A Guide to Prop Betting

What is Prop Betting?

For many newcomers to sports wagers, an early question is likely to be: what is prop betting?

Simply stated, a prop bet is a wager on a particular occurrence during a game—”prop” is shorthand for “proposition.” As a bettor, you’re proposing that something will happen and if it does, you’ll be rewarded.

Instead of choosing a winner or betting that one team will cover the spread, a prop bet is a wager on instances like which team will score first, how many passing yards a quarterback will record, or how many three-pointers a player will sink.

It’s not hard to see why the popularity of prop betting has increased so much in recent years. With the right online sports betting site, they are a fun outlet, bring some creativity into the mix, and make watching a game more interesting than ever.

How Does a Prop Bet Work?

A prop bet is essentially any bet outside of the point spread, total, and money line.

Pro football, already statistics-driven, is a good opportunity for prop bets. You could wager on how many completions Tom Brady will have or whether or not Derrick Henry will rush for more than 150 yards.

The NBA also offers interesting prop betting. Maybe you’re sure the Bucks defense will shut down James Harden, so you bet that he’ll be held to less than 30 points. Or you might wage that Steph Curry will have at least six three pointers against the Lakers.

Why Do Pro Handicappers Like Prop Bets?

At first glance, it might seem like prop bets are a fun roll of the dice. But skilled sports bettors know they are a way to leverage their extensive knowledge. If you really know a sport, it can be easier to bet on the number of free throws Giannis Antetokounmpo will make than to place a wager that depends on the Bucks covering the spread.

So skilled prop bettors are successful because their picks are educated ones, and their understanding of the chances of certain things occurring is higher than the casual sports betting enthusiast. The range of options is vast on first-rate online sites—prop bettors will place wagers on anything from which wide receiver will be picked first in the NFL Draft to how many strikeouts Clayton Kershaw will notch in an evening game against the Padres.

Is All Prop Betting for the Pros?

One should not enter the world of skilled prop betting without the requisite knowledge and ability to crunch numbers. But some prop betting is just for fun, and doesn’t require anyone to do a lot of homework in advance.

So what counts as fun prop betting? Well, here are few quick examples.

You can bet on which team will win the coin flip at the Super Bowl—this prop bet is a classic.

You can bet that an NBA coach will remove his jacket before the game ends.

You can bet that a certain player will punch the Gatorade cooler following a strikeout.

In other words, there is all kind of action available if you want it.

Why Should I Try a Prop Bet?

Quite simply, both skilled and fun prop bets are interesting, creative wagers that let you maximize your sports knowledge or simply add entertainment value.

A skilled prop bet is part of the overall reason to gamble on sports—you want to enjoy the games a little more and you hope to win some money. A skilled prop bet can deliver both.

A fun prop bet is a great way to make an otherwise unremarkable part of the game exciting. Gathering with your friends before a game to see how long the national anthem will last or the exact time a puck will drop will lead to laughs and, hopefully, a few extra dollars.

Understanding Odds in Prop Betting.

When it comes to props, the best online betting sites will typically display odds in a similar way. For instance, let’s say you want to bet on which player will score the first touchdown in a game between the Buccaneers and the Packers.

The sports betting site will show:

NFL/First Touchdown Scorer: Bucs vs. Packers

Ronald Jones II: +300

Aaron Jones: +400

Aaron Rodgers +500

Tom Brady: +1000

Based on your research, you’re convinced that Ronald Jones II will score the first touchdown in the game. If you put down $40 on that prop bet, and Ronald Jones II scores first, you’ll have a payout of $160—$120 for the win plus the return of your original $40.

What is a Live Proposition Bet?

Let’s say you want to add more interest throughout a contest. With live prop betting, you can place wagers throughout the game—where the next faceoff will be, that the next drive will end in a field goal, that the game will go into overtime.

There are myriad options for live prop bets, and the right online betting site will make it easy to submit these wagers. Up the entertainment value as a game unfolds, or find ways to cover an impending loss on your point spread bet.

Keep Prop Bets Fun and Rewarding.

With prop betting, it’s important to wager within your limits of understanding. Don’t make a wild guess on a prop bet if you aren’t willing to do the statistical analysis—crunch the numbers before you put down money and make prop bets on the sports you engage in most.

If you don’t want to do the homework, keep prop betting fun and stick to outcomes like the winner of the coin flip.