Are Teaser Bets Worth It
Teaser bets can be used to your advantage by dropping the spreads down to a level that you feel is more reasonable. Since you’re dropping the spread, there’s a little less risk involved. The return on a teaser will be less than you would receive for a correct parlay on unadjusted lines as a result, so keep that in mind. The point spreads on teaser cards are usually integers, with a ties win rule, which is worth another half point in the player's favor. Another difference between betting on a teaser or parlay card, as opposed to off the board, is all card wins are on a 'for one' basis and off the board wins are 'to one.' Like a parlay, you have to win every leg of the teaser in order to get paid out on it. The main difference here is with a teaser, Tipico actually gives you extra points to make it easier for you to win that bet. In football, the typical teaser is worth six points. In NBA, it is worth four.
It's quite the question: Are teaser bets worth the juice?
- Are teasers good bets? Here's everything you need to know about teaser bets and how you can take advantage of them in your own betting strategy.
- Teasers are essentially a type of parlay, in that they involve making multiple selections as part of a single wager. All selections have to win for the bet to be successful. The selections included in a teaser must be based on either point spread bets or totals bets. As such, teasers are typically available only for football and basketball.
For some people, it could literally be a million-dollar question,but in short, it depends. Teasers are just one kind of bet and, when usedeffectively, can be serious game-breakers for sportsbooks that allow bettors totake advantage of them.
With an understanding of the teaser, how to use them, and why theycan be a good betting tool, would-be winners can have a better idea of when towield this equalizing force.
A teaser is a bet that requires a bettor to make multiple bets ontwo or more sports teams, particularly on the spread or total. The teaserallows a bettor to add a substantial amount of points in relation to the line.
For example, a seven-point teaser could be the option of beingable to add seven points to every line you're betting, but the catch is thatyou have to bet multiple games. So if you're betting a three-team seven-pointteaser, all three teams have to cover the spread with the adjusted seven-pointpadding.
Make sense? Good.
So why would you ever bet a teaser?
Why Bet Teasers?
Teasers are great in the eyes of bettors because, despite theslightly higher juice that has to be paid and the decreased odds of hitting(multiple wagers always reduces the odds of a successful bet),
In their eyes, the tacked-on points make it a guarantee that a betis going to hit. But then these rookies do things like tease across zero, i.e.,teasing a seven-point favorite to pick, only to see their seemingly lock-of-the-centuryteaser go up in flames.
Teasers are great for sharp bettors if they have lines they reallylike, and they can combine them. Knowing
However, it is also a great way to get crushed. Often, tocompensate for the juice and the perceived 'lock' of a teaser,players will place a larger than normal wager on a contest, resulting incatastrophic losses.
Because the big loss of a teaser makes up for the 'big'wins, sportsbooks enjoy giving them out. So with a better understanding of whatteasers are, the question you've waiting for: Should you bet teasers?
No, and Here's Why.
EDITOR’S CHOICE:
Avoid the Bet
Teasers are a square play for a reason. The idea of getting valueis when you isolate a side with positive expected value, i.e., you're betting a2-1 dog that should really be favored. That's the epitome of value.
Even if you lose, you're getting a really big discount, whichmeans you need to play it and see what happens. It’s just another of the
Many times, adding seven points to a given side is a negligibleaddition of value. It may sound like a lot, but in those instances, you may notbe getting value, but rather, the idea of value.
So final verdict: Stay away from teasers and just be smarter aboutyour straight bets. You'll be happy you did.
Every sports bettor is searching for a way to make winning just a little easier. On the other hand, the sportsbooks are well aware of this and have implemented what I would consider “trick plays” to get more money out of you.
An example of one of these trick plays is the teaser bet. It promises better odds and easier wins, but when you run the numbers, is it really worth it?
In this article, I’ll explain what a teaser bet is and why you should think twice before incorporating them into your overall strategy.
Understanding Teasers
The first thing you need to know about teaser bets, if you’re unfamiliar, is that it requires you to win multiple games in order to win your bet. With that being said, there is a benefit for the bettor in the way the odds are adjusted.
The most common example would be to use an NFL game. The two-team, 6-point teaser is considered the standard.
Here’s How It Works:You get additional points in each game on top of the original spread. If you were betting on the Patriots at -10 and the Falcons at +3, the new odds would be Patriots -4 and Falcons +9. Obviously, these are a significant help in winning the bet. In nearly all cases, you’ll be looking at the standard -110 odds.
Although you are getting a much more favorable point spread, it’s important to remember that you must win both games in order to cash in. This presents a challenge that sports bettors, especially those who regularly bet on the NFL, are all too familiar with.
For the following reasons, I would suggest using teasers sparingly, or even not using them at all.
