Are teasers sucker bets?

[CharlieMaxwell]

Few topics pertaining to football handicapping seem to draw more controversy than betting teasers. Are teasers a sucker bet, or a useful tool to exploit the line? Even some of the strongest handicappers around have conflicting opinions.

Read the rest of Wild Bill's latest column by going to the RX home page at www.therx.com

Charlie

 

[BaseballGuy]

Teasers are probably the most +EV bet you can make. Just don't tease any college games.

 

[TheGeneral+]

I think the strength in teaser betting was shown recently by ABCislands reduicing their odds. If they were just sucker bets, then I suspect the price would have gotten better, not worse. Any wager can be described a sucker bet if you cannot win with it.

 

[oldmanTED]

Wild Bill is right on the money with this article. When played properly, teasers can be extremely advantageous to the player. When played improperly, the house has a distinct advantage. For years it had been very noticeable that Vegas sportsbooks were not particularly enamoured with over the counter teasers and continued raising the vig and lowering the limits on teasers, while some books eliminated them altogether. Meanwhile, the books were more then happy to offer teaser cards as their "sucker bet".

 

[wilheim]

In the wrong hands teasers are great money makers for boomakers. In the small majority of teaser players who know how to use their points and juice they are a nightmare. There have been dozens of teaser threads here at the Rx. over the years. Personally I would never tease a college football game or any basketball game (that is just me). This week in the NFL I would play Tampa Bay plus 8.5 and Carolina minus 2 with a two team 6 point - no juice - ties push (or win) teaser. Call me a sucker if you want.



wil.:digit:

 

[HacheMan]

Wil, are you saying you DID make that wager above, or did you mean Tampa & Arizona "this" week? I would tease NBA sides, but definitely not totals.........

 

[wilheim]

Hache to be honest I have not made any bets for next Sunday yet, I was using the teaser as an example of what in my mind is correct use of points. I would after looking at what is available right now take Carolina from -8 to -2 and Tampa Bay up from plus 2.5 to plus 8.5. Notice I am laying less than a field goal and taking more than a touchdown. I would have nothing to do with betting Arizona. Betting hoops IMHO is not worth the risk for the points involved. In other words a single point in a football game is worth more (IMO) than a single point in a basketball game (by a lot).


wil.

 

[HacheMan]

Oh, I agree, some games are perfect for it Wil, and you're only risking juice, no doubt about it. In last nights game thread between Miami & Cleveland Slim, baseballfan, and myself all teased the game, but Basesballfan did exaclty what you're speaking of, he took Cleveland to +15 and Miami to -2.........

 

[BaseballGuy]

Teasers seemed to work out pretty well for us last night huh hache?

Usually it is better to tease the dog. But last night it made sense to tease both.

 

[HacheMan]

Teasers seemed to work out pretty well for us last night huh hache?

Usually it is better to tease the dog. But last night it made sense to tease both.

Sure did baseguy, you obviously made the best call last night on yours........

There really should be no debate about this at all.Teasers are a great advantage at times as most smart players already know......

 

[phdinsports]

Teasers ARE a suckers bet. 7 points come into play less than 40% of the final score. 10 points roughly 56%. Considering a two team 7 point and a three team 10 point pays the same as a single bet, the extra points would have to come into play 50 and 67% to make it worthwhile! Just track all your teaser bets and see how many times you've needed the extra points. If your a winning player chances are you would have made more money betting each individual game as a single bet!

 

[BaseballGuy]

Teasers ARE a suckers bet. 7 points come into play less than 40% of the final score. 10 points roughly 56%. Considering a two team 7 point and a three team 10 point pays the same as a single bet, the extra points would have to come into play 50 and 67% to make it worthwhile! Just track all your teaser bets and see how many times you've needed the extra points. If your a winning player chances are you would have made more money betting each individual game as a single bet!

First of all your logic is somewhat flawed. Your logic only holds true to someone teasing a PK line. I for one would never tease a PK line, because like you said it won't give me much of an advantage.

However, teasing a +9 line, as was the case with the browns last night was very smart. With a 7 point tease I am now getting a 16 point handicap, which is basicly 3 scores!

My NFL teasers usually win 90 percent of the time.

You do have to know a bit about the game to make it profitable. You can't tease without knowledge of stats and trends either.

If you know what you're doing teasers can be a great addition to your betting arsenal.

 

[phdinsports]

It's not flawed logic baseball guy, it's just past results of all nfl games with the point spread in 2003 and 92-94. You teased the browns you didn't need the points!

 

[BaseballGuy]

I teased the dolphins too.. The points were needed there.

 

[phdinsports]

Track all your plays and see how often you would need the points! Because the extra points come into play in so few games you still have to pick a high percentage of winners. If your picking a high numbers of winners you probably would make more money doing single bets

 

[Fishhead]

Are teasers sucker plays?

Do snakes have elbows?

Give me 3 hours and i could show you things that could knock your socks off.

PS- Its funny, anybody that says teasers are bad bets, i quickly realize they are rank amatuers in the real world of sportsbetting.

 

[phdinsports]

Email me Fish, I've got time, don't have or need a job, I've got plenty of time on my hands!
P.S If your teasers are so good post them, I didn't know how to post on this site until General helped me out, but I will post nfl next season later!

 

[WorldNumberOne]

teasers make up about 80 % of wagers i make on pro football.

i also have enjoyed some success teasing nba home fav's of 8 to 11 down to even to 3.

like last night where i teased clev, san ant and phoenix.

infact i played a 4 team 10 point teaser the other night in which all 4 teams didnt cover the posted number but covered my teased number. i dont usually play 4 teamers though.

 

[FatTony]

Teasers ARE a suckers bet. 7 points come into play less than 40% of the final score. 10 points roughly 56%. Considering a two team 7 point and a three team 10 point pays the same as a single bet, the extra points would have to come into play 50 and 67% to make it worthwhile! Just track all your teaser bets and see how many times you've needed the extra points. If your a winning player chances are you would have made more money betting each individual game as a single bet!

I agree 100%.

People don't realize when they do win with teasers, it's because they picked the right side and that the points didn't help. Might help once in a while, but over the long haul, they would make more money betting these two team hook-ups in Parlays or Reverses rather then in Teasers.

 

[phdinsports]

Sorry mate, did not make myself clear, I was only referring to nfl, I don't know anything about the value of teasers in any other sports!