NFL Props Bets Glossary

NFL Betting Strategy Course 102

We have compiled all the NFL Prop Bets available as shown on Bovada, the largest online sportsbook. NFL Prop bet availability varies by sportsbook and can vary by games. The Super Bowl has the largest number of prop bets with over 500.

Quarterback Props

Quarterback props consist of many props based upon the Quarterback position. On most sportsbooks you will find a prop for all the major stats that a quarterback records from yards, completions, interceptions, and even QB rushing yards.

Total Passing Yards: Will a Quarterback throw for over/under a certain amount of yards in a game. Ex. Matthew Stafford over 250 or under 250 passing yards.

Total Touchdown Passes: Will a Quarterback throw for over/under a certain amount of TDs in a game. Ex. Matthew Stafford over 2.5 or under 2.5 TDs.

Total Completions: Will a Quarterback complete over/under a certain amount of completions in a game. Ex. Matthew Stafford over 20.5 completions or under 20.5.

Total Interceptions Thrown: How many interceptions will a Quarterback throw during the game. Ex. Over .5 or under .5.

Total Passing Attempts in a Game: How many times will a Quarterback attempt a throw during the game. Ex. Over 30.5 or Under 30.5.

Rushing Props

Rushing props have all to do with the running back position. For these props it is important to look at the % of the plays the RB you choose is in the backfield for thier team. Also, the front 7 of the defense that they are going up against as well as the running back’s offensive line are key places to look when placing a rushing prop bet.

Total Rushing Yards: Will a Running Back/Quarterback rush for over/under a certain amount of yards in a game. Ex. Melvin Gordon over 68.5 or under 68.5.

Total Rushing and Receiving Yards: How many yards combined will a running back get rushing and receiving? Ex. Chris Johnson over 54.5 or under 54.5.

Total Rushing Touchdowns: Will a Running Back score over/under a certain amount of touchdowns in a game. Ex. Melvin Gordon over 1.5 or under 1.5.

Receiving Props

Receiving props have to do with the pass catchers in a game. Touchdowns, completions, and yards can all come into play for these props. That is why it is imporant to view the opposing team’s secondary when choosing your picks in this prop category as well as the QB.

Total Receiving Yards: Will a Wide Receiver/Tight End catch for over/under a certain amount of yardage in a game. Ex. Odell Beckham Jr. over 78.5 or under 78.5.

Total Receptions: Will a Wide Receiver/ Tight End catch over/under a certain number of catches in a game. Ex. Odell Beckham Jr. over 5.5 or under 5.5.

Total Receiving Touchdowns: Will a Wide Receiver/ Tight End catch over/under a certain amount of touchdowns in a game. Ex. Odell Beckham Jr. over 1.5 or under 1.5.

Game Props/Score Props

General game props have the most variety of all the prop bets. They can have to do with anything involved during the game from the margin of victory to what type of score will be the first of a game. Could be considered the hardest of all the types of prop bets.

First half winning margin: What team will be ahead at the end of the first half.

Margin of victory: What will be the margin of victory for one of the two teams at the conclusion of the game.

Odd/Even Total Points: At the end of the game will the total amount of points combined from both teams be an even or odd number. Ex. Odd or Even.

First/Last team to score in the game: Who will be the first or the last team to score in the game. Ex. Rams or 49ers.

First scoring play – Exact outcome: Will the first scoring play of the game be a Touchdown or a Field Goal/Safety. Ex. Touchdown or Field Goal/Safety.

Will there be a score in (Insert Time) portion of the game: Will either team record any points during certain timeframes of the game.

Team to record the most first downs: Which of the two teams will get the most first downs during a game. Ex. Rams or 49ers.

Will either team score 3 unanswered times?: Will a team score 3 times while holding the opposing team to 0 points? Ex. Yes or No.

Will there be a score in (Insert Time) portion of the game: Will either team record any points during certain timeframes of the game.

Touchdown & Field Goal Props

These are props have all to do with Field Goals and Touchdowns. Mostly regarding who will score TDs on a team or if they will do so first or last. Large payouts are attainable if you were to pick a low level player that nobody expects to score a TD and they end up doing so, such as a fullback or a backup tight end.

First touchdown scorer: Who, from either team will score the first touchdown during a game.

Anytime touchdown scorer: Who, at anytime from either participating team will score a touchdown during the game.

Total Touchdowns (Team): What is the number of total touchdowns that one team will score Ex. Over 2.5, Under 2.5, or no touchdown.

Total Touchdowns (Game): What is the number of total touchdowns that both teams combined will score Ex. Over 3.5, Under 3.5, or no touchdown.

