NFL Teasers
Basics of NFL Teasers
Most people start their NFL betting days with point spread and moneyline wagers. These two bets are pretty easy to understand after spending just a few moments learning the basics.
An NFL teaser, on the other hand, requires a little more in-depth analysis because it's not only a group bet, but also includes shifting lines. This being said, let's take a closer look at teasers, discuss payouts, and cover some teaser tips.
What is an NFL Teaser?
Every teaser features a group of straight bets (two or more) where each line shifts in your favor based on the stated number of points. This differs from the similar parlay bets because parlays don't move the line to help bettors. The three most common teasers are 6, 6.5, and 7 point teasers.
Focusing on the 7 point teaser, lines would move 7 points in your favor for each bet in the group. So if you chose the Indianapolis Colts at -6.5, for example, the line would move to +0.5 for the Colts. Likewise, picking the Cleveland Browns at +3.5 would result in the line shifting to +10.5.
As you may have guessed, teasers work the same way with both 6 and 6.5 point teasers - except the lines move corresponding to the number of points.
Example of a Teaser
To illustrate how these wagers, let's say that you play a three-team, 6 point teaser. Going further, you choose the Cincinnati Bengals at -6.5, the San Diego Chargers at +4.5, and the Seattle Seahawks at -10.5. Now here's a look at how the lines would shift:
Cincinnati -0.5
San Diego +10.5
Seattle -4.5
The important thing to realize here is that you must win all three bets for the teaser to be successful. If you go 2-1 or worse, the wager is a loser. Assuming one of your picks were to tie, many sportsbooks will count this as a push and refund the bet. However, other books might use the other teaser selections to decide the fate of your bet.
Teaser Payouts
There is no uniform set of payouts for teasers and this changes based on the individual sportsbook. However, there is a common range that you can expect with teaser payoffs, and here's a sample of what you might see:
6 Point Teaser
2 Teams: -110
3 Teams: +160
4 Teams: +260
5 Teams: +450
6.5 Point Teaser
2 Teams: -120
3 Teams: +150
4 Teams: +240
5 Teams: +400
7 Point Teaser
2 Teams: -130
3 Teams: +130
4 Teams: +200
5 Teams: +350
NFL Teaser Tips
Despite how lines shift in bettors' favor, many people call teasers sucker bets because the house edge usually starts at around 13-14% and continues rising as you add more teams to a teaser. For example, a 6-team, 7 point teaser will normally carry around a 40% house edge.