your daily sports betting edge

1st & 2nd Half Wagers

Wagering on the 1st & 2nd half is offered on all Football and Basketball games at virtually all sportsbooks in both Pro and College. In this type of wager you are betting on the outcome of a particular half of the game. These plays can involve sides or totals. In order for these bets to be considered action the 1st half must be completely played and the 2nd half must be played to within 5 minutes of completion. All overtime-periods count for 2nd half wagers.

Buying Points

Often, books will allow you the opportunity to buy points on straight bets and in parlays in football and basketball. While it may vary, it is not uncommon to have the ability to buy 1 point in parlays and up to 3 1/2 points on straight bets and up to 1 point on If bets. An example of the prices for buying points are the following:

Buying Points
1/2 Point Lay -120
1 Point Lay -130
1 1/2 Point Lay -140
2 Points Lay -150
2 1/2 Points Lay -160
3 Points Lay -170
3 1/2 Points Lay -180

Note:

When buying onto the #3 in Football you may be required to lay more juice, such as -125. You also may not be permitted to buy off the #3 in the NFL.

Examples:

Buying from 3 1/2 to 3 is OK

Buying from 3 to 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 is not allowed

Buying from 2 1/2 to 3 is OK

If-Bets
If bets are a chain of conditional straight wagers based on two possible conditions: If win (single action) and if win, tie or cancel (double action). In the first case, single action, the bettor will have action on the next wager in the chain only if the first one wins and so on down the chain. In double action the player will have action on the next bet and so on if the first bet wins, ties or cancels. If bets can contain 2-3 selections and cannot have any open spots. All parts of an individual if bet must be placed at the same time and be for the same amount or lower than the one before it. All bets are graded on an individual basis. This bet lets the player have action on a multiple number of games with minimal risk. You are using the money you wagered on the first game to wager on the second and so forth. You can buy up to 1 point on if bets. Each bet is graded independently so you do not have to win all selections like a teaser or parlay.

Money Lines
Money Lines are used to some degree in most major sports. In a money line bet you are wagering on the outright winner of the contest independent of any point spread. Every money line offers one number for each of the two sides of the play, the underdog and the favorite. An example of a money-line in football is:

Redskins -140

Eagles +120

In this example the favorite is denoted by the minus sign and the underdog by the plus sign. You would be wagering $140 to win $100 on the Redskins (the favorite) and you would wager $100 to win $120 on the Eagles (the underdog). Because no point spread is used to determine the winner you must risk more money to win less on the favorite and vice-versa on the underdog.

There is virtually always a graduated line for all baseball wagering. Different books apply different rules, however. For illustrative purposes, a sportsbook may determine that 10 cents will separate the favorite from the underdog up to -124 after which it will move to 15 cents until -154. Above -155 it moves to a 20 cent line until -185 at which time the line is set at a book's discretion. Again, the actual thresholds and money movements will vary.

Parlays

A parlay is a wager in which you pick from 2-10 teams or totals to win in order to receive a larger payout for risking less money. For a parlay to be considered a winner all selections must win. In the event of a tie the parlay will revert to the next lowest number of winning teams and payoff accordingly (a 2 team parlay reverts to a straight bet). You can mix different sports into your parlays and even create parlays from one game. Often times you can buy up to 1 point on 2 or 3 team parlays. Open parlays are offered at some destinations, as well. Generally speaking, you cannot parlay money lines to the same side of the game or 1st half to 2nd half or the same side of the game. An example of parlay odds are the following (again, these will vary and if this is your bet of choice, shopping around is always encouraged):

Parlay Odds
2 Teams Pay 13/5
3 Teams Pay 6/1
4 Teams Pay 11/1
5 Teams Pay 21/1
6 Teams Pay 31/1
7 Teams Pay 51/1
8 Teams Pay 71/1
9 Teams Pay 85/1
10 Teams Pay 130/1

When a money line is used in the parlay it has the potential to alter the payout amount in either direction depending on the line. Books will often offer absolute maximum parlay payoffs in this case. As an example:

Maximum Parlay Odds
3 teams Pay 15:1
4 Teams Pay 20:1
5 Teams Pay 30:1
6 Teams Pay 50:1
7 Teams Pay 75:1
8 Teams Pay 100:1
9 Teams Pay 120:1
10 Teams Pay 150:1

Money Line Parlays
Money line parlays occur when the lines selected differ from -110. A general formula example is: Risk multiplied by factor 1, multiplied by factor 2 (and so on according to the number of choices made) and then subtract the risk amount.

