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A prop bet is a wager on an outcome other than the final score, like player stats, team milestones, or in-game events. Examples include betting on a quarterback’s passing yards, an NBA player’s 3-pointers made, or whether an MLB player hits a home run.
Props are especially popular in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, and have become a big part of U.S. sports culture, as they add extra excitement to viewers.
What is a Prop Bet in Sports Betting
More formally, a prop bet (short for “proposition bet”) is a wager on a specific outcome within a game that isn’t directly tied to the final score or margin of victory. Instead, prop bets focus on individual player performance, team statistics, or other in-game events. Prop bets generally fall into two broad categories:
Player props: wagers on individual stats, such as a quarterback’s passing yards, a basketball player’s points scored, or a pitcher’s strikeouts.
Team props: wagers on team outcomes, such as which team scores first, total team rushing yards, or the number of three-pointers made.
These markets can be offered pre-game or during live/in-game windows, with odds updating in real time as the action unfolds. Sportsbooks also occasionally post “exotic” or novelty props, which go beyond standard stats. For example, some of the most popular prop bets during the Super Bowl are the Gatorade color of the winning team, and whether or not the team that wins the coin toss will win the game.
How Prop Bets Work for Different Sports and Leagues
Prop bets vary by sport, but the concept stays the same: they focus on individual or team outcomes beyond the final score. Below are some commonly offered props across several sports. Keep in mind that there is a lot of overlap between college football and NFL, as well as college basketball and NBA.
NFL Props
- Examples: quarterback passing yards (Over/Under), first touchdown scorer, anytime touchdown scorer.
- Popularity: huge during the Super Bowl and primetime games.
- Note: widely available (in legal betting states), with few restrictions compared to college sports.
- Examples: running back rushing yards (Over/Under), total team touchdowns (Over/Under).
- Restrictions: some states don’t allow individual college player props; often only team-based props are available.
- Popularity: peak interest during bowl season, the College Football Playoff, and AP top-10 matchups.
- Examples: player points scored (Over/Under), total made three-pointers (Over/Under), player to score first basket
- Popularity: popular in nightly betting markets, especially during the playoffs; also popular at beginning of season
- Examples: total rebounds or assists (Over/Under), team three-pointers made (Over/Under), player to record a double-double.
- Restrictions: like college football, many states limit or ban individual player props; team props are more common.
- Popularity: March Madness drives the most action.
- Examples: pitcher strikeouts (Over/Under), batter to hit a home run, innings pitched (Over/Under).
- Popularity: most popular during the playoffs and World Series, with varying trends throughout the regular season.
- Examples: anytime goal-scorer, Goalie saves (Over/Under).
- Popularity: gain steam during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and in-game betting.
- Examples: player to record an assist and a goal, team total corner kicks (Over/Under).
- Popularity: heavy action during major tournaments like the World Cup and Champions League.
- Ejemplos: el jugador grabará un birdie en un agujero específico, puntaje de enfrentamiento de cabeza a ejecución, birdies totales hechos (sobre/menores).
- Popularidad: más común durante los principales torneos como los Masters o el US Open.
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