Prop betting guide: What props are and how to bet on them

In the ever-growing world of sports betting, prop betting has become one of the most popular wagers for serious and recreational bettors alike. Below, we'll take a look at the various forms of prop betting, explain prop betting odds and explore the many available options when it comes to prop betting.

In short, a prop bet is defined as a wager that looks to predict a specific outcome for a player or team within a game. A prop bet can be similar to an over/under of total points in a game, except applied to an individual team or player.  

The prevalence of prop betting is largely attributed to its appeal to a broad spectrum of sportsbook customers, as well as the growing popularity of fantasy sports. For instance, a recreational bettor who often bets $20 on the point spread or total might find greater entertainment value by exploring team props and player props.

Conversely, serious bettors pursue prop bets because they think they can exploit edges in the prop bet odds behind the belief that because oddsmakers produce such a high volume of them, they are more likely to release inaccurate odds on a proposition that the serious bettor can use to his or her advantage. For example, CBS SportsLine expert Alex "PropStarz" Selesnick is a professional prop bet analyst who uses statistical data, analytics and performance trends to help identify edges he believes are exploitable.

Let's look at a hypothetical player prop bet on points scored for Nuggets star Nikola Jokic:

In this prop, you are betting Jokic will score 30-plus points if you bet the Over. If you bet the Under, you are wagering on him scoring 29 points or fewer. The -110 is the price for the wager. That means you'd have to bet $110 to profit $100.

Another option for Jokic might be whether he will record a triple-double in the upcoming game. Those who bet the "Yes" will receive odds of +120 (wager $100 to win $120) and will cash their bets if the versatile NBA star reaches double figures in points, assists and rebounds. Some sportsbooks offer two-way prop betting for these outcomes, meaning a customer could bet against Jokic achieving this feat, or wager on the "No" between the two options. In this particular instance, odds for the "No" would likely be around -150 (wager $150 to win $100) range. 

Player props are arguably the most popular form of prop betting at sports betting apps. As mentioned above, this involves wagering on a specific player milestone within a game. For football, this might mean a player's total yards from scrimmage, or a player scoring a touchdown. In basketball, the prop betting options might include a combined total of a specific player's points, rebounds and assists.

Game props are defined as wagers dependent upon the occurrence or non-occurrence within a specific outcome within the game. For instance, a basketball game prop might give bettors the option of wagering on which team will be the first to score 20 points or whether the game will or will not reach overtime.

Team props involve prop bet odds that apply to the outcome of team-specific results within a game. For instance, instead of betting on whether the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will clip the Over or Under at 224.5 points, a bettor could wager on whether the Rockets specifically will go Over or Under their posted team total of 112.5.

Futures props refer to wagers offered on the season-long trajectories of a specific team or athlete. For example, a standard sportsbook NFL future prop would be a wager on the over/under for the Chicago Bears' win total at 8.5, with standard odds of around -110 on each side. Another future prop bet option might be an answer to the question, "Will the Bears reach the playoffs?" Bettors who choose "No" might pay odds of -200, while "Yes" bettors receive odds of +170.

As is the case with point spread and total betting, football is the most popular sport when it comes to prop betting. Individual player stats and anytime touchdown scoring propositions are now a staple of NFL betting.

In fact, the Super Bowl is the unofficial godfather of the prop betting craze. Not too long ago, the Super Bowl was essentially the only event that lent itself to prop betting and, as such, was seen as a holiday of sorts for sports bettors who thrived on the once-yearly opportunity to make dozens of varied wagers on a singular game.

The Super Bowl props market has seen a massive explosion, with most outlets now offering wagers that number in the hundreds. Props range from touchdown scorers to the length of the national anthem to the color of the Gatorade bath for the winning coach.

In NBA betting, prop bets are popular in the form of same-game parlays, particularly in high-profile showcase games on major networks. Bettors can increase their odds by selecting specific players to go Over or Under their totals in specific stat categories. These props can be parlayed with a team total or an adjusted point spread.

Baseball bettors have similarly embraced the new wave of prop betting as it offers variety from the standard options of run line, total and money line bets. Popular wagers in MLB betting include the over/under on innings for a starting pitcher, strikeouts for a pitcher and whether a specific position player will get a hit or a home run.

Hockey betting often has a "Player X to score a goal" set at 0.5, with odds differing based on the individual player. For example, Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers could have +163 odds to score at least one goal in a given game.

Sportsbooks have been somewhat slow to embrace prop betting on collegiate sports, although some outlets offer these options. Most sportsbooks have modest prop offerings when it comes to college football betting and college basketball betting.

Even so, there is generally a limited betting menu and restricted betting limits. This is because college athletics is still considered an amateur competition and perceived by some to be easier for potential manipulation of the participants. In fact, some sportsbooks do not allow bettors to wager on college teams in those respective states. For example, a bettor in Illinois could not place a wager on games involving the University of Illinois.

There are some basic tenets of point spread and total betting that translate directly into finding value in prop betting. First and foremost, getting the best of the number is key to long-term success.

