How to Bet Teasers

 

 Teasers are bets you can make on either football or basketball and are similar to parlays in that all of the teams selected must win in order for a bettor to win their wager. A single loss on any one game makes the entire bet a losing one. 

There is one major difference between teasers and parlays, however, and that is the bettor is allowed to move the point spread in any direction they like on a particular game. For example, if the Bears are favored by 10 points over the Dolphins, teaser bettors would have the option of moving the point spread in either direction, and could make the new point spreads for the teaser bet the Bears -4 or the Dolphins 16.

In football, bettors can move the line 6, 6.5, 7, or sometimes 10 points, but the payoffs are lower with each additional half-point the bettor takes. A 7-point teaser will pay lower odds than a 6-point teaser, for example.

In basketball teasers, point spreads can be moved 4, 4.5, or 5 points. Teasers must be a minimum of two teams and can use as many as 10 teams, depending on the sportsbook the wager is placed through, although most placed tend to limit the number to six.

Ties count as a loss at most sportsbooks, although some will reduce the number of teams in the teaser by one. It's best to check with the individual sportsbook before placing a wager to make sure you know its rules.

 

Football Teasers

In exchange for the points allowed by teasers, bettors take much lower odds than they would if wagering on a parlay. While a three team parlay will pay 6-1, a three team, 6-point teaser pays 9-5. 
The typical odds for football teasers are as follows:

6-point Teasers:
Two teams = 10/11
Three teams = 9/5
Four teams = 3/1
Five teams = 9/2
Six teams = 6/1

6.5-point Teasers:
Two teams = 10/12
Three teams = 8/5
Four teams = 5/2
Five teams = 4/1
Six teams = 11/2

7-point Teasers:
Two teams = 10/13
Three teams = 7/5
Four teams = 2/1
Five teams = 7/2
Six teams = 5/1

Some sportsbooks will offer three-team, 10-point teasers at odds of 10-13 (risk $13 to win $10), although not all sportsbooks offer them.

Basketball Teasers

Basketball teasers work exactly the same way as football teasers, although players receive fewer points in which they can move the line. 
The typical odds for basketball teasers are as follows:

4-point Teasers:
Two teams = 10/11
Three teams = 9/5
Four teams = 3/1
Five teams = 9/2
Six teams = 15/2

4.5-point Teasers:
Two teams = 10/12
Three teams = 8/5
Four teams = 5/2
Five teams = 4/1
Six teams = 7/1

5-point Teasers:
Two teams = 10/13
Three teams = 7/5
Four teams = 2/1
Five teams = 7/2
Six teams = 13/2

There is still debate among experienced sports bettors if teasers are good wagers or not. Opinions vary greatly on the subject, with some believing they are strictly sucker bets, while others believe they are worthwhile, especially as more games tend to fall close to the point spread.