Teaser Bets Explained: How Teasers Work in Sports Betting
Teasers let you move the line in your favor, but the reduced payout isn't always worth it.
By
Eric Pauly
Feb 6, 2026
0 min read
What Is a Teaser Bet?
A teaser bet is a type of parlay where you get to adjust the point spread or total in your favor on multiple selections, but in exchange, you receive reduced odds. In a standard 6-point NFL teaser, a team at -7 becomes -1, and a team at +3 becomes +9. Both legs must win for the teaser to pay, just like a parlay. The difference is that you're buying points across all legs rather than betting the standard lines.
Teasers are most popular in NFL betting, where the 6-point adjustment can move you across key numbers like 3 and 7. They also exist in basketball and occasionally other sports, though the math works differently in higher-scoring games. I've spent years analyzing which teaser combinations offer genuine value versus which ones just feel safe. The reality is that most teasers are bad bets, but specific situations exist where the adjusted lines create +EV opportunities. This guide breaks down how teasers work, when they make sense, and the classic strategies that sharp bettors actually use.
article Summary
Teasers are parlays where you adjust spreads or totals in your favor in exchange for reduced payouts. In NFL betting, 6-point teasers that cross key numbers (3 and 7) can offer value. Most other teaser variations, especially in basketball, carry negative expected value. The reduced payout is only worth it when the point adjustment significantly increases your win probability.
How Teaser Bets Work
Point Adjustments
Standard NFL teasers offer 6, 6.5, or 7 point adjustments. A 6-point teaser moves every spread by 6 points in your direction. If you tease a favorite from -10 to -4 and an underdog from +2 to +8, both adjusted spreads need to cover for you to win. The more points you buy, the lower the payout. A 2-team 6-point NFL teaser typically pays around -110 to -120. A 2-team 7-point teaser might pay -130 or worse.
Parlay Structure
Like parlays, all legs of a teaser must win for the bet to pay. If you have a 3-team teaser and two legs win while one loses, you lose the entire bet. Some sportsbooks offer "ties win" or "ties push" rules for teasers that land exactly on the adjusted number. Understanding these rules at your book is important because a push on one leg can mean the difference between a reduced payout and a complete loss.
Payout Differences
Teaser payouts are significantly lower than standard parlay payouts because you're getting a more favorable line. A 2-leg parlay at -110 per leg pays around +264. A 2-leg 6-point teaser might pay -110 (even money after vig). You're trading payout potential for increased probability of winning. The question is whether the increased probability is worth the reduced return.
For more on related strategies, check out spread betting explained and best sports betting tools.
When Teasers Offer Value
The Wong Teaser Strategy
Stanford Wong's research on NFL teasers identified specific situations where 6-point teasers offer positive expected value. The key is teasing through the key numbers of 3 and 7. A favorite at -7.5 to -8.5 teased to -1.5 to -2.5 crosses both key numbers. An underdog at +1.5 to +2.5 teased to +7.5 to +8.5 does the same. When both legs of a 2-team teaser cross 3 and 7, the increased win probability can justify the reduced payout.
Why Key Numbers Matter in Football
NFL games frequently end with margins of 3 (field goal) and 7 (touchdown). Games landing on these numbers create pushes or close losses for standard spread bets. By teasing through these numbers, you turn potential losses and pushes into wins. A team at -7 that wins by exactly 7 is a push on the standard spread but wins easily at -1. This is the mathematical foundation of profitable teaser betting.
Avoiding Bad Teaser Situations
Teasers that don't cross key numbers usually carry negative expected value. Teasing a team from -3 to +3 might feel safer, but you're paying for points that don't move you past a key threshold. Similarly, teasing totals rarely offers value because scoring totals don't cluster around key numbers the way margins do. Most 3-team teasers and all "super teasers" (10+ points) are bad bets mathematically.
Teasers in Basketball
Higher Scoring Changes the Math
Basketball games have higher scores and more distributed margins than football. There are no key numbers equivalent to 3 and 7. This means buying points in basketball teasers doesn't create the same probability increases as in football. A 4-point basketball teaser (the standard) might move you from -6 to -2, but that adjustment doesn't cross a meaningful threshold like it would in football.
Generally Negative EV
Most basketball teaser research concludes they're negative expected value bets. The reduced payout isn't compensated by enough increased win probability. If you're betting basketball, standard spreads and moneylines are almost always better than teasers. Some bettors find situational value with totals teasers in very low-scoring or very high-scoring projected games, but these spots are rare.
Exceptions to Consider
The one basketball teaser situation that occasionally offers value is teasing through zero on a spread. Moving a team from -2.5 to +1.5 or from -3.5 to +0.5 turns a loss scenario (lose by 1 or 2) into a win. But even this adjustment rarely justifies the teaser payout structure. If you find yourself wanting to bet basketball teasers frequently, you're probably better off betting the individual games straight.
How to Approach Teaser Betting
Stick to 2-Team Football Teasers
The math on teasers degrades quickly as you add legs. A 2-team teaser has a reasonable probability of hitting if you select spots carefully. A 3-team teaser requires three events to all go right. By the time you're at 4+ legs, the probability of winning is low enough that the reduced payout rarely compensates. Treat teasers like dessert, not the main course. Selective use beats volume.
Compare Teaser Lines Across Books
Teaser rules and payouts vary between sportsbooks. Some offer -110 on 2-team 6-point teasers while others charge -120. Some have ties push while others have ties lose. OddsJam and similar odds comparison tools can help you find the best teaser prices, though teaser shopping isn't as straightforward as spread or moneyline shopping.
Don't Use Teasers to "Make Safe" Bad Bets
The worst teaser strategy is picking games you like and then teasing them to feel safer. If your original picks were +EV, teasing them might reduce your edge below zero. Teasers should be used specifically when the point adjustment creates value, not as insurance on regular bets. Approach them as a specific tool for specific situations, not a default bet type for every slate.
Final Thoughts
Teasers occupy a strange space in sports betting. Used correctly in narrow situations, they can offer positive expected value. Used broadly as a way to feel safer about picks, they drain bankrolls through reduced payouts. The difference comes down to understanding key numbers, sticking to 2-team NFL teasers, and recognizing that most teaser bets are simply not worth the trade-off.
If you're going to bet teasers, learn the Wong strategy and apply it selectively. Look for games where the standard spread sits in the -7.5 to -8.5 or +1.5 to +2.5 range, then tease them through the key numbers. Skip basketball teasers almost entirely. And always compare teaser pricing across books because the vig varies more than you might expect. For more on parlay-style bets and when they make sense, check out our parlays explained guide.
Teaser Bet FAQ
Additional Resources
Explore our curated selection of guides and tools to help promote responsible gambling.
Best Prop Finder Tools for 2026
Discover how prop finder tools streamline your research and help you identify value in player prop markets.
AI Sports Betting Picks Guide
Understand how AI generates sports betting picks, the promises and limitations of AI models, and how to evaluate AI-driven betting services.
Asian Handicap Betting Explained: How It Works
Asian handicap betting removes the draw option and uses quarter lines to create more precise soccer betting markets.
Draw No Bet Explained: Strategy Guide for Smart Bettors
Draw no bet removes the draw outcome from soccer markets, giving you a refund if the match ends level.
