| Introduction to Props | | | | require Serena bettors to risk $400 to win |
| | | | $100 while a $100 bet on her opponent would |
| Betting sides and totals on major sports like | | | | win $360. |
| baseball, basketball and football are the | | | | |
| most common wagers available everywhere. | | | | Here's how the money line would be listed: |
| However, many sportsbooks also offer | | | | Serena Williams -400 / #102 Ranked Opponent |
| proposition bets (or props short) for | | | | +360. |
| gambling on non-team sports like golf, | | | | |
| tennis, boxing and auto racing - including | | | | Every $400 bet on Serena nets a $100 profit |
| NASCAR - due to their growing popularity. The | | | | if she wins (plus the return of the $400 |
| two main ways of wagering on non-team sports | | | | risked). If her opponent pulls off the upset, |
| are "Betting to Win" an event and "Matchup | | | | $100 bet on the underdog would profit $360 |
| Betting" which pits an individual against | | | | (plus the return of the $100 risked). For |
| another individual or a group of individuals. | | | | more information on how this works, be sure |
| | | | to check out How to Read the Money Line. |
| Betting to Win | | | | |
| | | | Furthermore, a tennis match would be |
| Before every major event in non-team sports | | | | considered a tournament-style head-to-head |
| like golf, tennis and auto racing, futures | | | | matchup since the competitors involved |
| are set by oddsmakers. These are not fixed | | | | directly play against each other in the |
| and are adjusted by sportsbooks several times | | | | event. An artificial head-to-head matchup |
| leading up to the event and are sometimes | | | | involves competitors in an event like a golf |
| released months before an event. The same | | | | tournament or auto race who are indirectly |
| holds true for major team sports like NFL and | | | | competing against each other since in reality |
| college football, NBA and college basketball | | | | they are competing against everybody in the |
| and MLB baseball. | | | | field, not just one other competitor. These |
| | | | artificial matchups are also fake in the |
| The main advantage of futures is that you can | | | | sense that bookmakers are the ones creating |
| get appealing odds by betting far in advance | | | | them - solely for betting purposes - and |
| of when the event takes place. For example, | | | | different books will often offer different |
| betting on the 2006 Masters golf tournament | | | | matchups. |
| now might get you much better value on Tiger | | | | |
| Woods, who may be 10/1 at this moment but dip | | | | Group matchups are another way "matchup |
| to 6/1 closer to the event if he is on a | | | | betting" is used which is particularly |
| roll. | | | | popular in golf and auto racing events like |
| | | | NASCAR, where you can select whether a |
| An example with team sports would be NFL | | | | leading competitor or a few other lesser |
| futures, where you often can get much higher | | | | competitors will finisher higher amongst the |
| odds on a team by betting before the season | | | | group, with the odds again based on money |
| starts. A NFL future bet on a team to win the | | | | lines. Since golf and NASCAR both have |
| Super Bowl might be 20/1 in the preseason; | | | | pre-qualifying, not everybody makes the cut |
| but by midseason, their odds might decrease | | | | to the final day of competition, and these |
| to 10/1 if they turn out to be legitimate | | | | group matchups require all individuals to |
| championship contenders. | | | | qualify in order to be eligible for action. |
| | | | |
| "Betting to Win" an outcome event like The | | | | Proposition bets for non-team sports are not |
| Masters is the most common way to wager on | | | | limited to "Betting to Win" an event and |
| individuals competing for a particular | | | | "Matchup Betting" but those are the primary |
| non-team title. Unlike team sports such as | | | | ways to wager on them. Other examples of |
| football, non-team sports also have multiple | | | | props for non-team sports include what racing |
| events over the course of a year, so "Betting | | | | team will finish highest in a particular |
| to Win" obviously happens much more | | | | NASCAR race (Chevy, Ford or Dodge) or how |
| frequently than a once a year NFL futures bet | | | | many rounds will the fight between Mike Tyson |
| on the Super Bowl winner does. | | | | and Kevin McBride last (Over/Under 8.5 |
| | | | rounds). Props, also known as exotic wagers, |
| It is very important to note that not all the | | | | are also extremely popular on high-profile |
| competitors in an event may be listed, so | | | | team sporting events like the Super Bowl in |
| another betting option is on the "field" | | | | Las Vegas . The Imperial Palace Casino's |
| which includes all other competitors not | | | | sportsbook is well-known for the enormous |
| listed. The odds on a "field" bet are | | | | number of prop bets offered. For example, you |
| typically comparable to a bet on the favorite | | | | can bet on: |
| in order to protect sportsbooks from taking a | | | | |
| big hit if a major upset occurs. In exchange | | | | What team will win the coin toss |
| for a lesser payout, field bettors gain the | | | | |
| advantages of having more than one entrant | | | | What player will score the game's first |
| that can win for them. | | | | touchdown |
| | | | |
| Matchup Betting | | | | What will be the exact margin of victory |
| | | | |
| For non-team sports like golf, boxing, tennis | | | | As you can see, there's much more to betting |
| and NASCAR, "Matchup Betting" offers an | | | | than simply totals and sides, especially when |
| alternative to simply betting on the event's | | | | it comes to gambling on non-team sports. So |
| winner. "Matchup Betting" generally involves | | | | be aware of all your wagering options and |
| an individual going up against another | | | | don't miss out on the excitement non-team |
| individual in a head-to-head event, such as a | | | | sports have to offer with prop betting! |
| tennis match, and the odds are determined | | | | |
| using the money line. | | | | provides sports betting rules, basics, |
| | | | advice, systems, and strategy, online for |
| For example, if Serena Williams faced an | | | | free, covering NFL Football, NCAA college |
| overmatched opponent in the U.S. Open tennis | | | | basketball, NBA, pro MLB baseball wagering |
| tournament, a reasonable money line would | | | | from gambling experts. |