Jimmy Boyd in 
In the world of sports betting, savvy bettors are always looking for ways to tilt the odds in their favor.
One popular option that blends the thrill of parlays with a bit more control is the teaser bet.
If you’ve ever wished you could adjust a point spread or total to make your bet safer, teasers let you do exactly that. They’re a fun and strategic way to wager, especially in football and basketball, offering a more forgiving chance to win at the cost of a smaller payout.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down what teaser bets are, how teaser bets work, the different types like 6-point and 7-point teasers, general strategy considerations (including key points to watch), pros and cons, a teaser payout chart, real examples, and even where to find the best teaser odds.
Let’s dive into the ins and outs of teaser betting so you can decide if this bet type deserves a spot in your playbook
What is a Teaser Bet?
A teaser bet is essentially a special kind of parlay. Like a parlay, a teaser combines multiple selections into one wager, and you must win all the legs to cash the bet.
The twist is that for each game in a teaser, you’re allowed to “tease” (adjust) the point spread or total by a fixed number of points in your favor. By shifting the lines to be more favorable, you increase your chances of winning each individual leg – but there’s a trade-off: the payout is lower than a standard parlay or straight bet, reflecting the safer odds.
In practical terms, when you place a teaser you’ll choose two or more games and decide how many points to adjust the lines by. Teasers are commonly available in increments like 6, 6.5, or 7 points (especially for football bets).
For example, if a football team is a 7.5-point favorite, a 6-point teaser would reduce that point spread to just -1.5 (making it much easier for the favorite to cover). If another team is a +1.5 underdog, teasing by 6 points would bump their line up to +7.5 (giving them more room to lose and still cover).
Now, if you tease those two teams together in a 2-team, 6-point NFL teaser, both adjusted lines have to cover for you to win.
Example: Let’s say you like the New England Patriots -7.5 and the Kansas City Chiefs +1.5 on a given NFL Sunday. A 6-point teaser would turn those into Patriots -1.5 and Chiefs +7.5. This means the Pats now only need to win by 2 points (instead of 8) and the Chiefs can lose by up to 7 points (or win outright) for the teaser to hit. It’s a much safer bet on each individual game.
However, because you’ve bought yourself 6 extra points on each line, the payout is reduced. A standard 2-team, 6-point NFL teaser might pay around -120 odds, meaning you’d wager $120 to win $100 (contrast that with a regular parlay on those two spreads, which would pay out around +264 on $100).
Both teams must cover their teased spread or the entire bet loses – there is no partial credit for one win and one loss. That’s the key difference between a teaser vs. a parlay: a teaser makes winning easier by moving the lines in your favor, but you pay for that privilege with a smaller potential win.
It’s worth noting that teasers can involve point spreads or totals (over/under lines) for the games. You might, for instance, tease an NFL team from -9.5 down to -3.5 and also tease the total in another game from O/U 45 up to 51 if you like the under – teasers aren’t limited to just sides. The flexibility to adjust spreads or totals adds a strategic layer to these bets.
Most sportsbooks allow teasers with at least two teams, though a few require a minimum of three. You can include more than two teams as well – 3-team, 4-team (or larger) teasers are possible – and as with parlays, adding more legs will increase the potential payout but also the risk (every extra team is another that must win).
Sports Where Teasers Are Popular
Teaser bets are most commonly used in football and basketball, where point spreads and game totals are key parts of betting. These sports lend themselves to teasers because moving the line by a few points can significantly change the probability of covering.
In contrast, sports like baseball or hockey (which rely on moneylines or have low-scoring games) don’t have standard teaser offerings – there’s not much point teasing a baseball moneyline or a hockey puck line, and many sportsbooks don’t even offer teasers for those sports.
So when we talk about teasers, we’re usually talking about NFL and college football, as well as NBA and college basketball.
There are differences in how teasers work for football versus basketball, mainly in how many points you get to adjust the line.
Football teasers typically offer 6, 6.5, or 7 points of adjustment (sometimes more in special cases), because football scoring has key numbers like 3 and 7 (more on that soon).
Basketball teasers usually offer smaller adjustments – often 4, 4.5, or 5 points – since basketball point spreads can be larger and each point is slightly less impactful on the game’s outcome.
