The first NFL game of the year occurs in Canton, Ohio, in a small stadium on Aug.4. It's the annual Hall of Fame Game, the first exhibition contest of the year, which this year features the Trevor Lawrence-led Jacksonville Jaguars and Davante Adams and the Las Vegas Raiders.
The teams that play in the Hall of Fame game will play an additional preseason game compared to the rest of the league. Will that give the Jaguars and Raiders an advantage over their opponents in the regular season?
While Ohio sports betting is legal, BetOhio.com is ready to dive into the data of past performances from teams in the Hall of Fame Game.
There are some great Ohio betting apps legally offering odds on the game, but it is worth noting that the NFL canceled the game three times since 2010 for several different reasons (lockout, poor field conditions, COVID-19).
In addition, the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is a tiny one (with a capacity of just 23,000). It's not always up to NFL standards and it's why the league has canceled the game before.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton is among a handful of applicants for sports betting licenses so far.
But enough about the stadium and more about how the two teams that play in this game perform during the regular season.
Since 2000, the average number of regular season wins for teams playing in the Hall of Fame game is 8.42 wins, slightly above league average.
What is fascinating about the Hall of Fame Game is that 42% of the teams that participated went on to make the playoffs. Again, that is above league average as just 37.5% of teams end up making the playoffs (before the NFL went to a 14-team playoff format).
Hall of Fame Game Teams’ Season Performance Since 2000*
How Far Did They Go in Playoffs?
But how many teams end up reaching the Divisional Round of the playoffs after playing the Hall of Fame Game? No, a Tipico Ohio promo won't be available for betting on a question like this, but it's interesting to think about.
That number is actually lower than expected at 15.8%, slightly below the league average of (25%). Since 2010, only one team has made it to the Divisional Round. That was the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015,. Pittsburgh beat A.J. McCarron and the Bengals in the Wild Card Round before losing to Peyton Manning and the Broncos.
Since the NFL started the Hall of Fame Game in 1962, no team has ever gone on to win the Super Bowl.
Is that coincidence or a disturbing trend? It's probably just a coincidence, considering it's only two teams that play in this game and the league generally likes to match up two teams with players going into the Hall of Fame that weekend.
The NFL isn't looking to get the best matchup on the field for views, as they know it will primarily be third and fourth-string players competing in this contest.
Last 10 Hall of Fame Games
Should Teams Play in Hall of Fame Game?
So is there an advantage or disadvantage to playing in the Hall of Fame game?
Probably not, as most players who appear in the game don't make the final 53-man roster or have a significant role on the team.
The only possible disadvantage is that the teams that have to play in the Hall of Fame start camp a few weeks earlier, making the season feel a bit longer. .
We’ll see If the Jaguars or Raiders, both with new head coaches this season in Doug Pederson and Josh McDaniels, respectively, can make the playoffs and maybe even become the first team to make the Super Bowl after playing in the Hall of Fame game.
Ohio sports betting sites and apps are coming in early 2023, and BetOhio will have the best Ohio sportsbook promo codes well ahead of next year's Hall of Fame Game.
And fans might want to consider using all of this information to take advantage of a bet365 Ohio bonus and place their wagers accordingly.
