A prop bet, short for proposition bet, is a bet on something that happens inside a game other than the final result: a quarterback’s passing yards, a player to score, the first team to reach 20 points. Props are settled on that one event, so you can bet on a player’s night without caring who wins.
This guide covers the kinds of prop bets, how to read and convert their odds, and what to check before you bet one.
The four kinds of prop bets
- Player props: one player’s numbers. Passing, rushing or receiving yards in football; points, rebounds and assists in basketball; strikeouts, hits and home runs in baseball; shots, goals and saves in hockey.
- Team props: one team’s numbers, such as its total points, its first-half score, or whether it scores in every quarter.
- Game props: both teams together, such as the first team to score, the winning margin, or whether the game goes to overtime.
- Novelty props: events around a game, most of them on the Super Bowl, such as the coin toss or the length of the national anthem.
Most player props are posted as an over/under on a number. If a receiver’s line is 64.5 yards, the over wins at 65 or more and the under at 64 or fewer. Others are yes-or-no: a player to score a touchdown at any time, priced at a single number such as +150.
How to read prop odds
Props are quoted in the same American odds as any other bet. A plus price is the profit on a $100 stake, and a minus price is what you stake to win $100.
| Price | $100 bet returns | Implied chance |
|---|---|---|
| +200 | $300 ($200 profit) | 33.3% |
| +150 | $250 ($150 profit) | 40.0% |
| -110 | $190.91 ($90.91 profit) | 52.4% |
| -200 | $150 ($50 profit) | 66.7% |
The implied chance for a plus price is 100 / (price + 100), and for a minus price it is the price over (price + 100), using the number without its sign. A prop is worth betting only when you rate the chance higher than the price does.
Converting prop odds
Books outside the US quote decimal or fractional odds. To convert American odds to decimal:
- Plus price: divide by 100 and add 1. +200 is 3.00.
- Minus price: divide 100 by the price and add 1. -300 is 1.33.
A decimal price is the total return on a $1 stake, stake included, so 3.00 returns $3 for every $1 bet. Fractional odds show the profit only: 2/1 is the same bet as +200 and 3.00, and 1/3 the same as -300 and 1.33.
Why the price matters on props
Prop prices differ between books, and the difference is worth money. A player at +150 to score in one book and +175 in another needs a 40.0% chance in the first and 36.4% in the second, so the same bet is a better one at the second book.
Check the price on both sides too. At -110 on both sides of an over/under the two implied chances add up to 104.8%, and at -120 on both sides they add up to 109.1%. The extra points are the book’s margin, and a prop priced at -120 each way needs a bigger edge to be worth betting.
What to check before a prop bet
Start with who is playing. When a starter is ruled out, the props on his teammates change too, and their lines may not have moved yet when the news breaks.
Read the role, not only the average. A receiver’s yards depend on how many passes come his way, a pitcher’s strikeouts on how deep he goes into the game, and a basketball player’s points on his minutes. A change of role moves the numbers before it moves the season average.
Look at the opponent. A running back facing the league’s worst run defense and a pitcher facing the team that strikes out most are different bets from the same lines against strong opponents.
Keep stakes small and keep a record. Props are high-variance, and after a few hundred bets your record will show which kinds you price well.
Props and futures: the difference
A prop settles on one game, usually the same night. A futures bet settles at the end of a season or event, such as an award or a title, and your stake waits with the book until then. Season-long player totals sit between the two: they are props on a player’s numbers that settle like futures. Our futures bet guide covers those.
When a prop pays
A prop settles when its event is final, which for most player props is the end of the game. A prop on the first quarter or the first half settles when that period ends. A prop on a player who does not play is normally voided and the stake returned, though each book sets its own rule, so check it before you bet.
For live odds from several books, see the Scores and Stats home page, and for props by sport, our NHL prop betting guide.