For example, a common basketball teaser might be 4 points: if the Los Angeles Lakers are -8 favorites, a 4-point teaser would take them down to -4; if the total is 212, a 4-point teaser could adjust it to O/U 216 for an under play or 208 for an over play. Those 4 points can help, but because basketball games have many more points scored than football, sportsbooks don’t give as big of a teaser cushion as they do in football.
Within football, NFL teasers are the most popular. College football teasers exist too, but they’re a bit trickier – college games often have higher scoring and wider point spreads, making them less predictable for teasing (a 6-point adjustment in a game where the total is 70+ may not be as impactful).
Still, many bettors do use teasers in college football, especially when they find lines they think are off by a touchdown or so. We’ll touch on specific strategies for each sport in a bit, but remember: teasers shine the most in NFL betting, followed by NBA, with college football and college basketball being a bit more volatile.
6-Point, 6.5-Point, and 7-Point Teasers (What’s the Difference?)
When you hear talk of a “6-point teaser” versus a “7-point teaser,” it simply refers to how many points you are adjusting the lines by. The concept is straightforward: a 7-point teaser gives you a slightly bigger cushion than a 6-point teaser, but in return you’ll get a smaller payout (or lay more juice). The more points you tease, the easier it is to win your bet – and the sportsbook balances that by making the odds less favorable to you.
For instance, consider an NFL game with a spread of Team A -7. If you include Team A in a 6-point teaser, their teased line becomes -1. If you instead used a 7-point teaser, their line would become Pick’em (effectively 0, just needing them to win the game). Obviously, getting an extra point is nice – but that 7-point teaser will typically cost more.
At many sportsbooks, a two-team, 6-point teaser might be around -120 odds, while a two-team, 7-point teaser might be around -140 odds (meaning you risk $140 to win $100). Some books offer 6.5-point teasers as well, usually at roughly -130 odds for a two-teamer. The exact numbers can vary by sportsbook, but the relationship is always the same: more points = lower payoff.
It’s important to remember that the difference isn’t just in NFL. If you’re teasing NBA games, you might encounter 4-point vs 5-point teasers with similar logic. A 5-point NBA teaser will pay less than a 4-point teaser because it gives you a greater advantage on the line. Always check the teaser odds being offered so you know the cost of those extra half-points or points.
Key takeaway: Think of teaser points as buying points on multiple games at once. You’re paying an extra premium for each half-point you tease through. If a 6-point teaser doesn’t quite make you comfortable with a line, a 6.5 or 7 might – just be aware you’re literally paying for that comfort in the form of worse odds.
Teaser Odds and Payout Chart
Since teasers adjust the odds, let’s look at how the payouts generally stack up. The payout depends on (a) how many teams are in your teaser, and (b) how many points you’re teasing by.
The more teams you include, the higher the potential payout (because it’s harder to win all of them).
The more points you take, the lower the payout (because each game is easier to win).
Each sportsbook sets its own teaser pay tables, but here’s a standard teaser payout chart for 2-team, 3-team, and 4-team teasers at 6, 6.5, and 7 points (football lines):
| Teaser Size | 6 Point | 6.5 Point | 7 Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Team | -120 | -130 | -140 |
| Three Team | +160 | +140 | +120 |
| Four Team | +260 | +230 | +210 |
In American odds, negative values mean how much you must risk to win $100, and positive values mean how much you win on a $100 bet. So in the chart above, a two-team 6-point teaser at -120 means you’d bet $120 to win $100, whereas a three-team 6-point teaser at +160 means a $100 bet would profit $160 if all three cover.
As you can see, adding teams increases the payout (e.g. +160 for three teams is better than -110 for two teams), and adding more teaser points decreases the payout (e.g. a two-team 7-pointer at -135 pays worse than a two-team 6-pointer at -110). Standard 6-point two-team teasers often hover around -110 to -120, but some sportsbooks might offer promotional better odds.
Always shop around if you can, because teaser odds can vary from book to book
Note: Different sports have different teaser pay tables. The chart above is typical for NFL teasers. College football teasers often use the same 6, 6.5, 7 point options and similar payouts as NFL, though some books slightly adjust odds due to the higher-scoring nature of college games.
