If an absurd amount of money is bet on one side of a wager, the sportsbook will most likely adjust the line to entice more people to bet on the other side. Remember, established sportsbooks usually don’t want a dog in the fight. They receive enough money from the juice instead. Our betting trends, also known as public betting percentages, represent actual wagers. A large money percentage indicates a higher likelihood that pros are betting on this side. Monitoring public betting data is a vital tool used by sharp bettors to find value within the sports betting marketplace. Hedging a bet is an advanced strategy used by sports bettors to either reduce the risk of a wager or to guarantee a profit of some kind from a wager. Similar to middling a wager, hedging is a strategy that involves placing wagers on the opposite side of your original bet. The betting odds then change in the build-up to the game as various people place sports bets. Bookmakers need to balance their risk, so if one team proves popular among, you can expect the odds on. Side Betting A teaser bet is a bit of a parlay bet, which allows players to reduce their risk. A teaser bet offers the opportunity to bet on point spreads or game totals, and then “tease” or adjust the line to give them a better chance of winning. Of course, their chances to win come at a cost? Which is reduced odds.

The definition of the middle is “equally distant from the extremes,” according to Merrian Webster dictionary. Betting a middle (also known as “middling”) is a sports betting strategy that makes the most out of a change in point spreads, odds, and totals.

Middling isn’t a term that many who are new sports betting are familiar with. The opportunity to middle a game is when a point spread or total moves in a game. Bettors can middle a bet when a wager is placed on different sides of the same game.

One of the reasons new sports bettors aren’t familiar with middling is because involves multiple wagers on a game. Most new bettors are usually just interested in wagering once on a game. A middle opportunity often presents itself to bettors at different times of the week leading up to a game.

Sportsbook operators are very aware that there are bettors looking to middle a game. They often have this in mind when setting and moving lines during the week. That said, there are still middle opportunities.

Finding a middle

The strategy to middle a game is most popular when betting on football. One of the reasons new sports bettors aren’t familiar with middling a game is because a middle requires two different wagers on the same game but not on the same team.

Not all bettors are looking for this betting option since it involves risking double the money. However, it could be a way to minimize financial risk or be a profitable endeavor.

The easiest way to understand middling a game is with an example:

The New England Patriots open as 7 point favorite against the New York Jets. A bettor likes the Patriots and places a wager on the Patriots -7.
During the week the line moves and the Patriots become a 10 point favorite against Jets. The bettor sees a 3 point difference at places a wager on the Jets +10.

The 3 point difference in this example is the middle. Now that the bettor has two wagers, there are multiple chances they can win. The best outcome for the bettor is found in the middle of both wagers.

Middle outcomes

Finding an opportunity to middle a football game isn’t a guaranteed win. There are several different results possible. Here are possible outcomes using the Patriots vs. Jets example:

A bettor wins both wagers: if the Patriots defeat the Jets by 8 or 9 points.
The bettor wins one wager: if the Jets lose by 6 or fewer or the Patriots win by 11 or more.
A bettor pushes: if the Patriots win by exactly 7 or 10 points (minus the vig).

Middling a football game isn’t a guaranteed win but it can help minimize financial risk. Winning the actual middle could prove to be especially rewarding since two bets are won on the same game.

Betting a middle is also a way for gamblers to earn some extra loyalty points from sportsbooks that offer rewards for each dollar wagered. Nobody should place extra wagers for loyalty points. This is just an extra benefit.

A middle can come from different point spreads too. For simplicity, we’re using an example using two of the key numbers.

Betting a middle is another tool

Finding a middle and wagering on both sides of a game is another tool in a sports betting tool belt. Sportsbook operators have a built in house edge of paying $10 for every $11 bet. Sports bettors have certain tools they can use to offset the edge sportsbooks has.

Sportsbook operators must make lines for every game. One of the biggest advantages bettors have is to only wager on games they select. A sharper bettor will wager on games they feel as though they have an advantage.

Finding a middle opportunity is another one of the advantages for bettors. There aren’t middle opportunities available too often. That said, when a middle opportunity is available it behooves a bettor to take advantage of the moment.

A middle could help to minimize risk for a wager on a specific game. Betting a middle could also give the bettor a chance at a larger win if the final score of the game falls in between the two wagers.

Finding a middle isn’t for everyone

Not all sports bettors are the same. There are plenty of casual bettors who are just looking for a little extra fun while watching their favorite team play by risking a few bucks. Middling games probably aren’t meant for this kind of sports bettor.

Midding a game isn’t for everyone. A casual recreational bettor probably isn’t tracking line movement throughout the week. Even if they are tracking line movement, the bettor might not be interested in making multiple wagers on a single game. That’s okay, everyone has different reasons to wager on sports.

