Preseason action kicks off with the Houston Texans taking on the Chicago Bears in the NFL Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 1. Real, live pro football is back, and NFL betting sites are ready. Read on for a complete Texans vs. Bears betting preview, what to expect, and the latest NFL Hall of Fame Game odds.
Texans vs. Bears best odds
- Texans moneyline: -125
- Bears moneyline: +110
- Texans spread: -1
- Bears spread: +1.5
- Over/under: 31.5
NFL preseason kicks off on Thursday night
The preseason begins with a matchup of two teams who head into the 2024-25 NFL campaign with high hopes. The Texans were one of last season’s surprise stories. Preseason Super Bowl odds had the team at the back of the pack. However, Houston proceeded to win the AFC South and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Bears had a tougher road last time around, wrapping up with a record of 7-10. Chicago has shipped Justin Fields, last season’s starter, over to the Steelers for a conditional draft choice. The club hopes that it has found an answer to the franchise quarterback question in Caleb Williams, the first overall pick at the NFL Draft.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the NFL Hall of Fame Game is typically one of the most popular games for wagering during the preseason. In terms of overall betting volume, the sportsbook said that NFL preseason betting will match or exceed the action on an average MLB game during the same time period.
Are any starters playing in the 2024 Hall of Fame Game?
There hasn’t been any official confirmation of playing time for starters on either side just yet. However, it’s unlikely that Texans and Bears starters will see much action on Thursday night. Both clubs still have three games to go in the exhibition season, leaving plenty of time for them to get a look at key players and to sort out any position battles.
There’s always the risk of injury in the NFL, regardless of the time of season. As such, many clubs take a cautious approach until the games that matter kick off. Looking back to last season’s Hall of Fame Game between the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, it was mainly a contest between players toward the bottom of the depth charts on both sides.
Texans favored to have better season than Bears
| Futures | Texans | Bears |
| Super Bowl | Houston Texans +1200 on BetRivers | Chicago Bears +6000 on BetRivers |
| Division winner | Houston Texans -400 on Bet365 | Chicago Bears +1600 on FanDuel |
| To make the playoffs | Yes -1000 on DraftKings | Yes +235 on FanDuel |
| Win total | 8.5 (-150) on FanDuel | 9.5 (+126) on FanDuel |
| MVP winner | C.J. Stroud CJ Stroud +1000 on Bet365 | Caleb Williams Caleb Williams +10000 on BetRivers |
In preseason odds to win this season’s Super Bowl, the Texans are the seventh team on the board at many online sportsbooks, with the Bears hovering around 15th place. Houston is looking to return to the postseason for the second consecutive season, while Chicago will be attempting to make its first trip since 2020.
The Texans are the favorites to win the AFC South, with the Jaguars and Colts jockeying for second place. The Bears are third in odds to win the NFC North, behind the Lions and Packers. Stroud is a top-five favorite to win the MVP. Williams is further down the chart in that futures market but is the favorite to win the offensive NFL Rookie of the Year award.
Recent NFL Hall of Fame Game results
Here’s a look back at the last 10 editions of the NFL Hall of Fame Game, including the game-time betting lines and results.
| Season | Result | Spread/Total | Correct Wagers |
| 2023 | Browns 21, Jets 16 | Jets -2, 33.5 | Underdog, over |
| 2022 | Raiders 27, Jaguars 11 | Raiders -2.5, 30.5 | Favorite, over |
| 2021 | Steelers 16, Cowboys 3 | Steelers -2.5, 31.5 | Favorite, under |
| 2019 | Broncos 14, Falcons 10 | Broncos -2.5, 34.0 | Favorite, under |
| 2018 | Ravens 17, Bears 16 | Ravens -1.5, 35.0 | Underdog, under |
| 2017 | Cowboys 20, Cardinals 18 | Cowboys -1.0, 35.0 | Favorite, over |
| 2015 | Vikings 14, Steelers 3 | Vikings -3, 35.0 | Favorite, under |
| 2014 | Giants 17, Bills 13 | Bills -1, 32.5 | Underdog, under |
| 2013 | Cowboys 24, Dolphins 20 | Dolphins -3, 34.0 | Underdog, push |
| 2012 | Saints 17, Cardinals 10 | Saints -3, 37.0 | Favorite, under |
*Note: The NFL HOF Game did not take place in 2016 or 2020.
Over the last 10 Hall of Fame Games, moneyline favorites are 7-3. The victory by the underdog Browns a season ago snapped a six-game winning streak for pregame favorites. On the point spread, it’s a slight 6-4 edge for the favored side. For the over/under, the under has been the correct call in six of 10 games.
NFL preseason games tend to be unpredictable due to the general uncertainty over playing time. Some bettors will look at head coach records in exhibition contests as a starting point for their research. Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans went 2-1 during the preseason for his debut campaign. Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus is 4-2 overall and was 1-2 a season ago.
2024 Hall of Fame Game TV & streaming
- Date: Thursday, Aug. 1
- Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV broadcast: ABC, ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+