NBA and college basketball teasers use fewer points (like 4 or 5), but the concept is the same – e.g. a 4-point basketball teaser might pay roughly -110 for two teams (as seen in the table, a 4-point 2-team teaser was -110 at one reference sportsbook), and a 4-team basketball teaser can pay around +300 or so.
The main thing is to check your sportsbook’s rules: some even offer exotic teasers like “sweetheart” teasers, such as a 3-team 10-point football teaser (often at around -130 odds).
These larger teasers give a big cushion but typically require at least three teams and sometimes have special rules (for example, some books count any push in a 3-team/10-point teaser as a loss, depending on their rules). Which brings us to…
Teaser Rules for Pushes (Ties)
What happens if one leg of your teaser bet pushes (ties the spread)? This is a common question, and the answer can depend on the sportsbook, but generally the rules for pushes on teasers are similar across most books. In short, a push will remove that leg from the teaser. If the rest of the teams win, the teaser is simply recalculated without the pushed game.
- If you had a 2-team teaser and one team pushes (while the other wins), the typical result is that the entire bet is graded a push (no win, no loss – your stake is returned). You didn’t lose, but you also don’t win anything since both legs didn’t win.
- If you had a 3-team teaser and one leg pushes (with the other two legs winning), it usually drops down to a 2-team teaser payout. For example, suppose you had a 3-team teaser; if one game pushes, most books will pay you as if you had a 2-team teaser win instead. Similarly, a 4-team teaser with one push would become a 3-team teaser for payout purposes, and so on.
- However, if any leg of a teaser loses outright, the entire teaser bet is a loss, regardless of any pushes in the other games. One loser kills the whole ticket – that’s the same as a parlay.
Do check the specific rules at your sportsbook.
A few places offer “ties win” or “ties push” teaser rules that might treat pushes more favorably, but those are not common. The vast majority of the time, pushes don’t cost you the bet (unless every other leg won and they adjust your payout down), but they also don’t win you anything either. The safest assumption is a push just knocks that game out of the teaser.
For example, if you had a two-team teaser and one pushed while the other won, you’d just get your money back (no action). In a three-teamer, one push typically means you end up with what is effectively a two-team teaser win.
Always read the teaser rules where you play – they’re usually listed on the site or betting rules section.
Teaser Betting Strategy and Tips
Teasers can be profitable and fun, but as with any bet, there’s strategy involved if you want to maximize your chances. At first glance, teaser bets might look like easy money – after all, you’re getting points in your favor.
But remember, the sportsbook has adjusted the payouts, and you still need every leg to win. Here are some key strategy considerations for teaser bets:
- Understand Key Numbers (for Football): In football, certain winning margins occur more frequently – notably 3 and 7 points (field goal and touchdown differences). A huge part of smart teaser strategy (especially in the NFL) is using teasers to cross key numbers. For example, teasing an underdog of +2 up to +8 (6-point teaser) crosses both 3 and 7, which are common final margins. Likewise, teasing a favorite from -8 down to -2 crosses the 7 and 3. These are often called “Wong teasers” (named after a gambling author who popularized the strategy) – teasing short underdogs up through +7½ or +8½, and favorites of around -7½ down below -3. Games that sit on or around those spread ranges are prime candidates for teaser plays because you’re capturing the most statistically important points. Historically, teasers taking underdogs from the +1.5 to +2.5 range up to above +7 (and similarly teasing -7.5 favorites down below a field goal) have had higher success rates in the NFL, especially when the team you’re teasing is a home team.
- Be Selective – Not Every Game is Teaser-Worthy: Not all point spreads are good for teasers. For example, teasing an NFL team from -14 down to -8 might not be as valuable (you’re still above that key number 7, and an 8-point win still loses the teaser). Similarly, teasing through zero (e.g. a team from -2 to +4) is often considered a no-no by sharp bettors – you waste some of the teaser points crossing zero, which isn’t a key number and just flips the favorite to an underdog. Generally, focus on spreads that allow you to maximize the value of the points you’re buying. It’s often better to tease small favorites or small underdogs rather than big spreads.
- Consider Totals Carefully: You can tease totals (over/unders), but many experts will tell you that teasing totals is less fruitful than sides. The reason is that totals can be more variable and don’t have the same key numbers dynamics. A 6-point move on a total might not impact the outcome as much as a 6-point move around a key spread. That said, in lower-scoring environments (think NFL games with very low totals), a teaser on the total could be beneficial because 6 points represent a larger percentage of the total. Use discretion – many bettors stick to sides for teasers.