Here is the list of the factors for you to calculate: If one or more of the selections is an underdog simply add 1 to the line to get the line factor, i.e., +155 would be 2.55.

Line Factor Line Factor Line Factor Line Factor
101 1.990 129 1.775 157 1.636 185 1.540
103 1.970 131 1.763 159 1.628 187 1.534
105 1.952 133 1.751 161 1.621 189 1.529
107 1.934 135 1.740 163 1.613 195 1.512
109 1.917 137 1.729 165 1.606 205 1.487
111 1.900 139 1.719 167 1.598 215 1.465
113 1.884 141 1.709 169 1.591 225 1.444
115 1.865 143 1.699 171 1.584 235 1.425
117 1.854 145 1.689 173 1.578 245 1.408
119 1.840 147 1.680 175 1.571 255 1.392
121 1.826 149 1.671 177 1.564 265 1.377
123 1.813 151 1.662 179 1.558 275 1.363
125 1.800 153 1.653 181 1.552 285 1.350
127 1.787 155 1.645 183 1.546 295 1.338
305 1.327

Proposition and Future Wagers
All books offer proposition wagers on selected college and pro sports. These can include individual player propositions and team propositions. Players and teams must start the contest for the props to be considered action and where applicable the game must go the official length for the prop to be action.

Sportsbooks also offer Future Wagers. These include wagers to win the championship, conferences, divisions, etc. Over/Under on season wins are also available. All bets are paid at the conclusion of the event in question. In the event that you have a dispute, Las Vegas rules will often apply to settle.

Online wagering destinations may have a limit on propositions ($500, perhaps) and usually can only be played in straight bets.

Reverses
A reverse is a wager on all the possible combinations of a 2 team double action if bet with the option to pick 2-3 teams. An example of a 2-team reverse is:

Eagles -7 110/100

Padres +135 100/135

Here you have two if plays on the reverse: Eagles/Padres and Padres/Eagles. If the eagles win, your Padres bet automatically stand and vice-versa. Your maximum risk in this situation is $220 provided you risk $110 on the Eagles to win $100 and $100 to win $135 on the Padres. If you risked the $220 you stand to win $470. In general, you can buy up to 1 point.

Round Robins
Round Robins are oftentimes offered in football and can be mixed with other sports. A round robin is a wager where 3-6 teams are selected and all possible combinations of 2 or 3 team parlays are made from the selections. To place this wager you must decide on your selections and the amount you want to risk for each parlay. To figure out your total risk, multiply the number of teams by the number of teams -1 and then divide that number by 2. So if you selected 3 teams the total number of individual parlays would be 3. You then decide to risk $100 on each parlay making your risk $300 to win $780. Round Robins containing 3 team parlays must be from 4-6 teams.

Round Robins
3 Team RR Only by 2 3 Parlays
4 Team RR By 2 6 Parlays
4 Team RR By 3 4 Parlays
5 Team RR By 2 10 Parlays
5 Team RR By 3 10 Parlays
6 Team RR By 2 15 Parlays
5 Team RR By 3 20 Parlays

Run-Lines
When wagering on baseball you can select the run line as your wager option. A baseball run line is a combination of a point spread and a money line. In a run line you lay 1.5 runs on the favorite and also you either lay or get money depending upon the degree of the favorite. The reverse is true for the underdog. You get 1.5 runs and again you either lay or get money depending on the degree of the underdog. An example of a run line is:

Phillies +1.5 -140

Braves -1.5 +120

In this example you get 1.5 runs with the Phillies but you must lay $140 to win $100. If you choose the Braves you must lay 1.5 runs but you get $120 for every $100 you lay.

