Prop bets are a type of bet that can be used to predict specific outcomes within a match, and they can be related to players and teams. They have been around a long time now, well since the Super Bowl in the 1980s, and they come in many forms and guises. Regardless of which sport you wish to bet on, you won’t have much trouble locating props online, and you can win big. Our in-depth guide will give you the lowdown to help you make the most of prop bets odds. We will suggest how they work and give you inspiration for strategies to adopt moving forward.
What is a Prop Bet?
Rather than predicting the overall outcome of a game as you would with a moneyline, prop bets give you more flexibility as you can bet beyond the standard slate of pre-match odds.
Short for proposition, prop betting sites allow you to bet on specific segments within a game, and these can be divided into players and teams. For example, if you were to place a bet on Sacramento Kings v Golden State Warriors in an NBA game, you could wager on Steph Curry to drain Over 29.5 points, so he would need to score 30 points or more for your wager to be returned as a successful one.
In the past, prop bets used to be perceived as sucker bets, but the advancement in analytics means prop betting has generated a growing handle each year. Prop bets can be quite lucrative, and operators will base their odds and research around the form of individual players or teams, and it can certainly spice up your betting slip.
Props bets are quite versatile and they can apply to several sports, including soccer, basketball, American football, and golf. As mentioned, prop bets will be assigned according to extensive data and research carried out by bookmakers. But how do prop bets work? Let’s take a look at an example at one of the best new betting sites – BetOnline.
In the example illustrated above, there will be a NBA matchup between the Kings and the Warriors. Under the “Props builder”, you will find some of the best prop bets, such as most rebounds or assists provided. In the points section, you could wager on Curry to shoot Over 29.5 points which is available at -117 which means he is fancied to meet the proposed odds for this line.
All props will have a juice attached to the number. So, if you went with the over market, then you would bet $117 to win $100. With prop bets, you may find a 0.5 value attached for certain sections, such as Over 30.5 points scored. Therefore, if you bet on a player who exceeds the line, then you will return a successful wager. Simply put, if there is a prop that can be applied, then a sportsbook will advertise it.
Types of Prop Bet Examples
If you wish to wager at say the best NBA sportsbooks, then you will need to be aware of the different types of prop bets which are available and they come in all forms and guises. We have referred to the main ones below:
Game Props
Game props are quite popular at many operators nowadays. They can be set around spreads/handicaps, moneylines, and Over/Under totals, and they can be broken down into derivatives, such as an innings or a quarter.
Below are some good game prop bet examples:
• Will there be a goal scored in the last 10 minutes of the game?
• First team to 10 points
• Total number of rushing yards
• Team with the most strikeouts
Team Props
These will focus solely on the performance of a team or side. Normally, team props will be displayed as Over/Under totals or even moneylines, and we have displayed some examples below of what you can typically expect:
- Will a team win all four quarters?
- First-half team total points scored
- Team points per MLB game
- Will a team score a defensive touchdown?
- Most rushing yards completed by a team
Player Props
Player props will be judged on individual displays during a game or event. These can be bet on via moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals, or Yes/No propositions. We have suggested some player props you can find at online sportsbooks:
• Who will score the first run of the game?
• Total number of strikeouts for a pitcher
• Odds for a player to score the first touchdown of the Super Bowl
• NHL props for Over/Under on the number of goals a player might score in a game
Novelty Props
This is where prop betting gets really interesting. Novelty or exotic bets can be found at major events, such as the Super Bowl. They typically have noting to do with the game itself, but they focus on more unique markets that you won’t necessarily find available at other sports betting sites. Below are some good examples:
- Which coach will be the first to call a timeout?
- The color of gatorade that will be poured over the winning Super Bowl coach.
- Coin tosses.
- How long it will take for the performer to finish singing the National Anthem.
How to Make a Prop Bet Online
Bettors will be able to place prop style wagers at the best offshore sportsbooks with minimal fuss, and they suit recreational and seasoned bettors alike.
With that in mind, we have provided a simple step-by-step guide for how you can do so at BetOnline. If you are new to gambling at this sportsbook, you can pick up a few BetOnline promo codes along the way. In the meantime, let’s go back to our guide.