- Know the Break-even Rates: Because teasers are essentially parlays with adjusted lines, it’s useful to know what win rate you need per leg to break even. For example, a typical two-team teaser at -120 means each leg needs to cover roughly 74% of the time for you to break even long-term. At -110, it’s closer to ~72.4% per leg. This is significantly higher than the ~52.4% required to break even on a standard -110 straight bet. The implication: don’t tease just to tease – you want to be fairly confident each pick has a high probability of covering the teased spread. If you’re just guessing, the teaser’s built-in house edge will get you. Teasers can be profitable, but you have to be disciplined and hit a high percentage of your teased sides.
- Different Sports, Different Approaches: As mentioned, NFL teasers are generally the most effective. College football has more variance; however, some teaser strategies can work in college too (for instance, teasing moderate underdogs upward). One noted approach is focusing on small road underdogs in college football, teasing them up over a touchdown – the rationale is that road teams getting just a couple of points might be undervalued, and teasing them through 7 and even 10 can be advantageous . In basketball, there aren’t key numbers like 3 or 7, but teasers can still help if used wisely. A common basketball teaser tactic is to tease heavy favorites down to a number just to essentially win the game. For example, if the Golden State Warriors are -12 favorites, a 5-point teaser makes them -7; in the NBA, even if a game is close late, free throws and endgame fouling often push the final margin a bit higher, so a team that’s likely to win outright might still cover a teased down spread by the end . We found that in college hoops, road favorites in a certain range can be good teaser legs – you take a strong team that just needs to win by a bucket or two after teasing down . The bottom line is each sport has nuances, so apply the teaser where it makes sense.
- Discipline and Bankroll Management: Teasers are alluring, but don’t go overboard. It’s easy to add one more team to chase a bigger payout – but remember, the more teams, the more risk. A 4-team teaser might look juicy, but even with adjusted lines the chance of winning all four is much lower than winning a two-teamer. Many bettors find the most success with 2- or 3-team teasers. Stick to those strongest two or three plays that fit the criteria (cross key numbers, etc.). And as always, manage your bankroll – teaser odds can sometimes encourage bigger bets (“it’s safe, I’m getting extra points!”), but a loss is still possible and will wipe out your entire wager. Treat teasers with the same respect as any bet.
Before moving on, keep in mind that we have in-depth strategy guides for specific sports. If you really want to nerd out about the optimal way to play NFL teasers, or you’re curious how college football teaser strategy might differ, or what the deal is with NBA teasers, be sure to check out our sport-specific teaser pages. We dive deeper into historical numbers and specific scenarios for each league on those pages. The advice above is a general overview to get you started on the right foot.
- Target spreads around +1.5 to +2.5 (underdogs) and -7.5 to -8.5 (favorites) for 6-point NFL teasers. This allows you to cross the key numbers of 3 and 7. For example, teasing a +2 underdog to +8 or a -8 favorite down to -2 is often a strong play. These scenarios (often referred to as “Wong teasers”) historically yield higher win rates.
- Home teams vs. away teams: NFL home underdogs of +1.5 to +2.5, and home favorites of -7.5 to -8.5, have been particularly reliable when teased, keeping games close more often than not. This doesn’t mean you should only tease home teams, but it’s a factor to consider. Home field advantage can help a teased line hold up.
- Don’t tease bad teams or high-total games: A general piece of wisdom is to avoid teasing really bad teams up, even if the line fits the criteria – a bottom-tier team can still get blown out by 20, making your +8 or +14 moot. Also, avoid teasing games with extremely high totals. The more expected scoring, the less impact each 6 points has. Teasers are more valuable in games where points are at a premium (low to medium totals).
- Avoid teasing across zero: As mentioned, it’s usually not valuable to tease a favorite into underdog territory across 0 (e.g. -4 down to +2) because you’re using a chunk of your teaser points on something not all that meaningful. It’s better to pick another game or just bet the team straight if you like them that much.
College football can be wild – huge momentum swings, bigger talent disparities, and higher scoring on average. This means teasers are generally less effective in college than in the NFL. The lines aren’t as sharp and key numbers aren’t as respected (a college game is just as likely to land 28 as 27 or 30).
