Teasers Explained: When 6 Points Changes Everything

A teaser is a special type of parlay where you get to adjust the point spread in your favor on every leg — in exchange for a lower payout. They're most popular in NFL betting, and when used correctly, they're one of the few parlay-style bets that can consistently be +EV.

How teasers work

The most common teaser is a 2-team, 6-point teaser in the NFL. You pick two sides and move each spread 6 points in your direction.

You've moved both spreads 6 points in your favor. The Chiefs only need to win by 3 instead of 9. The Packers can lose by up to 7 instead of just 1. In exchange, the payout drops from the ~2.6-to-1 of a standard 2-leg parlay to roughly even money (-110).

The Wong teaser

Stanford Wong identified the specific conditions under which NFL teasers are consistently +EV. The strategy — now known as a Wong teaser — involves teasing through key numbers in football:

Tease favorites of -7.5 to -8.5 down through 7 and 3. A team at -8 becomes -2 with a 6-point tease, crossing both key numbers (7 and 3).

Tease underdogs of +1.5 to +2.5 up through 3 and 7. A team at +1.5 becomes +7.5, crossing both key numbers in the other direction.

The reasoning: 3 and 7 are the most common margins of victory in the NFL. By teasing through these numbers, you capture a disproportionate percentage of outcomes. Historical data consistently shows Wong teasers hitting at rates above the ~72.4% needed per leg to be profitable at -110.

When teasers don't work

Teasers outside of Wong parameters — teasing a -3 to +3 (doesn't cross 7) or teasing in basketball (where key numbers don't exist the same way) — are generally -EV. The reduced payout isn't justified by the improved line.

3-team teasers and beyond add legs without enough additional probability to justify the compounding risk. Stick to 2-team teasers.