Proposition (Prop) Betting – For The Match/Player

What Do Props Bets Mean?

Props bets, like future bets, are bets placed in the event of a future sporting or entertainment event. In fact, props bets are another style of future betting, with the difference that props bets are primarily based on an individual player or a particular event.

Some types of props bets can be if a player will score more than 30 points in X match, or if in a Barcelona vs. Real Madrid match the referee will draw more than 5 yellow cards between the two teams, etc.

What Kinds of Prop Bet are Available? 

Below are the available types of Prop bets: 

• Fun Prop Bets
• Skilled prop bets
• Player Based Soccer Props
• Goal Based Soccer Props
• Other “In Game” Props
• Alternative Props 

Fun Prop Bets

They are essentially just gambling bets that do not require any skill. Prop bets such as predicting whether Australia or India will win the coin toss which will result in heads or tails are classified as a prop bet.

Skilled Prop Bets

The skilled prop bets category is the second type of prop bet. This type of prop bet is where you can make an educated prediction of the game’s outcome using your knowledge and skill.

Example:

You might utilize expertise to make a better forecast if you were to stake a prop bet on if a player would make over 10.5 runs in a cricket match.

You’d look at the team’s past H2H runs statistics, the players he is up against, the anticipated game strategy for the teams, and any other factors that would indicate whether or not the player will have lots of runs.

You win if you bet that he will have over 10.5 runs, and the player has 11+ runs. It makes no difference whether his team wins or loses the game.

Player Based Soccer Props

A player-based prop bet can be based on different game outcomes that a selected player might have to reach. This player prop bets can come in many forms, and we list some examples below:

• Who will be the first to score a goal?
• Who do you think will score the most goals?
• Who will be named Man of the Match?
• Is Ronaldo going to score a penalty?
• Is Luke Shaw going to be booked?
• Will Kante be dismissed?
• Is it more likely that Foden or Mount will score the most goals?

Note: The above examples don’t mean that the prop bets will be limited to a player only; you can also bet that their teammates might or might not reach the selected outcome.  

Goal Based Soccer Props

Goal props aren’t as concerned with the number of goals as the Over/Under market, at least not in the same sense. Instead, they concentrate on the fascinating aspects of the goals.

Take a look at the following examples to see what we’re talking about:

• The total amount of goals must be odd.
• The overall number of goals to be an even number
• During the game, someone will score an own goal.
• VAR would disallow at least one goal in the game.
• A header will be used to score the goal.
• As you’ve seen, these stakes are not reliant on the match’s outcome. They also have nothing to do with more typical bets like match winner, Asian handicaps, etc.

Other “In Game” Props

There’s a plethora of other props usually seen in individual football matches but do not fall into the two categories previously mentioned. Here are a few instances that are commonly used.

• Total Over/under corners
• Team Over/Under corners
• Team Over/Under shots
• Total Over/Under shots
• Winning Margin
• Penalty awarded
• Method of Victory

Now here’s a quick explanation of how each of these works.

Over/Under (For a Team Or Total In a Match) In Corners, Shots, Throw-Ins, Etc. 

These bets work in the same model as the over/under goal markets. For example, if you bet on Chelsea to have over 5.5 shots in a match, to win your stake, Chelsea needs to play 6+ shots against their opponents to win the game, while 5 shots and below means you did not win the bet. 

Winning Margin

Winning Margin is simple, predict how many goals you think the match winner will win the match by. This bet is not interested in picking the correct matchwinner but the margin of victory. 

Method of Victory

This is usually seen in cup or knockout games where a game might go to extra time. The options available are by full-time whistle, extra time, or penalties.

Alternative Props

Alternative props bets are prop bets that focus on events that might or might not happen outside the events happening during the game. Below are some alternative props available in games:

• Which La Liga manager will be sacked next?
• Which club will {player} play for next season?
• Will an Italian Club win this season’s UCL?
• Will an African nation win the next World Cup?

The above are just a few examples, but many other forms of alternative props would take more than this page to list them all. Almost every Indian betting company offers these props, and you can find varieties there. 

How to Read Prop Odds?