That said, some bettors do use teasers in NCAA football with success by focusing on specific situations:
- Tease smaller underdogs upward: One strategy has been teasing small road underdogs up through a touchdown or more . For example, taking a +3.5 road dog and teasing to +9.5. The logic is that if a team is only a field-goal dog on the road, they’re fairly evenly matched with the favorite; giving them nearly double digits can be valuable.
- Be cautious with big spreads: Teasing a 17-point favorite down to -11 might look good, but college favorites can either win by 40 or get upset – there’s high variance. Similarly, teasing a massive underdog from +30 to +36 is usually pointless; if they’re outmatched enough to be +30, those 6 extra points might not save them.
- Weather and low totals: In college, if you find a game with a relatively low total (say in the 40s) and a moderate spread, a teaser can be a decent play because points are more precious in that scenario. Also, bad weather games with low expected scores could make those extra points very meaningful.
Overall, approach college teasers carefully. A lot of bettors simply avoid them, sticking to NFL where scoring is more predictable. But if you do dabble, stick to the same principle: use teasers to grab value around key numbers (like 3, 7, 10 in college) and don’t bother with extreme lines.
NBA Teasers (& College)
Basketball teasers work a bit differently because of the scoring volume. There are no key numbers like 3 or 7 as in football, and a typical NBA spread might be -8 or -10 for a favorite. With an NBA teaser (often 4 or 5 points), you’re usually aiming to tease a favorite down or an underdog up just past a significant threshold. Some tips for basketball:
- Tease big NBA favorites down: As noted earlier, taking a solid NBA favorite and teasing them down to essentially just win by a few points can be a solid move . NBA games often come down to late free throws. A team up by 2 or 3 in the final seconds can easily win by 6+ after free throws and desperation shots. For example, a -9 favorite teased by 4 points to -5 might cover that teased number even if the game was somewhat close.
- Watch out for low spreads: Teasing an NBA team from -2 to +2 isn’t that useful (similar to football, you’re crossing zero and not gaining a ton of value). Likewise, teasing a small underdog up by 4 may help, but basketball games can swing more than that in a minute of play. The value of a point in basketball isn’t as high as in football, so be selective.
- College basketball teasers: These can be tricky. There’s a lot of variance in college hoops, but one thing to consider is teasing favorites that are good teams playing on the road. For instance, if Duke is -6 on the road at a decent opponent, a 4-point teaser to Duke -2 might be appealing – basically asking them just to win by a basket. If you have a strong handicap on the matchup, the teaser can give you a cushion against a fluky close ending.
- Don’t over-tease totals: Just like football, many bettors avoid teasing NBA totals. A pro basketball game might end up 20 points off the total just due to hot/cold shooting; moving the line by 4 points doesn’t guarantee much. Some books don’t even allow teasing NBA totals for that reason.
In summary, basketball teasers are a bit of an acquired taste. They’re less common than football teasers, but can still be useful in the right spots – especially if you’re someone who likes a parlay, taking a teaser instead can be a bit safer. Just remember that the fewer points you get (4 or 5 vs. 6 or 7 in football), the smaller margin of error you’re gaining.
Pros and Cons of Teaser Bets
Like any wagering strategy, teasers come with their upsides and downsides. Let’s break out some of the key pros and cons:
Pros of Teaser Bets:
- Better Chance to Win Each Leg: The obvious advantage – you get to adjust the line in your favor. Those extra points can turn losses into wins. If you’re tired of losing bets by a half-point or a last-second score, teasers give you a cushion. By enhancing the spread (e.g. turning a -7 into a -1 or a +2 into +8), you boost the likelihood of winning each individual bet.
- Flexibility and Fun Parlays: Teasers allow you to combine different games (and even different sports) into one bet, similar to a parlay, but with a better shot at winning. You can mix and match NFL and NBA in some cases, spread and totals, etc. This versatility can make for a more engaging betting experience . If you have a Sunday where you like a few NFL sides, a teaser ties them together with some margin for error on each.