1 – The Numbers Don’t Work In Your Favor
Sportsbooks and online sports betting sites know that the vast majority of gamblers aren’t going to crunch the numbers to find out if they’re actually getting a better deal on a certain play. You might be surprised that parlays are actually tipped in the house’s favor, until you get to four or five different bets where winning is highly unlikely.
Here are the numbers you need to know:
In order to be profitable betting normally, meaning a single bet with a -110 vig, you need to win about 53% of the time. It’s a tall order, but some bettors are able to get to this number. When it comes to teasers, you need to win each game 73% of the time in order to be profitable.
Now, it’s true that you do have a much higher chance of winning with the extra points on your side, but are you being compensated for your risk? The answer, in nearly all cases, is no.
2 – The Points Don’t Matter as Much as You Think
I’ve never understood people who agonize over an extra point or half-point when it comes to the spread. Sure, there are times when it comes into play, but the vast majority of games are decided well outside the spread.
Getting six additional points with a teaser is nothing to be scoffed at, but it’s important to consider if it’s really going to be a factor in both games that make up the play. The reality is that you’re taking on major risk, meaning you need to win both games or you lose the bet in exchange for the extra points.
The next time you sit down for an NFL Sunday slate of games, keep track of which games would have been impacted by the 6 points. You might be surprised to find that it’s only a handful each week, meaning most gamblers would be better off just playing the games the traditional way.
3 – There Are Simply Better Options
The real argument against teasers isn’t so much pointing out the flaws but, rather, looking at the alternative plays that you could be making instead. Without question, there is tremendous value to be enjoyed if you look elsewhere.
- First, you’re better off simply betting on the spread as it is without the teaser. If you go 5-5 on the day but bet all teasers, you could theoretically lose every single play. If you just bet the games individually, you’d still be close to even.
- Second, if you’re utilizing a teaser, then you’re probably ignoring the opportunities presented by the moneyline underdogs. To continue with the theme of not overestimating the impact a few points has on winning or losing a bet, consider all the games that have an under 4-point spread for either team.
If a spread is less than a touchdown, it’s reasonable to think that the sportsbooks are saying the game could go either way. Instead of just accepting the -110 odds, take the leap and bet on the moneyline underdog. Yes, this is going to result in you losing a few additional games, but when you’re dealing with +130 to +150 odds, your wins are going to cover your losses—and then some.
The bottom line is that gambling requires a significant degree of risk tolerance to be successful. It’s necessary to accept that you’re going to lose a high percentage of the time. The key is to maximize wins and hope that it offsets your losses.
Remember, the win/loss categories don’t matter as much as the financial side of things. Trying to get easy wins, such as with a teaser, almost always benefits the house.
4 – Consider Why They’re Being Offered
Have you ever known a sportsbook to create offerings that benefit bettors? If so, I’d love to be pointed in that direction.
In the same way that sportsbooks set their odds with some knowledge of public bias, so too do they create betting options with the same thing in mind.
Parlays and teasers are two examples of bets that are offered in the hope of attracting people who are looking for easy wins. Simply put, be smart enough to avoid taking the bait. This is yet another example of, “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”
Are Teaser Bets Worth It Week
When it comes to betting on sports, especially the NFL (where the sportsbooks are receiving a huge amount of action and have a huge incentive to get the most out of gamblers), there’s just no such thing as a “gimme.” If you think you’ve found one, the bet offering is probably a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
5 – It’s All or Nothing
I’ve touched various aspects of this idea throughout the article, but to lay it out bluntly: it’s hard to go 2-0. In this case, to go 2-0 on the day, you’d actually have to go 4-0 if you’re using teasers.
If you go 3-1 in the early round of games on an NFL Sunday, you’re going to feel good about your plays. You’re up a good deal, and can play with house money in the evening games. With teasers, you could go 3-1 on the day and end up being down slightly. In my opinion, any time you put yourself in the position where three wins and one loss ends up being a net-loss financially, you’ve made a mistake.
To further demonstrate the point, it’s important to look at the implication of playing teasers regularly. If each and every bet you make requires you to accurately predict two outcomes of an inherently unpredictable game, it’s simply too difficult to win consistently.
Are Teaser Bets Worth It Money
When betting teasers, you can finish the NFL weekend correctly picking eight of 12 games. Ordinarily, this would be an outstanding and profitable weekend. If you’re betting teasers, an 8-4 record (meaning six total teasers played), could potentially result in two wins and four losses. That’s just not a winning formula.
Conclusion
Teasers allow you to feel great when you lock in a bet. With an extra 6 points on your side, it seems like you’re stealing money from the sportsbook. The reality is much more nuanced, and it’s important that you don’t misunderstand the decision you’re making.
Teaser Bet Rules
Sportsbooks love parlays and teasers. In the former, people are trying to maximize their money without recognizing the risk. In the latter, people are trying to maximize their number of wins without recognizing the risk. In all cases, it’s simply better to bet straight up and let the chips fall where they may.