Understanding Prop Bets: What Props Are & Where to Bet Them

Eddie Griffin

Written by: Eddie Griffin

Published: Mon Jul 13, 2026, 4:09 am ET

Read Time: 9 minutes

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In recent years, prop bets have become an increasingly popular way to bet on sports. From NBA player props to MLB props to NFL props and beyond, there are prop odds to bet on in some form year-round.

But what are prop bets? Below, we break down what they are, provide examples of types of prop bets, and recommend the best betting sites for prop bets.

Prop Betting Guide Quick Links

Best Prop Betting Sites

Prop bets are available at most online sportsbooks, but the number of markets and the quality of the odds can vary from one site to another.

At Betting News, we recommend trusted sportsbooks such as Lucky Rebel, BetOnline, Bovada, Everygame, and SportsBetting.ag for prop betting. These sportsbooks consistently offer extensive player, team, and game props across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, soccer, golf, NASCAR, and many other sports throughout the year.

Each of these sportsbooks offers an excellent selection of prop markets, but no sportsbook consistently has the best line or the widest variety of options for every game or event. Player prop totals, team props, alternate lines, and odds can differ from one sportsbook to the next, particularly as injury news, lineup changes, weather conditions, and betting action cause the market to move.

Because of that, many experienced bettors choose to maintain accounts at multiple sportsbooks rather than relying on a single option.

Having access to several sportsbooks allows you to compare both lines and odds before placing a bet. One sportsbook may offer a player's points total at 24.5 while another lists it at 25.5, or one book may simply provide better odds on the same prop. Over time, consistently finding the best available number and price can make a meaningful difference to your overall results.

Our recommended sportsbooks also feature a wide variety of prop betting markets to suit different betting styles. Along with player props, you will find team props, game props, live props, same-game parlays, and futures props for many of the world's most popular sports and events, giving you plenty of opportunities to find value throughout the year.

What Are Prop Bets?

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Read on to learn the basics of a proposition bet.

Unlike moneyline bets, point spread bets, and full game over/under bets, proposition bets, or prop bets for short, do not necessarily involve the outcome or result of a game.

Instead, these bets typically focus on one part of the game or connect two outcomes.

These bets are often over/under bets, but they can also be as simple as "Yes" or "No" options such as:

  • Will the Kansas City Chiefs score more than three touchdowns in their game?
  • Will the Chiefs score three consecutive touchdowns during this game?

As you can imagine, there are hundreds of potential prop bets that can be placed during one game, whether it is an NFL game, an NBA game, an MLB game, or another event.

Types of Prop Bets

Props are present in all the major sports. That includes the WNBA, whose popularity is at an all-time high.

You can bet on props in basketball, baseball, football, hockey, soccer, and many more sports and events.

The prop betting market in football is vast, especially with NFL odds. From bets on passing yards to defensive and special teams bets to a vast variety of game and team markets, even the most meaningless of regular season matchups have a plethora of prop possibilities.

With NBA odds, WNBA odds, and NCAA basketball odds, you can bet on points, rebounds, assists, and more. Strikeout props feature in daily MLB odds, as do props for total bases, RBI, and home run props. With NHL odds, shots on goal, scoring (goals, assists, and points), and goalie save props are available at BetOnline and other popular online sportsbooks.

Going beyond the four major sports, finishing position props for golf tournaments and NASCAR races provide more value and profit than betting on who will win in a crowded field.

The opportunities in the world of prop betting are endless. There is a lot of money to be made daily by betting on props and niche sports betting markets.

What Are Player Prop Bets?

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Player Prop bets are some the most popular and most lucrative bets to wager.

For a lot of NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL games, a variety of team and game props are available at sports betting sites like Lucky Rebel.

But when many bettors think of prop bets, they are thinking of player props.

What are player props?

For some bettors, betting on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score over 30+ points or Jaxon Smith-Njigba to have over 100+ receiving yards is more exciting to some bettors than a team to win the game.

Finding advantageous matchups for a particular player and crunching the numbers of his/her past performances is another great way to find value.

For example, let's say that Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are taking on Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight in an NBA matchup.

For this matchup, NBA odds at Lucky Rebel have Luka's points line set at 32.5 points.

Thanks to your research, which may include using sports betting tools and resources that we recommend, you see that LeBron has scored 33 or more points in eight straight road games when the spread has been five or fewer points.

In this matchup, the Lakers are playing the Timberwolves at home, and they are favored by only four points.

Here, all the numbers point to Doncic having a high likelihood of scoring 33 or more points yet again tonight, so taking over 32.5 points is the best bet.

Using Betting Tools for Prop Betting

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If you wager you should consider subscribing to betting tools!

Use sports betting tools like BetAlytics and Outlier.bet to wager smarter. If you make prop bets, then you should be doing so with statistical backing. There is no better way to do that than to use betting tools.

BetAyltics is not a handicapping platform or service. It offers predictive data and analytics to give bettors an edge.

Outlier.bet is another sports betting analytics tool that gives you a visually appealing statistical breakdown of the slate of games, props and lines every single day, all in one place.

Super Bowl Props: A Prop Betting Paradise

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley catches a pass in Super Bowl 59

Props are fun to bet on in any game, but they are especially enticing for massive events, like the Super Bowl.

Whether you host a Super Bowl party or merely attend one, you may enter a small pool where you had to pick the answers to a series of questions about the game.

This sheet of questions are all prop bets.

The prop bets you can make are not limited to the events inside the lines. Here are some of the more interesting ones available at many sportsbooks for the big game.

Super Bowl prop betting is insanely popular. In fact, the first prop bet was made for Super Bowl XX between the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, regarding whether William "Refrigerator" Perry of the Bears would score a touchdown during the game.

Four decades later, there are many more prop bets listed for this game than any other sporting event. This development is not at all shocking when you consider the sheer number of people who watch and bet on the Super Bowl.

Other Sports Betting Information

Did you find our props guide helpful? Along with daily sports betting news and views, we also provide many guides that break down the basics of sports betting. That includes how to bet on specific sports, leagues, and events, types of bets, betting strategies and terms, and more.

Here are some of the other betting guides you can find at Betting News:

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In addition to the content you can find on the site, we are also very active on social media.

That includes our daily Twitch streams, where we discuss the day's top matchups and much more on Betting News Network shows such as Afternoon Betspresso, The Morning Spread, All-Sauce Team, and Any Given Wager.

Learn More About the Best Online Sportsbooks

Prop Betting FAQ

What is a prop bet?
A prop bet, or proposition bet, is a wager on a specific event or outcome within a game rather than the final result. Common examples include player statistics, team totals, first scoring plays, and other in-game events.
What sports offer prop bets?
Prop bets are available for most major sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football, college basketball, soccer, golf, NASCAR, tennis, MMA, boxing, and more. The number and variety of prop markets typically increase for high-profile games and events.
What is the difference between a player prop and a team prop?
Player props focus on an individual athlete's performance, such as points scored or passing yards. Team props focus on a team's performance, including team total points, touchdowns, goals, or whether a team will score first.
Can you bet on prop bets during a game?
Yes. Many online sportsbooks offer live prop betting, allowing you to place wagers after a game has started. Live prop odds update throughout the game based on the action, injuries, and other developments.
Why do prop betting odds differ between sportsbooks?
Each sportsbook sets its own prop lines and odds, so you'll often find different numbers or prices for the same market. Comparing multiple sportsbooks before placing a bet can help you find better value over the long run.
Which sportsbooks are best for prop betting?
The best prop betting sites offer a wide selection of player, team, game, live, and futures props with competitive odds.