Prop bet glossary

The vocabulary around player props, defined without the jargon. This is educational only, not betting advice.

The basics

Prop bet (proposition bet): A wager on something that happens within a game that isn't the final score, most often one player's stat line, like rushing yards or three-pointers made.
Player prop: A prop tied to a single player: "Will this player get more than 78.5 rushing yards?"
The line (or number): The benchmark stat the bet is measured against, such as 78.5 yards. The two sides of a prop are the over and the under.
Over: A bet that the player's final stat will be higher than the line. "Over 78.5 rushing yards" needs 79 or more.
Under: A bet that the final stat will be lower than the line. "Under 78.5" holds as long as the player finishes with 78 or fewer.
Half-point line (the .5): Lines usually end in .5 so that a stat can never land exactly on the number. That means one side always wins.
Push: When a stat lands exactly on a whole-number line, such as 70 on a 70 line. The bet is typically refunded rather than won or lost.
Juice (vig): The commission a sportsbook builds into its prices. It is why both sides of an evenly matched prop don't pay exactly even money. PropBeacon does not show prices or juice.
Cash / cashed: In PropBeacon, an over bet "cashes" when the stat passes the line during the game. An under bet is "safe" only once the game ends below the line.
Bust / busted: An under bet that is already lost because the stat passed the line.
Pace: Where a stat is heading if the player keeps producing at the same rate for the rest of the game.
Void / DNP: A bet cancelled because the player did not play, or the game was postponed or called off. PropBeacon labels these "VOID".

Spreads

Point spread: A handicap that evens out a mismatch. The favorite gives points (-3.5) and the underdog gets them (+3.5), and the bet is on who wins the game once the handicap is applied.
Cover: To beat the spread. A -3.5 favorite covers by winning by 4 or more. A +3.5 underdog covers by winning, or by losing by 3 or fewer.
Favorite and underdog: The team expected to win, shown with a minus sign, and the team expected to lose, shown with a plus sign.
Pick'em (PK): A game with no spread: the teams are rated even, so the bet is simply on who wins.
Against the spread (ATS): A record or result measured against the spread rather than by wins and losses.
Run line and puck line: Baseball's and hockey's version of the spread, almost always 1.5. Scores in those sports are small, so each point of margin matters far more than in football or basketball.
Moneyline: A bet on which team wins the game outright, with no spread. If the game ends tied, the bet is usually refunded (a push).
Game total (over/under): A bet on whether both teams' combined score finishes over or under a number. 47.5 means 48 or more is the over, 47 or fewer is the under.
Team total: An over/under on one team's score alone, rather than both teams combined. A team total of 24.5 means 25 or more points is the over.
Cushion: In PropBeacon, how far a team is past the number right now. Up 7 against -3.5 is a cushion of 3.5.

Football

Anytime TD (ATD): A bet that a player scores a touchdown at any point in the game, by rushing, receiving or on a return. A passing touchdown does not count for the passer. In PropBeacon this is "over 0.5 touchdowns".
Receptions: The number of catches a player makes, regardless of yardage.
Targets: The number of times a quarterback throws toward a player, whether or not it is caught.
Rush + rec yards: A player's rushing yards and receiving yards added together. Also called scrimmage yards.
Drive: One team's possession, from when they get the ball until they score, punt, turn it over, or the half ends.
Red zone: The area inside the opponent's 20-yard line, where scoring chances are highest.
FG range: Close enough to the end zone for a realistic field goal attempt, roughly inside the opponent's 37-yard line.
Turnover on downs: When the offense fails to convert on fourth down and hands the ball over.

Basketball

PRA: Points + rebounds + assists, added into one number. Variants are PR (points + rebounds), PA (points + assists) and RA (rebounds + assists).
3PM: Three-pointers made.
Stocks: Steals + blocks.
Double-double: Ten or more in two statistical categories in one game, most often points and rebounds.

Hockey

SOG: Shots on goal: shots that would score if the goalie did not stop them. Missed and blocked shots don't count.
Saves / goals against: Goalie stats. A save is a stopped shot on goal, and goals against is the number that got through.
Anytime goal scorer: A bet that a player scores at least one goal at any point in the game.

Baseball

H+R+RBI: Hits + runs + runs batted in, added together for one hitter.
Pitching outs: The number of outs a pitcher records. Three outs make an inning, so 18 outs is six innings.
Earned run: A run charged to the pitcher, scored without the help of a fielding error.

Staying in control

Following a prop closely can make a game feel more intense, and that is part of the fun, but it can also push people to bet more than they planned. Read about playing responsibly.