Props, or proposition bets, are popular wagers for the betting public, especially during the playoffs and championship games. Prop bets vary a lot according to their specific focus and odds. Some props carry variable odds, depending on who you bet on, while others offer basic odds at 110/100. Although props often look interesting, they tend to be thought of as bad wagers by many professional sports bettors.
Basics of Props Betting
Proposition wagers are those that are based on a specific situation in a game or series. These bets have nothing to do with the outcome, and instead focus on some isolated aspect of the contest or event.
The Super Bowl is known for having innumerable props, many of which are fairly ridiculous, such as which team will win the coin toss, what player will score the first touchdown, and how long will it take to sing the national anthem. You may also bet on if an announcer will use a specific word during the game, what a member of the half-time band will be wearing, and if a specific player be injured.
As you can tell, the range of props can be far reaching, especially on an event as big and popular as the Super Bowl. Props are often offered as money line bets or as straight odds wagers.
Best Prop Bets to Make
It is usually best to avoid prop wagers, but the ones to make are those that call for some form of actual analysis. Stay away from whimsical prop bets, such as those that involve guessing or mere hunches.
Some props that are worth looking at include the over/under on strikeouts by a specific pitcher in an MLB game, passing yards by a NFL quarterback, save percentage by an NHL goalie, and foul shot percentage by an NBA team. All of these may be researched using recent stats and the upcoming matchups in the game.
Why Props Exist
Prop bets, which are sometimes referred to as sucker bets, exist for two reasons. The first is that the general betting public loves to wager on them. The second reason is that many of them represent pure profit for bookmakers.
Props are designed to appeal to those who enjoy gambling on chance events, such as winning the lottery, playing roulette, and other such gaming opportunities. They play on one of our most basic desires, to trust that fate will reward us. In other words, they play on our desire to catch some good luck.
Most props take little to no effort to select, as there is no way to accurately predict what will happen. So, if you are going to engage in prop betting, you need to acknowledge that most of the wagers you make are mere guesses and chances are you will lose your cash.
If you decide to wager on a proposition bet that involves some real analysis, don’t stress out your bankroll on these wagers. Save your cash for those sports bets that you have a real chance of winning.