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