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What is a Teaser Bet? How To, Types, Examples

Sometimes it’s hard to make a decision when you’re handicapping a football or basketball game. The odds makers make a tough line and it’s challenging to pick a side. However, did you know that you can move those lines? Although they’re not available in hockey or baseball, teasers and pleasers give you the opportunity to shift the betting odds so that you can get a better number to your liking. But what’s the catch? Read on to find out:

What is a Teaser Bet?

A teaser bet is a type of sports bet that allows the bettor to adjust the point spread or total for a game in their favor, but at the cost of reduced odds.

In a teaser bet, the bettor can select two or more teams and adjust the point spread or total for each team in their favor by a certain number of points. This makes it easier for the bettor to win the bet, but the payout is reduced due to the increased probability of winning.

Teaser bets are popular among sports bettors who want to increase their chances of winning, but are willing to accept lower odds in exchange.

How Does a Teaser Bet Work?

Original Spread

To tease the odds of an original spread, you would need to adjust the point spread or total in your favor by a certain number of points. The amount of points by which you can adjust the spread varies depending on the sportsbook and the type of bet you are making.

For example, if the original point spread for a football game is -7, you can tease the odds by adding 6 points to the spread, making it -1. Alternatively, if the original total for a basketball game is 220, you can tease the odds by subtracting 4 points from the total, making it 216.

Keep in mind that the more points you add or subtract, the lower the odds will be for the bet. Teaser bets are often used to make the original spread more favorable, but it comes at the cost of a reduced payout.

Potential Payouts

The exact payout for a teaser bet depends on several factors, including the number of teams involved, the point spread or total, and the specific sportsbook offering the bet.

Generally speaking, the more teams and the larger the point spread or total, the lower the potential payout will be for a teaser bet. For example, a two-team teaser with a six-point adjustment might have a payout of -110 (meaning the bettor must risk $110 to win $100), while a four-team teaser with a 10-point adjustment might have a payout of +200 (meaning the bettor would win $200 on a $100 bet).

Margins of Victory

The common margins of victory that bettors try to work with when placing teaser bets include:

  1. Football: In football, the most common margins of victory are 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10 points. Bettors often try to adjust the point spread by 6 or 7 points to get a better chance of winning.
  2. Basketball: In basketball, the most common margins of victory are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 14 points. Bettors often try to adjust the point spread by 4, 5, or 6 points to get a better chance of winning.
  3. Baseball: In baseball, the most common margins of victory are 1 and 2 runs. Bettors often try to adjust the run line by 1 run to get a better chance of winning.
  4. Hockey: In hockey, the most common margins of victory are 1 and 2 goals. Bettors often try to adjust the puck line by half a goal to get a better chance of winning.

Types of Teaser Bets

Two-Team Teasers

As explained briefly earlier, a two-team teaser involves selecting two teams and then adjusting the point spread or total in your favor. The point spread or total is adjusted by a certain number of points, usually 6, which can increase your chances of winning the bet.

For example, let's say the New York Giants are playing the Dallas Cowboys and the point spread is -3.5 in favor of the Giants. If you place a two-team teaser bet and adjust the point spread by 6 points in your favor, the new point spread would be +2.5 in favor of the Giants. This means that the Giants can now lose by up to 2 points and you would still win the bet.

To win a two-team teaser bet, both teams must cover the adjusted point spread or the total score of the game must be within the adjusted total. The exact payout for a two-team teaser bet depends on several factors, including the specific sportsbook offering the bet.

Six-Point Teasers

A six-point teaser is a type of sports bet that involves adjusting the point spread or total by six points in the bettor's favor for each selection in the teaser. This can increase the bettor's chances of winning, but it also decreases the potential payout.

For example, if the original point spread on a football game is -7 in favor of Team A and the total is 42, a six-point teaser could adjust the point spread to -1 in favor of Team A and the total to 36. This means that Team A must win by at least one point, and the total score of the game must be 36 or less for the teaser bet to win.

A six-point teaser can be used for a variety of sports, including football, basketball, and hockey. It can involve selecting two or more teams or totals, with each selection being adjusted by six points in the bettor's favor.

Reverse Teasers

A reverse teaser is a type of sports bet that is essentially the opposite of a regular teaser. While a regular teaser allows the bettor to adjust the point spread or total in their favor, a reverse teaser allows the point spread or total to be adjusted against the bettor's favor.

For example, in a regular teaser, a bettor might adjust a 7-point spread down to 1 point in their favor. In a reverse teaser, the same 7-point spread might be adjusted up to 13 points against the bettor's favor. This means that the team would have to win by more than 13 points to cover the spread and win the bet.

7-Point Teasers

A seven-point teaser is a type of sports bet that is similar to a six-point teaser, but it allows the bettor to adjust the point spread or total by an additional point.

In a seven-point teaser, the bettor can adjust the point spread or total by seven points in their favor for each selection in the teaser. This can increase the bettor's chances of winning, but it also decreases the potential payout compared to a six-point teaser.

For example, let's say the original point spread on a football game is -7 in favor of Team A. In a six-point teaser, the bettor could adjust the point spread to -1 in favor of Team A, while in a seven-point teaser, the bettor could adjust the point spread to a pick'em, meaning there is no spread, and the team just needs to win the game outright.

Similarly, in a seven-point teaser, the bettor could adjust a total of 42 to 49, while in a six-point teaser, the bettor could only adjust the total to 48.