Reading prop bet odds is no different from how you read other betting odds. The bookies apply the same model, and if you don’t know how to read bet odds, please read our Betting Odds Explained: A Beginner’s Guide. This guide explains all you need to know about sports betting odds. 

How are Prop Bets Paid Out?

The payouts for prop bets are stated in Decimal odds. Unless you’re wagering on something Equal like a coin toss and the wagers are pouring in evenly, you’re unlikely to see equal payments on both sides of a bet. The odds will be changed due to the possibility of each occurrence and the source of the wagering money.

Take, for example, the team top Batsman prop bet between England vs Bangladesh.

• JC Buttler @3.50
• JJ Roy @4.33
• JM Bairstow @ 4.50
• DJ Malan @4.50
• LS Livingstone @ 5.50
• MM Ali @ 6.00

When it comes to prop bets, you may have more than two options to pick from. There will be a different payment for each possibility, as shown in the types of prop bets above. The main keynote with prop bets is that you should pay attention to how much either side of the bet pays out. Stay away from the bet if the risk does not match the potential benefit they are willing to payout.

Line Movement In Prop Bets

Like in other betting markets, prop bets line movement is decided by several factors surrounding the game. This is true for all types of sports where prop bets are possible; it doesn’t matter if it is cricket, football, handball, etc. 

The prop bets line movement can be affected by pre-match news, an unexpected in-match occurrence, or other factors like weather, red card, etc. These lines can be immediately removed or move very fast depending on the bookie and the severity of the game impacting news or outcome. 

Do Sportsbooks Lose Money On Prop Bets?

The simple answer is NO, and the bookies do not lose money on prop bets or any bet. This is because the odds are set to ensure they profit even if you win your bet. Read more about it here (Betting Odds Explained: A Beginner’s Guide.).

Are Prop Bets A Good Option For New Gamblers?

Prop bets have a more significant betting juice than straight bets, and they are by far the softest markets in sports betting. If you’re a beginner gambler trying to boost your bankroll, propositions/prop/special bets are a fantastic market to pursue.

Tips & Strategy Advice

Below are some exciting tips you need to know ahead of betting on prop bets:

Understand How Prop Bets Are Set

Each week, various factors influence how bookies set prop odds, and it’s not all that distinct from how traditional game odds are set. Bookies can employ a mash-up of algorithms and data as a reference to be a threshold for a specific prop.

Attack vs. defensive strategies, injuries, predicted game outcome, and recent performance are all considered. Other factors to consider are a home advantage, weather, and game pace.

Standalone Games are Best for Prop Bets

There are between 12 and 16 contests on any given NFL Sunday. Unless you work in the betting industry, there’s a good chance you’ll overlook something. Betting on single-game events like the NFL Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football might let you focus on the best prop bets.

The popular bets are the matchwinner, spread, and total with standalone games. Many of these markets aren’t being combed over by every regular and sharp bettor in the sector, and they might offer far more value. There are also so many options that bettors are almost sure to find a market that they prefer.

This approach also applies to other sports like football (where you have UCL on middays and Leagues on weekends), Crickets (Where you can have matches on weekdays and weekends), and other sports. 

Concentrate on a Few Bet Markets

Everyone isn’t an expert in every field. This is also why identifying what works best for you and betting on certain markets may be very profitable. For example, have you won the bet for best team Batsman in several cricket matches? Then you’re good at spotting good Batsmen in teams.

Before You Bet, Think About All The Variables

The number of variables associated with betting props, particularly player props, appears to be infinite and varies by game, sport, and league. It isn’t easy to know which statistics to pay attention to in a sea of them. Here’s a quick rundown of vital statistics to consider when betting on football-related prop bets:

• Goals scored
• Number of shots per game
• Number of corners per game
• Number of fouls or tackles per game

Summary

While these weird and amusing extensions of the gambler’s imagination are in full swing on Super Bowl Sunday, it’s not a stretch to believe that these large-list prop events will become more common in the future. 

We’re sure to see this sports betting niche evolve into an expansive ecosystem as technology advances and more people enter the sports gambling sector. 

Learn the skills you’ll need to win at prop betting now before it is far more popular.