By Larry Rupp
It’s no secret that the sport of football reigns supreme in America. Viewership rates continue to surge across the country and sportsbooks are taking more action on the NFL than any other professional sports league. Bettors need to be aware that there are a multitude of ways to place NFL wagers, including teaser bets. These types of wagers are growing in popularity and account for over 15% of sportsbooks handles for NFL betting.
What is a Single-Game Teaser Bet?
Teaser bets are much like parlays in which a series of connected bets must all win for the bettor to be paid out in full. However, they do not involve moneylines or player props. Teasers focus on giving bettors the ability to move a spread or total by 6, 6.5, or 7 points in either direction. This provides bettors an opportunity to mitigate risk when they cannot decide on which side to take on a certain game. Teaser bets can also be made using multiple different games, but that is a discussion for another time.
For example, let’s take a look at Week 11’s edition of Thursday Night Football. The New England Patriots are currently slated as 4-point road favorites against the Atlanta Falcons and the total is set at 46 points, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. A 7-point teaser would allow a bettor to make the Patriots a 3-point underdog or the Falcons an 11-point underdog. Combining that bet with a total 7 points higher or lower than the original will give final odds typically ranging from -150 to +100.
Keep in mind that it can be important to look at key numbers when placing teaser bets. Making a team favored by a touchdown into one favored by a field goal is most efficiently done using teasers. On the other side, turning a 1.5-point underdog into a 8.5- point underdog gives the bet a much larger chance of cashing. All the team has to do is keep the game within one possession or even win outright.
When it comes down to it, teasers act as a cushion and a way to build a bankroll throughout the season. They bestow control to the bettors and that is the main advantage here. Plus, these kinds of bets severely diminish the chance of a “backdoor” cover happening where one team scores with seconds left in the game and spoils the spread or total.
NFL Monday Night Football Best Bet:
— BS Degenerate Sports (@DegenerateBs) October 26, 2020
2 Team Teaser:
Bears +12 1/2
Bears Rams over 39 1/2 #NFL #Bears #Rams #Foxbet #BarstoolSportsbook #DraftKings #FanDuel #NFLBets
How to Place a Single-Game Teaser Bet
Taking the time to put together a perfect teaser bet is rather simple amongst most popular online sportsbooks. DraftKings Sportsbook provides odds on many alternate totals and spreads, which allows bettors to mess with all sorts of combinations until they reach the odds they are looking for. It is a very similar approach on FanDuel Sportsbook. The only difference is that the alternate totals and spreads can be found under the Same-Game Parlay tab at the top of the screen for any given NFL matchup.
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