL season, the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame game pits the Los Angeles Chargers against the Detroit Lions. The game is the first preseason exhibition and will likely feature plenty of new names on both sides. Justin Herbert is set to helm the Chargers yet again, but his go-to WR Mike Williams shockingly retired this summer. Read on for an expert Hall of Fame game betting guide and explore stats and key Hall of Fame game betting trends.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
- Los Angeles Chargers vs Detroit Lions
- Thursday, July 31, 2025
- 8 PM EST
- Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, OH
- NFL+, Fubo, Youtube TV
Hall of Fame Game Betting Odds
Bookmakers are undecided between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. The Lions are very slight favorites at (-115) on most top online sportsbooks, but close enough to be labeled a pick’em. The Chargers can be bet at even money, with the spread at +1 (-110). The total is just 33 points.
Hall of Fame Game 
Los Angeles Chargers -105 +100 +100 Detroit Lions -115 -120 -120 Over 33 -110 -110 -110 Under 33 -110 -110 -110
Want to better understand the NFL betting market? Explore top NFL football betting sites in 2025 and our guide on best football odds.
LA Chargers Face Tough Battle in AFC West
Despite the dominant Chiefs and overperforming Broncos in their division, the Los Angeles Chargers finished with an 11-6 record in 2024. The mark was good for second in the AFC West and a wild card berth in the NFL playoffs. But a brutal 32-12 defeat to the Houston Texans marred the season and left fans disappointed. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert will be asked to improve on their inconsistent offense, a rare issue for the Chargers since Herbert’s arrival five seasons ago.
The Chargers have made the necessary roster adjustments in the offensive department, spending most of their draft picks on that side of the ball while reinforcing ranks in free agency. RB Omarion Hampton headlines the additions, drafted in the first round. The offensive line still needs some figuring out, however. The center and left guard positions are not yet set in stone as Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson alternate reps in training camp.
While the LG slot is up in the air, left tackle has been firmly locked in. Last weekend, the Chargers signed Rashawn Slater to a four-year, $114 million contract. If you think that number is massive, just ask the rest of the league. It represents the biggest contract currently paid to an offensive lineman on an annual basis.
Detroit Lions: Super Bowl or Bust in 2025?
The Lions and Chargers can commiserate on their 2024 playoff miseries when they meet in Canton this week. Detroit was bounced by Jayden Daniels and the best story of last year, the Washington Commanders in a decisive victory. Top-seeded Detroit gave up 45 points en route to a 45-31 loss in the NFC divisional game. Many criticized coach Dan Campbell’s aggressive playcalling.
It’s been years of rebuilding for Detroit and 2025 may be the best look they get at a championship. Star running back David Mongomery called 2025 the “year of reckoning” for Detroit. It feels like a “Super Bowl or bust” mentality as players grow “tired of being close” following a 15-win season.
Dan Campbell will be under tremendous pressure if his team doesn’t make it back to at least the NFC Championship Game. But Campbell will also have an uphill battle in returning to the playoffs after losing both of his coordinators in the offseason. The upstart Lions attracted a lot of attention from admiring football teams in need of coaching assistance. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn took up an open position as head coach of the New York Jets while AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Ben Johnson elevated to HC with a new gig in Chicago.
Hall of Fame Game Betting Trends and Free Expert Pick
The Hall of Fame Game is full of unknowns. New players and fresh gameplans lend to unpredictable outcomes. Considering how early it is in the NFL season, let alone preseason, the teams involved typically look to avoid injuries and let the clock run. This game is mostly about getting used to the flow of football again.
But those questions will not prevent bettors like us from searching for value, and there is one angle that has been consistently profitable in the HoF Game. The under has hit in 12 of the last 16 editions. The sportsbooks have prohibitively placed the line at 33, likely one of the lowest totals you’ll see in a non-blizzard atmosphere. The market hasn’t moved too much in either direction, but I am confident the under is the side from a Hall of Fame game betting perspective.
BetMGM released information on the wagering amounts, and 77% of the public is betting on the over. That makes me even more confident we are looking at a smart, contrarian play on an under in a game that neither team has any real desire to win or run up the score. This should be a slow scrimmage that finishes with one side well under 20 points.
Go with under 33 points at (-110) at any of our recommended online sportsbooks, like BetOnline, Bovada or BetUS.
Odds are accurate at time of writing but subject to change.
Top Sportsbooks for Hall of Game Betting
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