It's early August, and, what every red-blooded football fan knows is that it's time to kick off the NFL season with the traditional Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

This year's entries are the Cardinals and Panthers, both from the NFC, and both with substantial question marks approaching the 2026 regular season.

There probably won't be much to see in this contest, as it is usually a forum for both teams to get a little physical contact, try out some rookies and bench players and work through some of the playlists. As far as a betting angle goes, the HOF game is usually one of the worst propositions in the pre-season, so it would be wise to tread lightly, if at all.

That said, the Panthers probably have fewer problems than the Cardinals and better prospects overall.

Coin Flip: Carolina

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Panthers 23 Cardinals 14