Note:

You usually cannot take a parlay between the run line and the total of the same game.

Run lines are almost always listed pitchers and the game must go 8 1/2 innings or more.

Straight Bets
Straight bets are bets placed on a side or a total in Football or Basketball and only totals in Baseball. A straight bet on a side usually involves a point spread. In this case you are wagering on a sports team to win the given time period on which you wager (game, 1st, 2nd half) after the score is adjusted by the particular point spread. When you wager on a total you are wagering that the score of the game for the given time period (game, 1st, 2nd half) will be over or under a designated number. In either of these two bets you are laying 11 to win 10 or some variance of those odds, an example being bettors playing one side will lay 12 to win 10 and bettors playing the other side will lay 10 to win 10.

Teasers
There are a host of types of teasers offered, varying from book to book. Three examples are the Vegas teaser, the special teaser, and the two run total baseball teaser. In a Vegas teaser you choose from 2-7 sides or totals and are given from 5-7 points to alter either the point spread or the total in the direction of your choice. Pay offs are based on the number of teams selected and the number of points involved. You can mix football and basketball in any teaser but basketball rules usually apply. All selections must win for the teaser to be considered a winner. An example of the odds for football Vegas teasers are:

Football Teasers
6 Points 6 ½ Points 7 Points 7 ½ Points
2 Teams Pays 1/1 10/11 10/11.5 10/13
3 Teams Pays 9/5 8/5 3/2 12.5/10
4 Teams Pays 3/1 5/2 2/1 3/2
5 Teams Pays 9/2 4/1 7/2 3/1
6 Teams Pays 7/1 6/1 5/1 4/1
7 Teams Pays 8/1 7/1 6/1 5/1
8 Teams Pays 9/1 8/1 7/1 6/1
9 Teams Pays 12/1 10/1 9/1 7/1
10 Teams Pays 15/1 13/1 11/1 9/1
11 Teams Pays 18/1 16/1 13/1 11/1
12 Teams Pays 20/1 18/1 15/1 13/1
13 Teams Pays 25/1 20/1 18/1 15/1
14 Teams Pays 30/1 25/1 20/1 18/1
15 Teams Pays 50/1 35/1 30/1 25/1

Note: Shopping around is again encouraged if teasers are your go-to wager. That extends to grading systems involving teasers. For example, some books have a two team teaser push-and-win considered as no action while a push-and-loss is a loss. This will vary. An example of the odds for basketball vegas teaser odds are:

Basketball Vegas Teasers
5 Points 5½ Points 6 Points
2 Teams Pays 10/11 10/11.5 10/12
3 Teams Pays 3/2 13/10 11/10
4 Teams Pays 2/1 9/5 8/5
5 Teams Pays 7/2 3/1 5/2
6 Teams Pays 5/1 4/1 3/1
7 Teams Pays 6/1 5/1 4/1
8 Teams Pays 7/1 6/1 5/1
9 Teams Pays 8/1 7/1 6/1
10 Teams Pays 10/1 8/1 7/1
11 Teams Pays 13/1 10/1 8/1
12 Teams Pays 16/1 13/1 10/1
13 Teams Pays 20/1 16/1 13/1
14 Teams Pays 25/1 20/1 16/1
15 Teams Pays 30/1 25/1 20/1

Note: Again, some books have a two team teaser push-and-win considered as no action while a push-and-loss is a loss. This will vary.

Special teasers are similar to Vegas teasers but involve more creative combinations of teams with more points. In a special teaser you could choose from 3-4 selections and are given, say, from 8-13 points depending on the sport. Often, you can combine basketball and football but basketball odds and rules will apply. An example of creative special teasers and their odds are:

Football Special Teasers
3 Teams 10 Points Pay 10/11
4 Teams 13 points Pay 10/12

Note: A combination of pushes and wins in this example may be considered no action or a loss. Again, each sportsbook will not only have their own creative teasers, but will also apply their own grading rules. It is crucial that you are aware of these before deciding on where you'd like to place these wagers as it is a key element of your risk. Another example:

Basketball Special Teasers
3 Teams 8 Points Pay 10/11
4 Teams 10 Points Pay 10/12

Note: In basketball, grading standards may be less flexible. For instance, in the above example, in both 3-team 8 point Teasers and 4-team 10 point basketball teasers, it would not be at all uncommon for an all-selections- must-win policy. In other words, a push or loss of one of your selections would constitute a loss.