For instance, in Super Bowl 59, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had his passing yard prop set around 219.5 yards at most sportsbooks. Similar to a point spread, the number grew in accordance with the handle received from respected bettors, and the closing number was as high as 223 at some outlets. Hurts threw for 221 yards, giving a win to Over bettors who got the best of the number but a loss for anyone who bet the adjusted line.

The over/under for Hurts' rushing and passing combined total also received significant action. It opened at around 248.5 yards but closed as high as 262.5 at some outlets. Hurts ended up with 293 total yards, so Over bettors cashed regardless of their number. But those who bet the number early also had an opportunity to "middle" the number and potentially win on both sides of the wager. If a shrewd handicapper had bet the lowest number Over and the highest number Under, they could have exploited a 13-point middle range in which the quarterback's results falling between 249 and 262 yards would have netted a win on both sides.

Going against popular public perception, or fading the public, is also a betting strategy that crosses the thresholds of point spread betting and prop wagers. For instance, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley saw his rushing total in the Super Bowl bet up from an opening number of around 105 yards to 113 or higher at some outlets. Although he had eclipsed this number 12 times in 2024, including the playoffs, it stood to reason the powerful rusher would be a focal point against a Kansas City run defense that ranked in the top five most of the season and entered the game at No. 10 after allowing 108 rushing yards per game. Barkley ended up with just 57 rushing yards on 20 carries, though he added 40 yards on six receptions.

There are many sports handicappers who prefer or specialize in prop betting. The main reason is because, with a high volume of odds to set for prop wagers on events such as the Super Bowl, prop bet specialists believe the massive volume leads to more opportunities for exploiting vulnerable lines.

While this general concept has some merit, there are also some drawbacks. Sportsbooks are known for generally charging more juice, or vigorish, on prop bets. This makes it more difficult for prop bettors to clear a profit because the vigorish provides the built-in house edge on every bet.

For example, a sports bettor who posts a record of 12-8 in against-the-spread bets paying the standard $110 to win $100 will invest $2,200 and receive a return of $2,520 for a $320 profit. However, a prop bettor who posts a 12-8 record against a price of -125 (a common price for props, though they are often more expensive), will invest $2,500 with a return of $2,700 for a profit of $200.

In short, yes. Most sportsbooks these days allow some form of parlay betting on prop bets, though this is a relatively new business model. Not long ago, sportsbooks permitted only single, straight-bet wagers on props. But eventually, some outlets began allowing customers to parlay prop bets, and now it's an industry standard, though options and restrictions may vary.

The most popular prop bet parlay is the self-explanatory, same-game parlay in which bettors can tie together multiple propositions from the same event into one parlay wager. For sportsbooks and customers alike, single-game parlays on isolated major events such as the Super Bowl or NBA Finals have become a popular offering.

Sportsbooks do have restrictions on prop bet parlays, and they mostly apply to correlated occurrences within the event or game. For instance, if the Kansas City Chiefs are in the Super Bowl, prop bets surrounding the performance of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce could be restricted if all wagers are taking the same route. Sportsbooks will likely reduce odds on a bet slip featuring Overs for Mahomes on passing yards, passing attempts and passing touchdowns and overs for Kelce on receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Odds for prop bet parlays are generally placed in the same manner as parlays for point spread bets, except with shorter odds because of the increased juice. For instance, a three-leg parlay of prop bets at -125 per bet would result in a payout of about +480. The standard payout on a three-leg, point spread bet is around +600 if each leg is priced at -110. Moreover, sportsbooks increase hold and get further from fair odds with each leg you add to a prop betting parlay. Your potential payout increases by adding legs but the vig increases, too.

How are the prop betting lines determined?

Similar to point spread odds, prop bets are determined by using a formula of advanced analytical data that includes past performances, along with quantified expectations of potential success and failure rates and public perception, to determine an accurate number.

How and when does the line on a prop bet move?

The prop bet odds, or price, can change based on how the public is betting. For example, if the Over on Mahomes' passing yards opens at 251 yards and receives heavy action, sportsbooks might move the number to 253 while also increasing the juice from -115 to -125.

How do sportsbooks make money on prop bets?

The pure volume, or handle, on prop bet wagers, along with restrictions for betting limits, almost guarantees the opportunity for a profit for sportsbooks on prop bets. Considering the vig, or juice, is generally higher for prop bets than point spread wagers, taking in wagers on both sides in prop betting secures a baseline of profit for sportsbooks if the action is balanced on both sides.

What happens if you place a prop bet on a player who doesn't play?

Most sportsbooks have a policy of grading prop bets on a player who doesn't participate as a void for the customer, with the amount of the wager returned. For instance, if you place a wager on Under 1.5 receptions for an NFL player and the player is inactive, the bet is graded as a push instead of a win on the Under.

What is an octopus prop bet?

An "octopus" is a football-specific player prop bet that involves a player scoring a touchdown, followed by the same player scoring the subsequent two-point conversion. Most sportsbooks offer odds in the range of +1400 for the occurrence of an octopus in the Super Bowl or on a primetime football game.

Josh Nagel

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