Some of the most popular types of NFL bets include the classic straight bet, a parlay, a player prop and a game total. However, have you heard of a teaser? It’s like a parlay in the sense that you’re combining 2 teams, but you get to change the spread or total in your favor. At most sportsbooks, a 2-team, 6-point teaser will have odds of -120; if it doesn’t, be sure to shop around for the best price.
Let’s get into this week’s best NFL teaser, but make sure you check out our NFL Week 9 picks on the side and total for every game this week.
NFL Teaser Strategies
There is a certain strategy when putting your teaser together. That includes being aware of the key numbers: 3, 6 and 7. Those are the most common winning margins in an NFL game. So, when taking a teaser, you ideally want to be lower than 3 and higher than 7. For example, if a heavy favorite is -8.5 on the spread, I can tease them down 6 points through all 3 key numbers to -2.5. That’s an excellent teaser choice since the team can now win by 3, 6 and 7 and the teaser would win.
On the other side, taking an underdog through those key numbers is also just as valuable. If a team is a +1.5 underdog, you could tease them up 6 points to +7.5, and then that allows them to win or lose by the 3 key numbers and you would still win. There’s also the option to tease game totals in the NFL, but with how quickly and sporadic scores can happen, I tend to stay away from totals and stick to spreads. It can be fun hunting for the best teaser options each week, so let’s get into some of my teaser contenders for Week 9, and then my favorite teaser option for the Sunday.
Check out our NFL Week 9 mega parlay (+1077!)
NFL Week 9 Teaser Options
Week 8 was a busy yet exciting week. It featured breakout performances from Jahmyr Gibbs and Will Levis while also seemingly being the last straw for a certain head coach (cough, cough, Josh McDaniels). For Week 9, the 49ers, Lions, Jaguars and Broncos are all enjoying a bye week, so here are my favorite teaser candidates for Week 9’s slate.
- Commanders +9.5 (from +3.5)
- Bills +7.5 (from +1.5)
- Saints -2.5 (from -8.5)
- Rams +9 (from +3)
- Cowboys +9 (from +3)
My first 2 teaser legs include teasing a small underdog through the key numbers of 3, 6 and 7 to reach an appealing spread above a touchdown. The Commanders travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts to take on the sinking ship that is called the Patriots, and while I understand neither team is all that good, taking nearly 10 points with the Commanders is hard to pass up. As for the second leg, the Bills travel to Cincinnati to take on the red-hot Bengals, and while the field-goal spread seems accurate, I would happily take Buffalo to cover a few field goals or a touchdown. After all, this is a revenge game for Josh Allen and the Bills.
The third and fourth candidates both have something in common. They are playing a team that I have little to no faith in. The Saints’ Week 9 matchup is against the Bears in New Orleans, and while Tyson Bagent has been a wholesome story that is hard to cheer against, he’s going up against an elite Saints defense. Plus, the Chicago offense is not good enough to keep up with Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara. As for the Rams, this is a matchup that requires you to keep an eye on the injury report. Matthew Stafford and Puka Nucua are both questionable for Week 9 with injuries, but it’s more important for Stafford to play. If he is available, the Rams don’t deserve to be underdogs against a downward-spiraling Packers team.
The final leg involves one of the most anticipated matchups of the week. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys travel to Philadelphia to play Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, and the field goal spread seems about right. But being able to tease Dallas through the key numbers of 3, 6 and 7 is hard to pass up — even against the tush-push Eagles.
NFL Week 9 Teaser Best Bet
For my Week 9 teaser, I’m sticking with 2 short underdogs and teasing them above a touchdown.
Commanders +9.5
Bills +7.5
It’s been a tough season for Patriots fans, and it only got worse in Week 8. Not only did they lose to the division rival Dolphins for their 6th loss of the season, but they also lost Kendrick Bourne to a torn ACL. Bourne was a rising star for the Patriots, and his role was rapidly growing in the New England offense. Of course, I have to mention that the Commanders traded away Montez Sweat and Chase Young earlier this week, so while the Washington defense won’t be as scary, its offense remains on the rise with Sam Howell as the quarterback. As long as the Commanders keep this game somewhat close, this teaser leg should win.
This week’s edition of Sunday Night Football takes us to Cincinnati for a rematch of last season’s playoff matchup between the Bills and Bengals. Joe Burrow has been Josh Allen’s kryptonite so far in his career, as Buffalo can’t find a way to get past the Bengals. That task has gotten even harder recently since Burrow and the Bengals have found their rhythm in the last few weeks with wins over the 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals. However, getting Allen and the Bills to lose by up to 7 points seems like a no-brainer. Oddsmakers expect for this primetime matchup to be close, and as long as it’s a 1-score game, the Bills will cover this leg.
Check out this week’s Pickswise NFL Power Rankings
