Pro Football Hall of Fame Game 2015: TV Schedule, Odds for Vikings vs. Steelers

The NFL's Pr Football Hall of Fame Game is a too-early exhibition contest featuring teams and players often ill-prepared for a rigorous 60 minutes of organized football, but hey, the NFL is back after a long offseason so it's difficult not to get excited. The summer game is a first sign of all the hard-hitting action to come.

This year, the 2015 Hall of Fame Game pits the Minnesota Vikings against the Pittsburgh Steelers, two far-north squads that won't have to make a long journey in order to suit up at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

The Steelers and Vikings organization both have players getting into the Hall of Fame this year Powerhouse running back Jerome Bettis is getting his shrine in Canton. After spending his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Bettis powered his way to 10,750 yards, 80 total touchdowns and one Super Bowl ring in 10 seasons with the Steelers.

Joining Bettis in this class is ironman center Mick Tinglehoff. The Nebraska alumnus played his entire career with Minnesota (1962-78), racking up seven All-Pro selections, four Super Bowl appearances and not once missing a start.

Here's a breakdown of the game info, followed by odds and a quick preview.

Viewing Info

When: Sunday, August 9 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio

TV Info: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Odds

Betting on a roughshod game full of hungry young players grateful for an extra pro audition might seem like a textbook example of a fool's errand. That said, if you're interested in flexing your betting muscles before the regular season begins or merely curious as to what the oddsmakers have to say about Sunday's exhibition, here's a look at the odds for Vikings vs. Steelers.

Team	Line	Over/Under
Vikings	+3	34.5
Steelers	-3	34.5

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark and updated as of Sunday, August 9 at 3 p.m. ET.


Preview

Fans waiting to see how Vikings running back Adrian Peterson looks after missing almost the entirety of last season due to legal issues will have to wait beyond Sunday, as the 30-year-old running back will not be suiting up in Canton. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports he likely won't play until the regular season, based on previous efforts to keep the talented back fresh:

Top players on both teams are likely to stick to the sidelines Sunday night, paving the way for younger players to make early cases for inclusion in the professional ranks. SB Nation's James Brady noted the Steelers have holes to fill on defense:

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But keeping an eye on the Steelers, particularly the defense, should be a priority. They lost defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau this offseason, while Troy Polamalu, Jason Worilds and Ike Taylor all decided it was time to hang up the cleats and retire. Pittsburgh's pass defense was a weakness last season as it was, so now it's a huge concern.

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One rookie whose roster spot is likely secure due to team needs—but will still be looking to make a big impression Sunday—is Steelers rookie safety Gerod Holliman. The Louisville product racked up 14 interceptions last season for the Cardinals yet fell all the way to the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. Secondary coach Carnell Lake believes his ballhawking instincts will carry over to the NFL.

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he said:

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I think he’s going to develop and going to be one of the smarter guys because he doesn’t have blazing speed or other traits you look for, but from the neck up he’s got a lot of talent. And because of it, he’s able to make plays just as he did in college.

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An interception would be nice, but Holliman's real task will be proving he can make solid open-field tackles, something he struggled with in college.

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, so it's of little surprise that Minnesota's hopes for the future hinge on the continued improvement of second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. As a rookie, Bridgewater threw for 2,912 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

It's not the flashiest of lines, but Bridgewater improved as the season went along, posting quarterback ratings greater than 100 in three of his last five games. He was also preternaturally calm in tough situations, per 790 KRD's Matt Willinger: 

Once a doubt for the Hall of Fame Game due to a private matter, Bridgewater will reportedly start tonight's game, per ESPN's Sal Paolantonio (h/t ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith). He probably won't play more than a series or two, but Vikings fans will be hoping to see continued polish and poise from their starting signal-caller.