- Middle Ground Payouts: While teasers pay less than parlays, they pay more than a single straight bet if you win. For example, two winning straight bets might profit ~1.82 units on 2 units risked, whereas a 2-team teaser might profit ~0.83 units on 1 unit risked (at -120 odds). It’s not apples-to-apples, but the point is you can get a bigger score than a single bet by hitting a teaser, without the astronomically low odds of a huge parlay. Some see teasers as a nice balanced risk-reward option – higher payout than individual bets, but higher probability of winning than a standard parlay.
- Strategic Depth – “Puzzle Solving”: Many bettors enjoy the extra layer of strategy that teasers provide. Because you have to choose which lines to tease and by how much, it gets you thinking about key numbers, game scenarios, and the value of points. It’s not just pick-a-team-and-bet; you’re analyzing how much those points are worth. This can lead you to discover edges in lines that you wouldn’t have played straight. Teasers can thus be a tool for exploiting favorable odds and key numbers if you do your homework.
- Avoiding the Agonizing Close Loss: Ever lost a bet by a single point or half-point? Teasers are one way to mitigate that risk. They effectively reduce those heartbreaking beats when your team wins but just fails to cover the spread. By giving yourself more favorable spreads, you can dodge the bullet on the most common margins (especially in football). In a sense, teasers can be seen as risk mitigation – you’re paying insurance (with a lower payout) to get a safer bet . This can be psychologically comforting for bettors who hate losing by the tiniest margins.
Cons of Teaser Bets:
- Reduced Payouts (vs. Parlays or Singles): The flip side of making each leg safer is that the house isn’t going to pay you as much. Teasers can feel like you’re getting free points, but you’re actually buying those points with a lower return. A winning teaser generally pays significantly less than an equivalent parlay would if all those teams covered the original lines . Over time, if you’re not selective, the juice on teasers can eat away at profits. Essentially, you need a higher win rate to break even (as discussed earlier).
- All Legs Must Still Win: This is crucial – teasers might win you a game that would have lost, but you’ve still got to hit every leg. If you go 3-1 on a 4-team teaser, that’s a loss, same as a parlay. There’s no partial credit for “close”. This means the risk compounds with each additional team. It can be frustrating if three teams easily cover their teased lines and one team still fails (or loses outright). You’ve gained some margin for error on the point spread, but no margin for error in the number of games – one loser and the whole bet crashes .
- Can Be Complex for Newer Bettors: Understanding which teasers are +EV (expected value) and which aren’t can be tricky. It’s not as straightforward as single bets. New bettors might be tempted to tease big favorites or basically use teasers on bad bets thinking the points make them safe – and end up with a false sense of security. Knowing how to properly select games to tease requires more analysis and expertise than just picking a winner . In short, teasers add complexity; if you don’t understand the nuances (key numbers, true odds, etc.), they can be a trap.
- Limited Value in Some Sports/Situations: As we noted, teasers are mainly a football and basketball thing. If you’re a baseball or hockey bettor, teasers aren’t really an option. Even within football and basketball, there are games where a teaser doesn’t make sense (high total shootouts, very large spreads, etc.). Some pros will tell you that outside of specific NFL lines, teasers are usually not worth it because the sportsbook’s adjusted odds aren’t generous enough. They work best in pretty narrow circumstances; using them broadly on any game often provides little to no value.
- Availability and Rules Vary: Not every book offers great teaser terms. Some sportsbooks might have worse payout tables (e.g. requiring -130 for a 6-point two-teaser where another book offers -120). Others might restrict certain teasers (like no teasing below zero, or different rules on totals, etc.). There are also “exotic” teasers (like the 10-point sweethearts) that come with conditions (like “ties lose” clauses). So, depending on where you bet, you might find teasers aren’t as favorable or flexible as you’d hoped . It can take a bit of shopping and reading the fine print to ensure you’re getting a fair shake on teaser bets.
In summary, teaser bets can be a valuable tool in your betting arsenal, but they must be used wisely. When done right (teasing the right lines at the right odds), they can tilt the percentages slightly in your favor on each game.
But they’re not a magic ticket – you’re paying for those points, and you’ve still got to string together multiple wins. Always weigh the pros and cons before deciding to tease a bet.
Where to Find the Best Teaser Odds
Because teaser payouts and rules can differ from one sportsbook to another, finding the best place to make your teaser bets is important. A casual bettor might not realize that the same 2-team, 6-point teaser could be -110 at one book but -120 at another – that’s a significant difference over the long run. If you’re going to include teasers in your betting strategy regularly, you’ll want to shop around for the best teaser odds and terms.
