A teaser bet lets you adjust point spreads or totals in your favor across multiple games—but all selections must win for your bet to pay out. Teasers are popular in NFL and NBA betting because they allow bettors to cross key numbers and improve their odds on games they already like.
This guide covers how teaser bets work, optimal teaser strategies, payout structures, and when teasers offer genuine value versus when they’re sucker bets.
Key Highlights
Teaser Stats Dashboard
How Teaser Bets Work
A teaser is essentially a parlay where you “buy” extra points on each selection. Instead of betting games at their original spreads, you move the lines in your favor—but accept reduced payouts in exchange.
Example: You like two NFL games this week:
- Chiefs -7.5
- Bills -3
With a standard 6-point teaser, your adjusted lines become:
- Chiefs -1.5 (moved 6 points in your favor)
- Bills +3 (moved 6 points in your favor)
Both adjusted spreads must cover for your teaser to win. If either game loses against the teased line, you lose the entire bet.
NFL vs NBA Teaser Adjustments
The number of points you can tease differs by sport because scoring patterns vary significantly.
Why the difference? NFL games are lower-scoring with outcomes clustering around key numbers (3, 7, 10). NBA games see 200+ combined points, so 4-5 points has proportionally less impact. This makes NFL teasers generally more valuable than NBA teasers.
Teaser Payout Structure
Teasers pay less than standard parlays because you’re getting favorable line adjustments. Here’s the typical payout structure for 6-point NFL teasers:
Important: For a 2-team teaser at -120 odds, each individual leg needs to win approximately 73.9% of the time for the bet to break even (0.739 × 0.739 = 54.6%). This is why leg selection matters so much.
The Wong Teaser Strategy
Stanford Wong, a legendary sports bettor and author, identified specific teaser scenarios that historically show positive expected value. The “Wong teaser” strategy focuses on NFL games where a 6-point adjustment crosses the key numbers of 3 and 7.
Wong Teaser Criteria
For a proper Wong teaser, select only NFL favorites and underdogs that meet these criteria:
This crosses both 7 and 3, the two most common NFL margins of victory. A team that would have lost by 1-6 points now covers.
This also crosses 3 and 7 upward. A team that loses by 3-7 points now covers the teased spread.
Why Wong Teasers Work
NFL game margins cluster heavily around specific numbers due to scoring values (touchdown = 7, field goal = 3). Approximately 15% of NFL games end with a 3-point margin, and another 9% end with a 7-point margin. By teasing through both numbers, you’re capturing a significant chunk of games that would otherwise be losses.
Historical analysis shows Wong teasers win approximately 76% of the time when properly constructed—well above the 73.9% break-even threshold for -120 odds.
NFL Key Numbers for Teasers
Understanding key numbers is essential for teaser betting. These are the most common margins of victory in NFL games:
A 6-point teaser crossing from 7.5 to 1.5 captures games decided by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 points—roughly 40% of NFL outcomes.
Teaser Push Rules
What happens when one leg of your teaser lands exactly on the number? Push rules vary by sportsbook:
Pro Tip: Books that treat pushes as wins on teasers offer better value. DraftKings, for example, uses “ties win” rules on some teaser products. Always read the fine print.
When to Avoid Teasers
Not all teasers offer value. Here’s when to skip them:
- NBA teasers: Basketball scoring is more continuous, so 4-5 points doesn’t cross meaningful thresholds like NFL’s 3 and 7. NBA teasers rarely offer +EV.
- Totals teasers: Over/under numbers don’t cluster around key numbers the way spreads do. Teasing totals is generally -EV.
- Large spreads: Teasing a -14 favorite to -8 doesn’t cross 3 or 7, offering less marginal value.
- 3+ team teasers: Each additional leg compounds the probability against you. Stick to 2-team teasers for the best edge.
- 7-point teasers: The extra half-point costs significant juice without adding much value beyond the 6-point teaser.
Teasers vs Parlays: Which Is Better?
Both teasers and parlays require multiple selections to win, but they work differently:
Bottom line: Standard 2-leg parlays have a house edge of roughly 10%. Wong teasers, when constructed properly, can be +EV. For serious bettors, well-constructed teasers beat parlays.
Teaser Betting Pro Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a teaser bet?
A teaser bet is a type of parlay where you adjust point spreads or totals in your favor across multiple games. In exchange for better odds on each game, you accept reduced payouts. All selections must win for the teaser to pay out.
How many points can you tease in the NFL?
Standard NFL teaser options are 6, 6.5, and 7 points. The 6-point teaser is most common and offers the best balance of value and win probability. Some books offer 10 or 13-point “sweetheart” teasers at much worse odds.
Are teasers better than parlays?
For NFL betting, properly constructed teasers (Wong teasers) can offer positive expected value, while standard parlays almost never do. However, random teasers without strategic selection are just as bad as parlays.
What is a Wong teaser?
A Wong teaser is an NFL teaser strategy developed by Stanford Wong that focuses on 6-point adjustments crossing the key numbers 3 and 7. Favorites between -7.5 and -8.5 teased down, or underdogs between +1.5 and +2.5 teased up, historically win at rates exceeding the break-even threshold.
What happens if one leg of my teaser pushes?
Push rules vary by sportsbook. On 2-team teasers, most books return your stake if one leg pushes and the other wins. On 3+ team teasers, a push typically reduces the teaser by one leg (e.g., 3-team becomes 2-team). Always verify your book’s push policy before betting.
Should I bet NBA teasers?
NBA teasers are generally not recommended. Basketball doesn’t have key numbers like football’s 3 and 7, so the 4-5 point adjustment doesn’t capture as many game outcomes. Stick to NFL teasers for better expected value.
Related Betting Guides
Learn more about sports betting strategy:
- NFL Betting Guide — Complete guide to betting NFL spreads, totals, and props
- NBA Betting Guide — How to bet on basketball like a sharp
- Super Bowl Betting Guide — Props, odds, and strategies for the big game