In two run total baseball teasers, a wager you will not find everywhere, you are given up to 2 runs to tease the total on a baseball game. For books that offer this bet, usually when the line is even to -124, you are given 1.5 runs to tease the total of the game and 2 runs when the line is -125 or greater. The teaser is considered a loss unless all selections win. In the event of a game cancellation or a pitching change the teaser will generally revert to the next lowest number of selections. If there is a loss with a cancellation or pitching change your teaser would be considered no action. An example of the payoff odds on these teasers are:

2 Teams Pay 10/12
3 Teams Pay 3/2
4 Teams Pay 2/1
5 Teams Pay 7/2
6 Teams Pay 5/1
7 Teams Pay 6/1

Football and Basketball Halftime Teasers (2nd Half)
Halftime Teasers
2 Teams 3 Points Pay 10/12

Note: In the above example, you may be able to take a side to a total on the same game or with different games, but not take both totals or both sides of the same game. In a halftime teaser a push and a win is usually considered no action. A push and a loss is usually a loss.

Football Pleasers
Football Pleasers
2 Teams Pay 6/1
3 Teams Pay 17/1
4 Teams Pay 45/1
5 Teams Pay 120/1
6 Teams Pay 300/1

Note: Pleasers are the opposite of teasers in that you are giving points to alter the spread. In a 2 Team Pleaser a push and a win will usually revert to a straight bet that pays even money.

Canadian and Arena Football Teasers
Canadian and Arena Football Teasers
6 Points 6 1/2 Points 7 Points
2 Teams Pay 10/11 10/12 10/13
3 Teams Pay 3/2 13/10 11/10
4 Teams Pay 2/1 9/5 8/5
5 Teams Pay 7/2 3/1 5/2
6 Teams Pay 5/1 4/1 3/1
7 Teams Pay 6/1 5/1 4/1

Note: In a two team teaser a push and a win often will be considered no action. A push and a loss might be a loss. These are grading rules applied at some books, but not all. Shop around. In general, you cannot mix teasers between CFL and NFL.

Canadian and Arena Football Special Teasers
Canadian and Arena Football Special Teasers
3 Teams 10 Points Pay 10/12
4 Teams 13 Points Pay 10/13

Note: Again, a combination of pushes and wins is often considered no action. You know the drill by now. This rule will vary.

WNBA Basketball Teasers
5 Points 5 1/2 Points 6 Points
2 Teams Pay 10/11 10/12 10/13
3 Teams Pay 3/2 13/10 11/10
4 Teams Pay 2/1 9/5 8/5
5 Teams Pay 7/2 3/1 5/2
6 Teams Pay 5/1 4/1 3/1
7 Teams Pay 6/1 5/1 4/1

Note: In a two team teaser a push and a win might be considered no action. A push and a loss is often a loss. Shop. You usually cannot mix teasers between WNBA and NBA.

Beating The Book is the first-ever honest, daily take on sports gambling. "Antitout" Gill Alexander takes an entertaining and in-depth look at sports wagering and provides you with your sports betting edge, already having helped listeners turn big profits in the 2005 NCAA Mens College Basketball Tournament and 2005 NBA playoffs, and reap huge paydays in this past NFL season, including a major windfall in Super Bowl XL.  Plus, the 2005-2006 NBA regular season finished in major positive net unit territory. Now, the 2006 MLB, NFL, College Football, and English Premier League seasons are primed to do the same.  Every pick is stated in advance, so records can't be fudged. We cater to both serious and casual gamblers alike and include features such as a "Gambling Tip Of The Week".  Don't miss out on what you need to know to increase your bankroll. Feel free to take advantage of our real-time updated lines from 11 offshore sportsbooks, all on one screen so that you can easily shop around for the most favorable wager. And click through to easily open accounts at your book of choice.