Houston (0-0) vs Chicago (0-0)
When: Thursday, August 1st 2024
Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium,
Canton, OH
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Chicago -1.5/33
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The calendar has turned to August, which means its football time. Starting this Thursday, August 1st, we will have at least one football game every Thursday until February. It begins with the annual Hall of Fame Game between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears. It’s never the most exciting game, but it’s football none the less. Chicago comes in as a slight 1.5-point favorite with a low total of 31.5.
Houston went 2-1 SU and ATS in last year’s preseason action, beating New England and New Orleans and losing at home to Miami. The Bears went 1-2 SU, but 2-1 ATS with a victory over Tennessee and losses to Indianapolis and Buffalo. Chicago is 4-1 all-time in the Hall of Fame game, while the Texans are 0-1, having only played during their inaugural season back in 2002.
HOUSTON TEXANS
This will be an extra special weekend for the Texans in Canton, as former wide receiver Andre Johnson will be inducted to the Hall of Fame. Speaking of wide receivers, Houston went out and grabbled Stefon Diggs in the offseason to give C.J. Stroud a legitimate No. 1 receiver. We probably won’t see Stroud on Thursday, instead we’ll get Davis Mills, Tim Boyle and maybe Case Keenum. Ben Skowronek, Xavier Hutchinson, Quintez Cephus, and Johnny Johnson III will likely be the wideouts trying to make a name for themselves. The running game will see Dare Ogunbowale and rookie Jawhar Jordon.
CHICAGO BEARS
Three former Bears will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend: Devin Hester, Steve McMichael, and Julius Peppers. The 2024 first-overall pick QB Caleb Williams, will not see action this week. Tyson Bagent will make his case to be Williams backup this season, as he will get the start. We can also see Brett Rypien and Austin Reed as well. Head coach Matt Eberflus said that none of his starters will see action this week, which means no DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and TE Cole Kmet. Expect to see Dante Pettis, Collin Johnson, Freddie Swain, and Peter Leblanc, along with running backs Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer.
Outside of the Pro Bowl, the Hall of Fame game is the hardest NFL game to place your money on. However, it’s the first game of the season and people are itching to put something on it. I’ll go to the backup quarterbacks in this one and Houston has the experience edge. I would like to take the Under, but it’s just really too low. Instead, I’ll back the Texans. Let the season begin!
