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Sports Betting and Teasers
The teaser in sports betting is a way in which the bettor can pay to alter the point spread and increase their chances of winning. Teasers are one of those betting features that most experts say sports bettors should avoid. Let’s look at the teaser and exactly how it works.
What is a Teaser?
Teasers are usually offered on two to 15-team parlays and they allow you to purchase points increasing your chances of winning or securing a push (tie). It is a way of lessening your chances of losing.
Teasers are found in basketball and football betting. They greatly increase your chances of winning but they also decrease your profit margin.
Basketball and Football Teasers
Here is a chart for basketball and football teasers telling you how many points you’re buying and the payout to bet ratio. Note that you are basically buying points, which reduces your profit.
| Basketball: | 4 Points | 4.5 Points | 5 Points |
| Football: | 6 Points | 6.5 Points | 7 Points |
| 2 Teams | -110 | -120 | -130 |
| 3 Teams | +180 | +160 | +140 |
| 4 Teams | 3/1 (+300) | 5/2 (+250) | 2/1 (+200) |
| 5 Teams | 4.5/1 | 4/1 | 3.5/1 |
| 6 Teams | 6/1 | 5.5/1 | 5/1 |
| 7 Teams | 10/1 | 9/1 | 8/1 |
| 8 Teams | 15/1 | 12/1 | 10/1 |
| 9 Teams | 20/1 | 15/1 | 12/1 |
| 10 Teams | 25/1 | 20/1 | 15/1 |
| 11 Teams | 35/1 | 25/1 | 20/1 |
| 12 Teams | <50/1 | 35/1 | 25/1 |
| 13 Teams | 75/1 | 50/1 | 35/1 |
| 14 Teams | 100/1 | 75/1 | 50/1 |
| 15 Teams | 150/1 | 100/1 | 75/1 |
Are Teasers Good Buys?
First of all the teaser is connected to parlay wagering and parlays are considered to be a waste of money by many professional bettors. The one attractive element of the parlay is its odds. It pays out at a high rate. When you use a teaser that greatly reduces the amount of cash you can realize, which then starts to negate the whole idea behind the parlay. For this reason, teasers are not considered to be a good buy.
Other Choices
Instead of playing the teaser, you’d be better off playing a two-team parlay at the normal rate. Or, even better, wagering on single games using the moneyline. Both of these offer decent odds and better payout rates. Teasers look attractive because they enhance your chances of winning, but they actually negate the whole idea behind the big payout that defines the parlay. That makes them a bad bet.