Again, finding an opportunity to middle is just another weapon a slightly advanced sports bettor has available to use every now and again. It isn’t for everyone but it’s certainly a useful wagering option for plenty of sports bettors.

A proposition bet in sports betting are more commonly known as a “prop bet.” This kind of betting is very popular overseas. It is now one of the fastest-growing segments of the sports betting industry in the United States. The growth of prop betting at online sportsbooks is evolving and constantly changing as new legal betting states open up new kinds of opportunities.

Some prop bets may sometimes appear to be similar to futures bets. The difference between the two bets is that a prop bet is a wager on an individual player or specific event. However, the majority of prop bets at a sportsbook are on individual players and not the entire team during a game. Both opportunities may be available depending on the game.

Prop bet search tool

Looking for a player or team to bet on in any sport? Use our search tool below to find the different ways to bet, along with the best available odds at sportsbooks in the US.

Prop betting origins

Prop bets became popular in the United States with the Super Bowl. The specific explosion of prop betting started at the Westgate in Las Vegas (previously known as Las Vegas Hilton). The team at the Las Vegas SuperBook was the first Nevada sportsbook operator to offer a large number of prop bets for an individual game.

Today, all sportsbook operators in Nevada offer hundreds of Super Bowl prop bets, and online sportsbook operators in New Jersey(like DraftKings Sportsbook pictured above), Pennsylvania and more legalized states have followed.

Prop betting started modestly with the Super Bowl but continues to grow. Some sportsbook operators offer prop bets every week during the pro football season. Fewer sportsbook operators offer prop bets every day for other sports. The evolution of prop betting in United States sportsbooks is taking the wagers off the field.

Types of prop bets

MLB

Common prop bets placed on the MLB include the most common stats like ERA, home runs, stolen bases, strikeouts, hits, RBI, and others. These props can include individual game performance, performance over a specific period (a month, playoff series, etc.), or performance over the course of an entire season (regular, post, or both).

NFL

NFL props come in two common variations– per game and total. The most popular props for the NFL are player props like touchdown passes, rushing yards, receptions, interceptions, etc. However, these can also fall under team props like rushing yards allowed per game, turnovers, and passing efficiency. Obscure props are popular mostly during Super Bowls but can range from penalties to the color of Gatorade used by the winning team.

What Is A Side Bet In Sports Betting Parlay

NFL Passing Props
NFL Rushing Props
NFL Receiving Props

NBA

Popular props bet on in the NBA include common statistics like points, rebounds, blocks, assists, and turnovers per game; as well as metrics like shooting percentage, three point attempts, and fouls per game. Team props can include shooting percentages, points in the paint, and free throw attempts. Like the NFL and MLB, these can range from an individual game to over a period of time (series, season, etc.).

NHL

The most common prop bets on the NHL include goals, saves, and assists; other statistics like penalty minutes and ice time are popular bets, as well. First player to score a goal, team assist numbers, and faceoff wins are more obscure yet accessible bets to make over an individual game, week, series, or season.

College football

College football prop bets closely mirror NFL props in stats (passing yards, tackles, etc.), but often see more extreme totals. For example, Memphis might have a higher over/under in yards per game than, say, the Buffalo Bills, due to a wider talent gap in college.

College basketball

What Is A Side Bet

College basketball prop bets also closely mirror the NBA props in stats (points per game, steals, etc.). Unlike college football, college basketball sees a decrease in props related to game performance (example, a player or team’s points per game are projected to be lower than NBA due to talent gaps). When betting on NCAAB prop bets on team totals, it’s important to remember that college basketball plays under 40 games per regular season, whereas the NBA plays 82.

Exotic prop bets

Exotic prop bets are only offered by some sportsbooks around the world. These non-traditional prop bets are not necessarily based on activities that take place during a game. The most popular of these exotic prop bets, such as the length of the national anthem or the coin toss results, happen during the Super Bowl.

These props can be as outlandish as the sportsbook operator wants them to be. They usually take place during the most publicly popular events such as a Royal Wedding in the United Kingdom or who will play a specific role in a movie series.

While they may be fun, most of these kinds of exotic proposition bets are not legal in America. This could change in Nevada and in other states that may legalize sports betting.

What Does Side Mean In Betting

Personal prop bets

Fox Bet Sports Betting

Proposition betting doesn’t only take place in a sportsbook. Bets with a friend for random activities also fall into the category of a prop bet. For example, a bet that a friend can’t finish 40 pushups during a game of poker might be considered a personal prop bet between friends.