NFL Prop Betting Explained

Prop betting is when wagering is turned outside of the game's outcome (spread or money line) or the over under (totals) and instead focused on individual players or events. This is a whole other aspect to NFL betting with its own rewards as this article shows. Gambling is supposed to be fun and it doesn't get any more fun than playing the props. These are random and sometimes eccentric scenarios oddsmakers that have everything to do with the game but the outcome.

What are Props?

They are crazy and seemingly random but still playable and here's further explanation on props, how to navigate through them and some winning advice. Props (short for "propositions") are side bets oddsmakers make that usually go beyond the final outcome of the game. They involve a variety of scenarios involving individual players, future cases (known as "Futures"), and miscellanea like the famous Super Bowl coin toss.

Betting on props is both fun and tricky as there seems to be little to no way to really predict how many of these happen outside of chance. Here are examples:

Raiders are first team to score -135
Derek Carr throws for over 300 yards +150
First score of the game is a safety +2000

As you can see, some props are easier to guess than others. The Raiders prop is at minus money because they are likely the favourite and have more than 50% chance to score first but the next two seem mostly reliant on luck although there are stats that show the probability of each happening.

Strategy and Tips for Prop Betting

Many believe props are for "suckers" or casuals who just want to gamble for the fun of it but in reality some sharps (experienced players) have specialized on this category for a variety of reasons. The first is sportsbooks just do not have the time or resources to devote a lot of analysis on all the props they release so they default to average statistics. And secondly, prop bets usually pay more than 1:1, a lucrative spot. 

Individual player props 

This is a great prop to focus on especially on popular players like quarterbacks and wide receivers who get a lot of attention. With enough research, analysis, and an eye on how the public perceives them and their matchup, you can specialize on betting over/unders if they are offered by the sportsbook. Sometimes books overlook players or teams and this might leave a line that is set too high or too low, a can't-miss betting spot.

Don't fall for juicy numbers

Props attract many casuals because of crazy odds like the third example above but they are priced that way for a reason: it is a crapshoot. You might as well play the slots machine or your local lottery.

The availability of props differs per sportsbook but the top online sportsbooks like SportsInteraction offer a sizable menu especially during big games like the Super Bowl or Monday Night Football. Sign up to get a $200 signup bonus and start hitting on those diamonds in the rough.

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