Teaser

A teaser is a special form of parlay bet that allows the bettor to shift the point spread or total (over/under) by a set number of points in their favor on each leg. In exchange for this more favorable line, the potential payout is reduced compared to a standard parlay at the original odds. Teasers are most commonly associated with NFL and NBA betting, where the point-based scoring systems make line adjustments particularly meaningful.

Like a standard parlay, a teaser requires every leg to win for the bet to pay out. The key difference is the built-in advantage of adjusted lines. Most sportsbooks offer standard teaser options of 6, 6.5, or 7 points in football, and 4, 4.5, or 5 points in basketball. The more points a bettor adds, the lower the payout, since each additional point of adjustment increases the probability of each leg winning.

Example

Suppose you place a two-team, 6-point NFL teaser with a $50 stake:

• Original line: Philadelphia Eagles -7.5 becomes Eagles -1.5 after the 6-point teaser adjustment.
• Original line: Under 48.5 in the Rams vs. 49ers game becomes Under 54.5 after the adjustment.

A standard two-team, 6-point teaser typically pays at around -110 odds. If both adjusted legs win, your $50 bet returns approximately $95.45 ($45.45 profit). Without the teaser, these two selections as a standard parlay at their original odds could return significantly more, but the teaser gives you a much higher probability of winning by moving each line 6 points in your direction.

Key Points

• Points move in the bettor’s favor: The defining feature of a teaser is that spreads and totals are shifted to give the bettor a better chance of winning each leg, making the individual selections easier to hit.
• Reduced payouts compared to standard parlays: The trade-off for more favorable lines is a lower payout. The more points you tease, the less the bet pays.
• All legs must win: Just like a regular parlay, every selection in a teaser must be correct. One losing leg means the entire teaser loses.
• Most effective with key numbers in football: Experienced bettors often focus on teasing through key numbers in NFL betting (such as 3 and 7) because a high percentage of games are decided by these margins, making the line adjustment especially valuable.
• Push rules vary by sportsbook: Some books grade a push on one leg as a loss for the entire teaser, while others reduce the teaser by one leg and recalculate the payout. Always check the house rules before placing a teaser.