Are Teaser Bets Worth the Juice?
It's quite the question: Are teaser bets worth the juice?
For some people, it could literally be a million-dollar question,
but in short, it depends. Teasers are just one kind of bet and, when used
effectively, can be serious game-breakers for sportsbooks that allow bettors to
take advantage of them.
With an understanding of the teaser, how to use them, and why they
can be a good betting tool, would-be winners can have a better idea of when to
wield this equalizing force.
What
is a Teaser?
A teaser is a bet that requires a bettor to make multiple bets on
two or more sports teams, particularly on the spread or total. The teaser
allows a bettor to add a substantial amount of points in relation to the line.
For example, a seven-point teaser could be the option of being
able to add seven points to every line you're betting, but the catch is that
you have to bet multiple games. So if you're betting a three-team seven-point
teaser, all three teams have to cover the spread with the adjusted seven-point
padding.
Make sense? Good.
So why would you ever bet a teaser?
Why Bet Teasers?
Teasers are great in the eyes of bettors because, despite the
slightly higher juice that has to be paid and the decreased odds of hitting
(multiple wagers always reduces the odds of a successful bet), betting
teasers is a favorite of casual bettors.
In their eyes, the tacked-on points make it a guarantee that a bet
is going to hit. But then these rookies do things like tease across zero, i.e.,
teasing a seven-point favorite to pick, only to see their seemingly lock-of-the-century
teaser go up in flames.
Teasers are great for sharp bettors if they have lines they really
like, and they can combine them. Knowing how
to bet them will help your bottom line. If you have a tight read on a
game, and you know you're betting value with a given line, a teaser is a way to
pound the bookmaker into oblivion.
However, it is also a great way to get crushed. Often, to
compensate for the juice and the perceived "lock" of a teaser,
players will place a larger than normal wager on a contest, resulting in
catastrophic losses.
Because the big loss of a teaser makes up for the "big"
wins, sportsbooks enjoy giving them out. So with a better understanding of what
teasers are, the question you've waiting for: Should you bet teasers?
No, and Here's Why.
EDITOR’S CHOICE: WHY
LINE SHOPPING IS A WINNING STRATEGY
Avoid the Bet
Teasers are a square play for a reason. The idea of getting value
is when you isolate a side with positive expected value, i.e., you're betting a
2-1 dog that should really be favored. That's the epitome of value.
Even if you lose, you're getting a really big discount, which
means you need to play it and see what happens. It’s just another of the betting
options you need in your arsenal.
Many times, adding seven points to a given side is a negligible
addition of value. It may sound like a lot, but in those instances, you may not
be getting value, but rather, the idea of value.
So final verdict: Stay away from teasers and just be smarter about
your straight bets. You'll be happy you did.