Step One – Open a BetOnline Account
Launch the BetOnline website and look for the green “Join” button. Next, fill in your details on the registration form that opens, and choose a username and password. Then, click “Create Account.”
Step Two – Verify your Account
Once you have registered an account, a member of the BetOnline team will reach out and email a verification link so you can set up your new profile. Once you have clicked the link, use your new credentials to sign back into BetOnline’s website and access your account.
Step Three – Make your First Deposit
You will now be able to deposit funds freely into your account. Head over to the banking section of the site and select your preferred payment method from the dropdown menu, and enter the amount you wish to deposit. You will also be able to enter the promo code “BOL1000” in the promo code box. Then, click “Deposit Now” and follow the prompts to complete the deposit.
Step Four – Select Your Sport
You can click on the “Sports” tab on the BetOnline homepage. Then, select the sport you wish to place prop bets on, and in this instance, you may wish to place prop bets on soccer. Then, choose the options available for this sport, select the competition, and match you wish to bet on. In this instance, we chose basketball and more specifically, the NBA.
Step Five – Start Betting
Once you have chosen the game, click on the Prop Builder section to populate your betting slip with the relevant details. Then, you can add in the amount you wish to wager and then click “place bet” to confirm your selection.
Prop Betting FAQs
Where can I place prop bets?
Can I bet on props in a live game?
What happens when a prop bet is canceled?
Which sports offer prop betting?
Winning Prop Bets
Now you have placed your prop bets, we need to assess what contributes to a prop winning or losing. Below, we have used an example of an NBA game that is set to take place between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets. There are a few possible outcomes in the match. So, you could bet on the Nets at -126 to score last in the match. If you made a wager of $100, then you would receive a payout of $179.37, with the resulting profit being $79.37.
Another outcome might be whether the game will go into overtime. The chances are it may not stretch beyond regulation time and go into the Overtime. Therefore, the Yes proposition part of the bet for there to be Overtime could carry longer odds of +1031. As this would seem more unlikely, you could win $1131 with a wager of $100, which would represent a very tidy profit.
With NBA bets, you will find index props, whereby odds will vary depending on the player’s ability. If you were wagering on say Giannis Antetokounmpo or LeBron James, then you will get rather short odds as they are known for producing monster scoring displays.
The common prop betting line is valued at -110 for bookies, so you would need to wager $110 to win $100. If the line is skewed, then the bookmaker may alter the lines, but prop betting works well for in-play betting as prices will fluctuate during real time.
Prop Bets Online – Strategies
When placing prop bets, there are a few things you should bear in mind to improve your chances of winning. The following strategy pointers should help.
Consider the Public
If your goal is to back the underdog, we suggest waiting several days after the lines are released before placing your bet. The closer it gets to game time, the more the general public will place their wagers, influencing the odds and the prices. Seeing movement on the line makes it easier to see where you should put your money, and waiting as long as possible ensures you get the best odds. Sometimes, it is better not to be a sheep and follow the crowd as they can be sucked into bad bets.
Tracking the Line
At the best sportsbooks, you will find that odds will be released several days before the game takes place. A prop bet can be adjusted according to the other wagers placed by bettors. In some circumstances, a slight differential in the scoring can make a big difference, so ideally you should keep abreast of your preferred lines before wading in with a bet.
Do your Research
With baseball stats and metrics, the possibilities seem to be endless, however, if you are willing to put the hard yards in and do as much research as possible, then it could pay off in the long term. Look at the value of the matchups and see which props are most likely to play into the results.
Shop around
Ideally, don’t commit to the first sportsbook you set your eyes on. Have a look around and see how the prop bet odds stack up. Check out the odds and shop around to find the prop bets that will provide the best value for money.
Prop Sports Betting
The best prop bets can be located in just a few clicks, and they can be applied to a variety of sports as shown below:
Props for MLB
The best MLB betting sites will be deluged with a wealth of player props per game and there is always plenty of interest surrounding the home run markets and whether a player will hit a home run. Odds will fluctuate depending on a player’s propensity for landing home runs.
