Learn props

Guides

• What is a player prop?A player prop is a bet on one player's stat in one game, like points, shots on goal or passing yards. Here is how they work.
• What are alt lines?Alt lines are alternate numbers for the same prop, each with its own price. Lower lines cost more; higher lines pay more.
• What does L10 mean in player props?L10 is a player's last 10 games. A hit rate like 7 of 10 counts how often he cleared tonight's line. Here's how to read it, and its limits.
• How to read American odds and implied probabilityConvert American odds like -150 or +130 into the chance they imply, and into decimal odds, with simple formulas.
• What is a no-vig price, and how do you work it out?The no-vig (fair) price removes the sportsbook's margin from a two-sided line. Worked examples for -110/-110 and -150/+130.
• What is the closing line, and what is closing line value?The closing line is the last price before a game starts. Closing line value (CLV) is beating it. Why bettors track it.
• What is a floor bet?A floor bet is an over whose line sits below a player's usual low-end result tonight. How PropLab defines it, and why it's still not a sure thing.
• How to research a player prop in 5 minutesA short checklist: role and minutes, recent games at tonight's line, head-to-head, the defense, who's out, the price.

Glossary

Player prop

A bet on one player's stat in one game, like over 24.5 points or under 3.5 shots on goal, instead of on who wins. More

Over / Under

The two sides of a prop. Over wins if the stat ends above the line; Under wins if it ends below.

Main line

The line a sportsbook posts first for a prop, priced near even on both sides (often around -110 / -110).

Alt line

An alternate line for the same stat: a lower number at a shorter price, or a higher number at a longer price. Books list them as a ladder, like 15+, 20+, 25+ points. More

Rung

One step on an alt-line ladder, like 20+ points.

American odds

How North American books show a price. -150 means bet 150 to win 100; +130 means bet 100 to win 130. More

Implied probability

The chance a price stands for. -150 is 60%; +130 is about 43.5%. More

Vig (juice)

The book's built-in margin. Both sides of a -110 / -110 line add up to about 104.8%, not 100%; the extra 4.8% is the vig. More

No-vig price (fair price)

The price with the vig taken out, so both sides add up to 100%. It is the market's own best guess at the real chance. More

Closing line

The last line and price before the game starts. It has the most information in it, so it is the market's sharpest number. More

Closing line value (CLV)

Getting a better number or price than the closing line. Bettors use it to judge their timing over many bets. More

L5 / L10 / L20

A player's last 5, 10 or 20 games. "7 of 10" at a line means he went over it in 7 of his last 10 games. More

Hit rate

How often a player cleared a line in past games. History, not a forecast: it ignores the price and tonight's matchup. More

H2H (head-to-head)

A player's games against tonight's opponent.

Defense vs position

What a defense gives up to one position at one stat, like points allowed to point guards, ranked against the league.

Projection range

A low, middle and high estimate of a player's stat tonight. The low end is often called his floor, the high end his ceiling.

Floor bet

In PropLab, an over whose line sits under a player's floor tonight, at a price of -500 or better. A starting point for research, never a sure thing. More

Parlay

One bet with two or more legs. Every leg has to win. The prices multiply, and so does the book's margin.

Same-game parlay

A parlay with legs from one game. Legs can be linked (a quarterback's yards and his receiver's), so books price them together.

Straight bet

A single bet on one outcome.

Push

The stat lands exactly on the line (say 5 on a line of 5). The stake comes back. Lines ending in .5 can't push.

Line movement

How a line or price changes from when it opens to the start of the game, as money and news come in.

Injury statuses

Out (won't play), Doubtful (unlikely), Questionable (uncertain), Day-to-day (a minor issue). A teammate being out can change a player's role.

Odds boost

A book's offer of a better price than usual on a set bet. Whether it is good value depends on the fair price, not the size of the boost.