Betting Strategy Guide
Teaser Betting Explained
Key takeaways
- A teaser is a parlay in which each spread or total moves in your favor by a set number of points, commonly 6, 6.5 or 7 in football and 4 to 5 in basketball, in exchange for a lower payout.
- In a 6-point football teaser, a favorite at -7.5 becomes -1.5 and an underdog at +2.5 becomes +8.5; every leg must still win.
- Teasers gain the most when the points carry a football line across 3 and 7, the most common winning margins; pricing varies, so check the odds before you bet.
A teaser is a parlay in which you move every spread or total in your favor by a set number of points. In exchange for the better numbers you accept a lower payout than a standard parlay, and every leg still has to win.
How a teaser works
You pick the teaser size, and each leg shifts by that amount. Common sizes are 6, 6.5 or 7 points in football and 4 to 5 points in basketball. With a 6-point football teaser:
- A favorite at -7.5 becomes -1.5.
- An underdog at +2.5 becomes +8.5.
- Over 47 becomes over 41; under 47 becomes under 53.
Availability and teaser sizes vary.
A two-team 6-point example
| Leg | Original line | Teased line |
|---|---|---|
| Favorite | -7.5 | -1.5 |
| Underdog | +2.5 | +8.5 |
Say this teaser is priced at -120. A $120 bet wins $100 if the favorite wins by 2 or more and the underdog loses by 8 or fewer or wins. At -120 both legs must win 120 ÷ 220 = 54.5% of the time to break even, so each leg needs to win about 73.9% of the time. The same two legs at -110 in a standard parlay pay about +264, so $120 would win about $317.36, but on the original lines.
Crossing 3 and 7
In football, 3 and 7 are the most common winning margins. A teaser gains the most when the 6 points carry a line across both, such as a favorite from -7.5 to -1.5 or an underdog from +1.5 to +7.5. A favorite teased from -10 to -4 crosses 7 but not 3, so it gains less. Basketball has no margins that stand out the way 3 and 7 do, so a basketball teaser does not get the same lift from key numbers.
Pushes and ties
How a teaser treats a leg that lands exactly on the teased number varies: some sportsbooks drop the leg and reduce the teaser, others count the push as a loss. Read the house rules and our guide to pushes.
Things to consider
- Pricing varies with the sportsbook, the number of legs and the number of points. Check the odds before you bet.
- Better numbers do not make a leg a winner; the lower payout is the cost of those points.
- No approach removes the risk. Keep teasers inside your bankroll plan.
Betting at Betcris Arizona
Betcris Arizona is licensed by the Arizona Department of Gaming. You must be 21 or older and located in Arizona to place a bet. Check the current promotions before you bet, and read our responsible gaming policy. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a teaser bet?
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A parlay in which every spread or total is moved in your favor by a set number of points, in exchange for a lower payout. Every leg must still win.
What is a 6-point teaser?
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A teaser that moves each line 6 points: a favorite at -7.5 becomes -1.5 and an underdog at +2.5 becomes +8.5. It is a common size for football teasers.
How much does a 2-team teaser pay?
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It depends on the sportsbook and the number of points, so check the odds before you bet. At -120, for example, a $120 bet wins $100.
Why do bettors tease through 3 and 7?
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They are the most common winning margins in football, so moving a line across both, such as -7.5 to -1.5, turns more of the likely results into wins. It improves the line, but the bet can still lose.