Over the years, we’ve compared many sportsbooks to see who offers the most competitive teaser pay tables. Some of our affiliate sportsbook partners that historically have good teaser terms include:
- BetOnline: A popular online sportsbook known to have solid odds on teasers, especially for NFL and college football. They often offer the standard payouts (or better) on 2- and 3-team teasers. If you like football teasers, BetOnline is definitely worth a look for its combination of odds and reliability.
- Bovada: Bovada is friendly for recreational bettors and tends to have user-friendly teaser options. They’re known for fair rules on pushes (typically following the standard push = reduction rules) and competitive payouts. Bovada’s interface makes it easy to construct teasers, and they’re a well-regarded book for football and basketball betting.
- Bookmaker.eu: Bookmaker has long been a go-to for sharper players, and they don’t shy away from offering teasers. They have some nice options, including allowing sizable bets, and their teaser payouts are on par with industry standard or better. If you’re serious about betting and might place larger wagers, Bookmaker’s reliability and willingness to take action is a plus.
- GTBets: GT Bets is a smaller book but one that specifically promotes teasers, particularly for football. They often have special teaser cards or slightly boosted payouts as a way to attract teaser bettors. They might, for instance, offer a better number on a 3-team teaser than some competitors. It’s worth checking them out if you plan on doing a lot of NFL or NCAA football teasers.
- (Honorable mention: 5Dimes used to be famous for great teaser odds, especially in basketball, but they have since exited the U.S. market, so they’re no longer an option for most bettors.)
Each of these books has its strengths, and the “best” can depend on which sport you’re focusing on.
For example, one book might have the best payouts for 2-team NFL teasers, while another might shine for 4-team NBA teasers. We maintain updated pages that compare teaser odds for NFL, college football, and basketball across sportsbooks – you can refer to those for the nitty-gritty details and current info on which sportsbook will give you the biggest bang for your buck on teasers.
The key is: don’t settle for lousy odds. If your book is making you lay -130 for a 6-point teaser when others offer -120 or -110, that extra juice adds up fast. The difference might seem small, but over a season it’s huge. As a teaser bettor, you want every edge you can get, so choosing a sportsbook with friendly teaser payouts and rules is part of a smart strategy.
Also, pay attention to any special teaser promotions or rules: Some sites might have “special teasers” with fixed odds (like those 3-team 10-point NFL teasers at -120) – these can be fun but check if ties lose or other caveats. Others might occasionally boost teaser payouts for big games.
And of course, ensure they handle pushes in the standard way (most do: dropping the leg or refunding a 2-teamer).
Bottom line: line shop not just for straight bets, but for teasers too. It’s your money – you might as well get the best return possible.
Final Thoughts on Teaser Bets
Teaser bets add an exciting wrinkle to sports betting. They’re a way to customize your wagers and potentially turn near-misses into wins by giving yourself a margin of safety on each game.
When you’ve done your homework and identified the right opportunities (like an NFL game hovering around a field goal spread), a teaser can feel like a crafty move that puts the odds a bit more in your favor. Many bettors love teasers for NFL Sundays or big basketball slates because it gives them action on multiple games with a little buffer on each.
However, it’s important to approach teasers with a clear strategy and not just throw them in willy-nilly. Remember that while you’re getting those extra points, you’re also binding your bets together – there’s no reward unless you win every leg.
In unskilled hands, teasers can be a quick way to donate money to the sportsbook. But in the hands of a sharp bettor who knows how to use them (for example, to capitalize on key numbers or favorable lines), teasers can be a profitable part of a betting portfolio.
In this guide, we covered how teaser bets work, looked at examples and a payout chart, discussed the differences between 6-point and 7-point teasers, went over strategy tips (like which football spreads are teaser gold), the pros and cons, and even pointed you to the best sportsbooks for teasers.
With this knowledge, you should have a solid understanding of teaser bets and how to use them. As always, start small if you’re new to teasers, see what works for you, and never bet more than you can afford to lose. Teasers can be a valuable tool and a lot of fun, especially when that extra 6 points turns an agonizing loss into a satisfying win.
Good luck, and happy teasing!