Longest touchdown yardage: How long will the longest touchdown of the game be. Ex.Over 30.5 yards or Under 30.5 yards.

Total successful field goals (Team): What will be the total number of successful field goals during a game from one of the teams. Ex. Over 1.5 or Under 1.5.

Total successful field goals: What will be the total number of successful field goals during a game from both teams. Ex. Over 3.5 or Under 3.5.

Special Teams/Defensive Props

These props have all to do with D/ST, the key props in this category are defensive TDs and sacks by the defense. They are regarded by most to be one of the harder props due to the long odds for cetain selections.

Will a special teams of defensive TD be scored: Will the defense or special teams (excluding kicker) record any points during a game Ex. Yes or No.

Total QB sacks: How many sacks will both teams record in the game Ex. Over 5 or Under 5.

General Terms

Added Game: An event not considered part of the normal Vegas rotation. An added game is usually played in the case of a doubleheader’s second game or a game that’s been rescheduled.

Alternate Lines: A separate point spread offered by a sportsbook with adjusted odds. For example, if the Denver Broncos are favored by 7 points, you can get an alternate line of -7.5 with lowered odds.

Arbitrage: Placing multiple bets on a single sporting event to ensure a profit. This is typically done through different sportsbooks to take advantage of varying odds.

Backdoor Cover: A term bettors use for a team that closely covers the point spread towards the end of a game. For example, a flurry of points from a favored team towards the end of the game to cover.

Bonus: An extra incentive from sportsbooks given to new users. The most common bonuses offered by sportsbooks are bonus bets and deposit matches. Virtually every platform has some kind of welcome bonus for new users.

Closing Line: The final point spread when a game begins. While a line might fluctuate back and forth throughout the week, a closing line represents where sportsbooks made their final adjustments.

Consensus: The sports betting public’s majority percentage on one side of a game. Certain sports bettors use these trends to their advantage and will bet against this public consensus.

Dollar: A bet of $100

Early Cash Out: A method used by some sports bettors to close out a wager before the end of a game for a reduced amount. This is done to ensure profit from a bet or simply get some percentage of your original stake, depending on the situation.

Exacta: A bet where you pick two horses that will finish first and second at the end of a race.

Exposure: How much a sportsbook could lose during a sporting event.

Fixed Odds: Odds that don’t fluctuate after placing a wager. In most situations, the odds will be set after you place your wager. However, betting on games such as horse racing can have fluctuating odds even after placing your wager.

Kelly Criterion: A betting strategy that focuses on optimizing wins and curbing losses. The strategy is a mathematical formula that calculates how much someone should wager on a given event in relation to their current bankroll.

Key Numbers: The most common margins in defeats, such as how most football games are determined by combinations of three points and seven points. For example, getting the Iowa Hawkeyes at -3 would be considered a key number.

Lock: A subjective term for a bet that seems extremely likely to win. The term is used more casually in the betting world, but doesn’t have any numerical or strategical merit.

Margin: A bet on a team to win by a certain amount (i.e. Cleveland Browns win by 14-17 points) outside of the point spread.

Matched Bet: Using a bonus wager to maximize profits.

No Action: A sporting event where sportsbooks won’t be cashing any tickets, whether they’re winners or losers. All initial bets are refunded in this situation. Basically, the situation is the same as if you had a “push” on a bet.

Novelty Bet: A wager on a non-sporting event such as the Emmys. These are less available on U.S. platforms such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. However, novelty bets are more widely available on offshore sportsbooks.

Odds-On Favorite: A team that’s favored to the point that betting on them would have a low payout. So basically, if the Alabama Crimson Tide are -90000 facing the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, they’re an odds-on favorite.

Off the Board: A sporting event that can no longer be bet on. There are numerous reasons for this, most commonly a significant change such as a fluctuation in the weather or a major injury.

Real-Time Odds: Lines that are updated live up to and after the beginning of a game. The numbers fluctuate based on everything from adjusting to sharp money to actual action in a given matchup.

Straight Up: A basic win or loss that’s unrelated to the point spread. For example, a team could have a 5-1 record straight up against opponents but still be 2-4 against the spread.

Take the Points: Wagering on an underdog with the point spread. So, if you’re putting money on the Memphis Grizzlies +5.5 against the Denver Nuggets, you’d be taking the points.

Tissue Price: The opening odds released by a sportsbook.

Wire-to-Wire: A bet that a team will lead in every single quarter or a certain number of quarters. This is most common in situations where the bettor expects one team to dominate throughout the matchup.