Usually, you will find plus-money odds, such as +300, +500, and +750 for a player to hit the ball out of the park. For example, New York Yankees big man Aaron Judge might be valued at +300 to hit a homer.
Props for College Football
Although the range of college football props aren’t as abundant as the ones you will find for NFL games, when things reach the climax of the College Football Championships, such as the semi-finals and finals, you will find more player props to get stuck into especially if there are teams with big rivalries involved.
Props for Soccer
Soccer and props are quite conducive. In many respects, the best soccer betting apps will be well versed in carrying odds for player performances, such as whether a player will score or provide an assist at anytime or register X number of shots on target per game. So, for example, if you wagered on Gabriel Martinelli to score anytime for Arsenal against West Ham, you might get favorable odds if he’s been in a rich vein of form.
Props for NHL
NHL props come into their own for choosing whether a player will score a goal (Yes/No) and wagering on the total number of points a player will score in a game (Over/Under).
The goalscoring prop will give bettors the chance to wager “Yes” at (plus odds) or “No” (at minus odds). The better the goal scorer, the shorter the odds, and vice versa. A good example might be a high scoring frontman such as Alexander Ovechkin to net for the Washington Capitals Yes/No odds of +180/-220, while a random defenseman who rarely puts the puck in the net might have Yes/No odds of +400/-600, and this will be widely available at the best NHL betting sites.
Props for NBA
A prop market that carries more sway among bettors, is “first basketball” betting. These bear some similarities with run props in baseball and touchdown props in football, and bettors can even get more specific by choosing the first method of the first basket, such as a three-pointer or dunk. Such index props are almost always offered at plus-money odds as they are difficult to hit.
Props for Tennis
Tennis typically comprises several sets (usually best-of-three), and you can find some intriguing lines such as how many aces a player might serve in a match or who will win the first set.
Props for Golf
Unlike most of the other US sporting disciplines, golf works slightly differently. However, you will get plus-money odds for a player to shoot a hole-in-one during a Major, while Jon Rahm could get inviting odds to win more than one Major in 2023.
How to Read Prop Bets
New bettors may find myriad numbers displayed on a sports betting site daunting. However, remember that these figures represent the odds for each bet. Typically US-based sportsbooks use American odds as their default display for these numbers, but players can adjust them to reflect decimal or fractional odds if they prefer.
American odds generally see a three-digit number preceded by a + or – sign. The number with the minus sign is used to highlight the favorite (the team predicted to win), while the plus sign indicates the underdog.
The negative number (favorite) shows how much a bettor must put down to make a $100 profit, while the positive number (underdog) indicates how much a bettor will win back off a $100 wager.
So, if you were betting on Chris Paul, for example, to score Over 13.5 points for the Phoenix Suns in an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers, and he was carrying odds of -120, then a $100 wager would provide a win of $83.33 and a total payout of $183.83.
Is Prop Betting Worth It?
Prop betting can be profitable provided you do your due diligence and research before placing bets. As with any other kind of bets, there are always pros and cons associated with props betting which we have assessed below.
Pros:
- More options available as there will be plenty of games on any given day
- Greater value compared to other betting types, such as moneyline
- Can use props to assemble parlays or same-game parlays
- Double down on expertise and scoop a bigger profit
- Can cash out early with props
Cons:
- May be confusing for novice bettors
- Provide lower betting limits compared to other betting types
How do Prop Bets Differ from Futures?
Props and futures are similar as they aren’t directly about the outcome of a game. However, whereas prop bets focus on certain segments about games taking place in the near future and player or team performances, futures take a much longer term view. Bettors will need to provide predictions about events that are taking place a few months in advance. An example of a futures bet may be on the Arizona Diamondback to reach the World Series before the new MLB campaign has taken place.
Or for golf, a classic example might be who might win the Open. Odds will be displayed a couple of months in advance of the events, and prices might swing depending on a player’s performance in PGA Tour tournaments in the lead up to it.
Prop Bets – A Conclusion
Prop betting gives bettor far greater room and flexibility to make wagers that could prove to be more profitable in the long run. They are very versatile and the onus is on players to undertake meticulous research before committing to a site. Shopping around for value is paramount.