Overall, the difference between a six-point teaser and a seven-point teaser is that a seven-point teaser offers the bettor an additional point of adjustment, which can increase the chances of winning, but also lowers the potential payout compared to a six-point teaser.

Super Teasers

"Super Teaser" is a term used in sports betting and refers to a type of parlay bet where bettors must correctly predict the outcomes of at least three games or events. The difference between a standard teaser and a super teaser is that the latter offers larger point spreads or more significant adjustments to the point spread than a standard teaser.

For example, in a football game, a standard teaser might allow a bettor to adjust the point spread by six points in either direction, while a super teaser could allow the bettor to adjust the point spread by up to 14 points or more. This makes it more challenging to win but also offers higher potential payouts.

How to Place a Teaser Bet

Here are the steps to place a teaser bet in bullet point form:

  • Choose a reputable sportsbook: Choose a reputable sportsbook that offers teaser bets. This could be an online sportsbook or a brick-and-mortar sportsbook.
  • Select the sport and game: Choose the sport and game you want to bet on. Make sure you understand the rules of the game and the point spread or total.
  • Select your teams or totals: Choose the two or more teams or totals you want to include in your teaser. Make sure you understand the point spread or total for each selection.
  • Decide on the number of points to adjust: Decide on the number of points you want to adjust the point spread or total in your favor for each selection. This could be 6 points or 7 points, depending on the type of teaser you want to place.
  • Determine the wager amount: Decide on the amount of money you want to wager on your teaser bet.
  • Place your bet: Place your teaser bet by inputting your selections, the number of points you want to adjust, and the amount you want to wager. Confirm your bet and wait for the game to finish to see if you've won or lost.
  • Monitor your bet: Monitor your bet to see if you've won or lost. You can usually track your bet in real-time on the sportsbook's website or mobile app.
  • Collect your winnings: If you win your teaser bet, collect your winnings according to the sportsbook's payout rules. If you lose, your wagered amount will be deducted from your account.

Are Teasers a Good Bet? Risks and Benefits

Teaser bets, like any other type of sports betting, come with risks and benefits. Here are some of the main risks and benefits of teaser bets:

Risks

  • Lower payouts: One of the biggest risks of teaser bets is that the payouts are lower compared to other types of bets, such as straight bets or parlays. This is because teaser bets offer a higher chance of winning due to the adjusted point spread or total.
  • More difficult to win: Even though teaser bets offer a higher chance of winning, they are still difficult to win because the bettor needs to correctly predict the outcome of multiple games with an adjusted point spread or total.
  • Temptation to add too many selections: Bettors may be tempted to add too many selections to their teaser bet, which can increase the difficulty of winning the bet.

Benefits

  • Higher chances of winning: The main benefit of teaser bets is that they offer higher chances of winning because the point spread or total is adjusted in the bettor's favor.
  • Lower risk: Teaser bets can be less risky than other types of bets because the point spread or total is adjusted in the bettor's favor.
  • Flexibility: Teaser bets offer flexibility because the bettor can adjust the point spread or total in their favor. This means that the bettor can tailor the bet to their preferences and betting style.

Teaser Betting Strategies

Basketball Games & 4-Point Teaser Option

Here are some strategies that can be used when placing four-point teaser bets (the standard number of points to tease) in basketball:

  1. Betting on underdogs: One strategy is to use four-point teasers to adjust the point spread in favor of underdogs. This can increase the chances of winning the bet while reducing the risk. For example, if a team is a five-point underdog, using a four-point teaser can adjust the spread to nine points, making it easier for the underdog to cover the spread.
  2. Adjusting totals: Another strategy is to use six-point teasers to adjust the total in a game. This can be particularly useful in games where you expect a high-scoring affair or a low-scoring game. For example, if the total for a game is set at 200, using a four-point teaser to adjust the total to 204 can make it easier for the over to hit or the under to hit.
  3. Combination bets: A third strategy is to combine multiple four-point teasers to create combination bets. This involves selecting multiple games and adjusting the point spread or total in your favor for each game. This can increase the payout of the bet, but it also increases the risk. It's important to be selective with your picks and not add too many selections to your combination bet.
  4. Monitoring line movements: It's important to monitor line movements in basketball games to determine whether it's advantageous to use a four-point teaser or not. For example, if the line moves in favor of the team you want to bet on, it may not be necessary to use a teaser. On the other hand, if the line moves against the team you want to bet on, using a four-point teaser can be a good way to adjust the spread in your favor.

Football Games & Field Goal Margin of Victory for a 6-Point Teaser Bet

Here are some strategies for using a six-point teaser bet in football when betting on the margin of victory, specifically with respect to field goals:

  1. Adjusting the point spread: One strategy is to use a six-point teaser to adjust the point spread to push the margin of victory beyond a field goal. This can be especially useful when betting on a favorite that is expected to win by less than a touchdown. For example, if a team is favored by 3.5 points, using a six-point teaser to adjust the spread to -3 points can make it easier for the favorite to cover the spread and win by more than a field goal.
  2. Betting on underdogs: This can be especially useful in games where the underdog is expected to lose by a field goal or less. For example, if an underdog is a 3-point underdog, using a six-point teaser to adjust the spread to +9 points can make it easier for the underdog to cover the spread or even win outright.
  3. Adjusting totals: A third strategy is to use a six-point teaser to adjust the total for a game involving teams that are known for their field goal kicking abilities. This can be especially useful in games where the weather conditions are not favorable for scoring touchdowns. For example, if the total for a game is set at 42 points, using a six-point teaser to adjust the total to 48 points can make it easier for the over to hit or the under to hit.