Prop Betting Explained: A Complete Guide to Proposition Betting

Newer gamblers often ask what prop betting is.

This type of betting is not about who will win a sports betting matchup. Instead, different bets are offered within a game that may not necessarily affect its outcome.

An example would be how many touchdown passes Patrick Mahomes will throw in a game or a season, or how many points, assists, and rebounds LeBron James will have in a game or a season.

Prop betting was once a nice side attraction to enhance the gambling experience or for entertainment purposes. These days, it has turned into a science.

What Is Prop Betting?

Proposition betting has endless possibilities.

The Super Bowl is the best example. In the Super Bowl, the prop betting options can range from heads or tails on the opening coin toss to which team or player will score first and how they will score. You can wager on how many sacks a player or team will compile, interceptions thrown, fumbles, total receptions, total yards, etc.

Proposition betting also includes season-long options, such as who will win the "Most Valuable Player" award.

A proposition bet can be placed either by over/under totals listed or with odds.

Types of Prop Bets

When exploring the different types of prop bets, the options include player prop bets, team prop bets, game and event prop bets, exotic prop bets, etc.

Player prop bets have become increasingly popular because of the daily action and multiple options available, but team props are also popular with countless gamblers.

There has never been a better time to bet on props because of the significant increase in choices available.

Player Prop Bets

Prop betting on players regards individual performances during a game or a season.

Basketball offers player prop options such as player points, rebounds, three-point field goals, assists, combos, and even head-to-head props. An example would be Bam Adebayo over or under a total of nine rebounds in a game.

In baseball, you can get action on hits, home runs, strikeouts, and runs batted in. A baseball player prop example would be if Aaron Judge hit a home run in a game.

Football offers props for touchdowns, yardage, sacks, and much more, while in hockey, you can get goals, assists, points, etc.

Team Prop Bets

Team prop betting options include which team will score first in a game, force or commit the most turnovers, compile the most rebounds, free throws, penalties, field goals, safeties, three-point baskets, shots on goal, fouls, etc.

You can also make seasonal team prop bets based on similar options.

Team props are usually simple to understand. Moneyline and over/under totals are the most common types of team prop bets.

Keep in mind that individual player props and team props are separate entities with distinct factors and prices.

Game/Event Props

Game/event props are wagers on potential outcomes within a game.

Such prop betting occurrences could include whether a game goes into overtime, which team will score first, whether the final total score will be odd or even, whether a team will score in every period, half, or quarter of a game, the exact final score, and more.

These props appeal to gamblers because they potentially have higher payout rates than team or player props. The tradeoff is that these prop bets are more difficult to win.

How Proposition Betting Works

Prop betting options are easy to find on the Prime Sportsbook interface and, like all other bets, are based on odds or totals.

Yet, there is a difference between fun prop bets, such as the Super Bowl opening coin flip, and skilled prop wagers that require more knowledge regarding the specific abilities of the players and teams involved.

Fixed-Odds Format

Prop betting in a fixed-odds format is where you know the odds up front when you place your bet.

An example of a fixed-odds prop bet would be whether Connor McDavid scores a goal in a game at -120. If you think McDavid will score a goal, you will bet $120 to win $100.

Other examples would be if Travis Kelce scores a touchdown, Aaron Judge hits a home run in a game, the first team to score 20 points, or three goals, etc.

Fixed odds are offered on these types of prop bets.

Over/Under Props

Proposition betting is most popular with the over/under totals option. With totals props, the possibilities are limitless.

Examples include Jalen Hurts over or under 300 total yards, 2.5 touchdown passes in a game, 1.5 interceptions in a game, etc.

In basketball, you can wager on whether a player will score over or under a certain number of points, rebounds, assists, or a combination.

In auto racing, you can bet on over or under the number of caution flags in the race, lead changes, etc.

Prop Betting Strategy Tips

Like regular bets, proposition bet strategy involves knowledge and price.

The most important strategy is to set a price or odds that you believe are fair and then compare them to what the sportsbook offers.

Most importantly, never overpay or force a wager. If the number feels wrong, it probably is.

Focusing on One Market or Sport

The more serious gamblers often focus on one market (a specific type of wager) or a sport (NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, etc.), which is advantageous because it is focused and not spread out over several different options that could clutter the mind.

Becoming an expert in one option could increase profit margins.

Using Stats and Matchups

While using stats and matchups does not harm and can potentially assist in your profit margins, keep in mind that oddsmakers use them, too.

Stats and matchups are useful tools, but they are hardly the only tools. A common mistake that gamblers make is relying too much on stats and matchups while ignoring other factors, such as price and value.

Prop Bets Across Different Sports

One of the most attractive aspects of prop betting is that each sport offers unique factors and characteristics.

Hockey is not as popular as football, but it offers prop bets that could be advantageous or enjoyable to gamblers. Football’s weekly nature has different dynamics than the daily grind of baseball and basketball.

These variances add to the fun of prop betting.

Football (NFL & College Football)

It’s called King Football for a reason. Football is the most popular sport to wager on, and it is no different on the props board.

Player props include different game achievements, such as total yards, touchdowns, sacks, interceptions, receptions, field goals, tackles, etc. You can wager on a player to score a touchdown anytime or at a certain point in the game.

Football player props are popular because they tie into the fantasy sports craze that is a big part of NFL betting.

Basketball (NBA & College Basketball)

Basketball betting popularity and activity have dramatically increased, and props betting is a major contributor. Basketball's daily gameplay feeds into its popularity, so sportsbooks have gotten more creative about the props they offer.

Combo props on players for total points, rebounds, and assists in a game have emerged as a major draw for betting action.

The NCAA Tournament draws plenty of player props, too, especially with star players such as Cooper Flagg of the mega-brand Duke Blue Devils.

Baseball & Hockey

Like basketball, baseball and hockey offer daily action, which gamblers find appealing.

Baseball offers attractive options such as total home runs, runs, hits, strikeouts, walks, and runs batted in for a game. Baseball is the ultimate game of numbers, and that is a draw for props betting.

In hockey, you can get props on total goals, assists, points, saves, shots, etc. The National Hockey League playoffs, considered to be the best postseason in sports, are a major draw for props betting, too.

Combat Sports

Combat sports, such as mixed martial arts, are among the fastest-growing sectors in sports betting.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the most popular in this category. You can get props on which fighter will win in what round, whether the fight will go the distance, by what method the winner will win, the total number of rounds fought, etc.

Methods of winning include knockout, technical knockout, submission, or decision. Combat sports have fighters with individual reputations, such as knockout artists, wrestlers, kickboxers, etc., which could factor into a props wager.