Arizona Cardinals (0-0) vs. Carolina Panthers (0-0)
August 6, 2026 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Panthers -1.5; Over/Under: 35.5
(Get latest betting odds)
In this article we will formulate a Cardinals vs Panthers prediction for this NFL game on Thursday, August 6th at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this preseason matchup.
Arizona Cardinals Betting Preview
The Arizona Cardinals went 3-14 last season and they finished fourth in the NFC West standings, 11 games behind the Seahawks. Arizona started the season with two wins over the Saints and Panthers, but it was all downhill after that point. The Cardinals lost 14 of their last 15 games, with their one win coming against the Cowboys. Arizona really struggled defensively last year, as they allowed 37+ points in four of their last five games. The Cardinals scored 20.9 points per game in 2025, while they allowed 28.7 points against per game on defense.
Last season, Arizona went 2-1 in the preseason, which was tied for first in the NFC West. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 20-17, lost to the Broncos 27-7, and defeated the Raiders 20-10 in their three preseason games. Arizona is starting Carson Beck at quarterback, as they are resting Brissett and Minshew, while Kedon Slovis is expected to get plenty of snaps as well.
Carolina Panthers Betting Preview
The Carolina Panthers went 8-9 last year and they finished first in the NFC South standings, as they won the tiebreaker with the Bucs and Falcons. Carolina started the season with a 1-3 record, but they won four of their next five games to start 5-4. The Panthers didn’t win two games in a row after October 19th and they lost three of their last four, but they made the playoffs, before losing to the Rams 34-31. Carolina wasn’t great offensively down the stretch, as they scored 21 points or fewer in 11 of their last 13 regular season games. The Panthers scored 18.3 points per game last year, while they allowed 22.4 points against per game on defense.
Last year, Carolina went 0-3 in the preseason, which was tied with the Falcons for last place in the NFC South. The Panthers lost to the Browns 30-10, lost to the Texans 20-3, and lost to the Steelers 19-10 in their three preseason games. Carolina is expected to start Kenny Pickett at quarterback, but Haynes King should get most of the snaps, while Bryce Young will not play. King is out of Georgia Tech and is a dual threat quarterback that can make big plays while scrambling, but we will see how that strategy works in the NFL.
Cardinals vs Panthers Prediction
We finally get the 2026 NFL season started with the Hall of Fame game between the Cardinals and Panthers. Carolina made the playoffs last season, but they did finish below .500, while Arizona was one of the worst teams in the NFL. Both teams will use mostly all backups in this game and it may look sloppy, but we are just happy to have football back. The Hall of Fame game is notoriously low scoring, but we have seen 37 and 38 points in the last two years. I am going to take the Panthers to win this one, as I think Haynes King can make a few more plays than Slovis.
