NFL Prop Betting
Since the US Supreme Court struck down the PASPAin 2018, online sports betting has gone from strength to strength, with more states legalizing and partnering with licensed US sportsbooks every day. One of the most exciting forms of sports betting that has captured people’s attention in recent years is prop betting. Not only can they prove to be tremendously profitable, but they’re also entertainingand easy to place.
With more on everything you’ll need to know about prop betting in sports, we’ve put together the following guide to help you through the wonderful world of sports betting. Regardless of your sport of preference, there’s quite literally a prop bet for everyone.
What is a Prop Bet?
Prop bets are often referred to as “side bets” because they typically have nothing to do with the game’s outcomeand insteadfocus on a particular player or play in the game. For example, this could be wagering someone scoring a safety in a football game, a hole-in-onein a golf tournament, and everything in between.
Prop bets were first made famousin 1986 in a game between the NFL’s Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Itwas when Las Vegas sportsbooks were trying to figure out new and inventive ways for fans to make a profit off sports. The first prop bet was on William “The Refrigerator” Perry to score a touchdown in the game at 50-1 odds. As more and more bets flowed in, the odds eventually closed at 8-1. As you can imagine, Perry rushed his way in for a touchdown, and with the crowd roaring on in excitement, prop betting was officially born.
NFL Prop Bets
One of the most important things to be aware of before placing a prop bet is to understand how the odds are structured and what this will mean for the potential outcome of your bet. To help you further understand how these prop bets work, we’ve provided the following example.
Let’s say that your preferred sportsbook features a prop bet on the first team to score in a pivotal, late-season battle between the Green Bay Packers (-125) and the Minnesota Vikings (+115). The minus (-) signs indicate the number you would need to stake to win $100. So, to make a $100 profit from the Packers, you need to place a $125 wager. The Vikings have a plus (+) sign which indicates how much you will win if you stake $100. In this case, you would win $115 from a wager of $100.
Basic Prop Betting TipsUnderstand the Difference Between Fun andSkill Props
Sportsbooks offer two kinds of props bets: ‘fun’ and ‘skilled.’ Fun prop bets generally don’t require any skill or prior knowledge and are instead viewed as a great way to get the casual watcher interested in sports betting. However, since these bets typically come down to a matter of chance and pure luck, bettors of all kinds should be warywhen placing these sorts of bets. An example of a fun prop bet would be betting on whether the coin toss at the Super Bowl would result in heads or tails.Once again, these bets are designed as side bets, so don’t bother wasting your whole bankroll just to get in on some action.
“Skilled” prop bets require a far greater level of understanding and knowledge of the game. A skilled prop bet would be our example of a team scoring a safety in a football game from earlier. This is because knowledge of a team’s proficiency in Special Teams situations would benefit this bet.
Shop Around for the Best Props Available
Also, with the competition between popular American sportsbooks heating up, it’s important to remember that your options are no longer limited. Each legal US sportsbook willhave certain advantages over itscompetition, so be sure to compare the best sportsbook apps in your state before placing your bets.This becomes especially important for prop bets, as they vary dramatically from one sportsbook to the next.
Make Your Prediction First, and then Look for a Prop
Finally, the most important thing to remember when placing a prop bet is to make your prediction firstandthen place your bet. It’s easy to get swayed by attractive lines and fun plays, but it’s essential to go in with a plan for how you think the game will go and stick to it. Keeping this in mind, you should be able to find valuable prop bets that match up with your predictions.
Betting Legally on NFL Props
The NFL season provides excellent opportunities as it is always full of shocks and surprises, where prop betting comes into its own. If you want to participate in legal online sports betting, make sure you are in a state where sports betting is legalized, download a sportsbook app, and start searching for the best prop bets.