Prop Bets Explained: Full Guide, Definition, Meaning & Examples
Whether you are an experienced sports bettor or just a beginner, understanding the ins and outs of sports betting takes plenty of work and research.
When it comes to betting on games, there are times that you may not like the spread, total or moneyline in a particular matchup but still want to place a wager on the contest.
That’s where prop bets come in. Prop bets in sports betting (short for proposition bet) are bets made that aren’t directly tied to the outcome of the game.
Let’s dive into the ins and outs of prop bets and how you can use them to your advantage as a bettor.
What Is a Prop Bet?
A prop bet is any bet placed on a game that is not not directly affecting the game's final outcome.
Essentially, anything outside of the point spread, total or moneyline can be considered a prop bet, including a player’s passing yards, who will score the first touchdown, a player’s assists total and so many more.
Prop bets allow bettors to add additional action to a game, and they allow you to bet on your favorite (or least favorite) players without having to decide on the outcome of the contest.
Prop bets can vary from player props on a specific player, which will be explained further in this article, to bets that focus on a team. For example, LeBron James’ point total in a game is a player prop, while the first team to score a touchdown in an NFL matchup is another form of prop bet.
Types of Prop Bets
It is important to know that prop bets are generally broken down into three separate categories:
Player Props
Player Props are a form of prop bet that pertains to a specific player’s statistics in a game.
These props are offered for just about every game, and they can vary from the usual statistics such as passing yards or rebounds to some more specific categories such as player receptions or 3-pointers made.
Player props allow bettors to pick for or against certain players without having to rely on the final outcome of the game. For example, if you want to bet on LeBron James’ points total or Tom Brady’s passing touchdowns, you simply pick the OVER or UNDER on the number set by the sportsbook.
In major events such as the Super Bowl, player prop markets get expanded even more, as props such as “Who will make the first catch” can also be offered. This allows for more players to get involved, and it gives bettors more options than simply picking the game’s outcome.
Game Props
Game props are a form of prop bet that relates to an occurrence in the game but does not directly specify a player.
Some example include:
- Which team will score first?
- Which team will score 20 points first?
- Will the total number of points be odd or even?
- Will the longest touchdown be over or under 50.5 yards?
These are just a few of the game props that you may see as a bettor. Game props allow you to support an outcome in the game, or a team, without fully backing them to win the game or cover the spread.
Novelty, Special & Exotic Props
Ever wonder how to bet on the coin toss in the Super Bowl?
This is one of many novelty or exotic prop bets that are offered during major sporting events.
Most of these props don’t actually take place in the game, but they instead focus on other aspects of the event itself, such as the coin toss, the length of the National Anthem or what a certain player or coach will be wearing.
These prop bets can be extremely exciting, but there is much less statistical evidence to use when betting on them compared to player or game props.
Where to Find Prop Bets
You can bet on prop bets at every legal sportsbook now as long as you are in a state that sports betting is legal.
At WynnBET Sportsbook, navigating to all of their prop bets is fairly easy, as they are a part of the top navigation once you click on the “More Wagers” button for a specific game.
From there, the props are listed by specific category with each player’s line and subsequent odds included.
Examples of Prop Bets
So what do these bets usually look like? Let’s break down a hypothetical prop bet from each major American sport:
Football (NFL)
Tom Brady Over or Under 275.5 Passing Yards: Based on Brady’s statistical performances this season, oddsmakers have set his prop for passing yards slightly below 300 yards.
With passing yards props, the juice will usually be the same or close to the same on either side. However, with touchdown props in football, that is slightly different. Since they are a lower-occurring event, those will usually have be juiced to one side, for example (Over -130/Under +100).
Basketball (NBA)
Kevin Durant Over or Under 29.5 Points: In this example, oddsmakers have used historical data and Durant’s current play to determine he’s going to score around 29-30 points in his next game.
You can bet on him going over or under that number. Many times, these lines will coincide with the player’s scoring average for the season.
Baseball (MLB)
Which team will be the first to two runs?: At WynnBET Sportsbook, this game prop can be found under “Race To” where there are props for which team will be the first to score a certain number of runs in the game.
This will vary each game depending on pitching matchups, but it can be a fun prop to look into with some teams being known for strong starts to games.
Hockey (NHL)
Jack Campbell Over or Under 27.5 Saves: In this prop, bettors can choose whether or not Campbell will save over or under 27.5 shots. Based on his previous stats and the team’s matchup, this line will fluctuate on a game-by-game basis.
Benefits of Prop Bets
So, why should you consider betting on prop bets in games?
Essentially, this can be boiled down into two main reasons.
First off, prop bets allow bettors a way to find additional action on a game even if they aren’t satisfied with picking a side. It also gives an added rooting interest in a matchup when a specific player or event is wagered on.
Sometimes, betting for your favorite players to have a big game, or least favorite players to post a dud, can make the experience of watching a sporting event that much more enjoyable. It allows for more intrigue into the game rather than just simply rooting for a team to win or cover the spread.
You’re going to be on the edge of your seat every time a team is in the red zone if you bet on a player to score a touchdown. The same goes for other sports when betting on individual player’s stat lines.
The second reason to bet on props is the one that everyone wants to hear: Prop bets can be exploitable.
How so?
As a bettor, your biggest advantage over any sportsbook is the fact that they have to take every bet and that you, the bettor, do not. By doing a little research, there is an opportunity to get the better of many prop markets, as books aren’t as incentivized to get the lines right with lower betting limits on prop bets.
By doing the research and focusing on specific props, there’s a chance you can take advantage of some of the less accurate lines that a sportsbook provides.