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Pleaser bets in the NFL
Disclaimer
The analysis on this page is based on the 4450 NFL games between the 1994 to 2012 seasons. I started with 1994 because that was the year the two-point conversion rule was introduced. Besides sample size variation, I also had to make assumptions about how point spreads were created on pleaser cards. The reader should assume there is some margin of error on any statistic on the probability of winning and expected return anywhere on this page. At the end of the day, sports are ultimately played by human beings, not statistics, so always take any predictions of future results, based on past results, with a grain of salt.
Introduction
For those who know what a teaser bet is, a pleaser (also known as a reverse teaser) works the same way, except the bettor gets negative points. Obviously, that means a lower probability of winning each leg, so the bettor is compensated with a higher pay table.
For those who don't know what a teaser is, with a parlay, teaser, or pleaser bet, the bettor makes at least two selections against a list of games. The player must win every selection to win the bet. The more selections made, the lower the probability of winning, but the higher the win if every selection does win. Rules vary on what happens in the event of a tie. With a parlay the bettor goes against a point spread with no extra points. With a teaser the bettor gets extra points, but stands to win less. With a pleaser, the bettor gives up points but stands to win more.
Compare Online NFL Odds
American Football : NFL
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sat Dec 21st 1pm
Kansas City Chiefs Houston Texans |
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⇗205.00 |
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Kansas City Chiefs possess a stronger roster and home advantage, making them favorites against Houston Texans, despite Texans' potential for an upset. |
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Sat Dec 21st 4pm
Baltimore Ravens Pittsburgh Steelers |
⇘11.00 |
⇗5.00 |
-110 (44)
|
Ravens and Steelers rivalry is intense. Ravens’ offense is strong but inconsistent. Steelers' defense is tough. Key factors: turnovers and home-field advantage. Both teams have passionate fanbases. |
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sun Dec 22nd 1pm
Carolina Panthers Arizona Cardinals |
|
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-110 (47)
|
Expect an intense matchup. Panthers aim to dominate with McCaffrey, while Cardinals rely on Murray's agility. Defensive strategies will be crucial. Watch for turnovers impacting game flow. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm
Atlanta Falcons New York Giants |
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The Falcons' offense is strong, but their defense struggles. Giants show solid defense, but lack offensive consistency. Look for turnovers and QB performance to be key factors. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm
Buffalo Bills New England Patriots |
|
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-110 (46.5)
|
Buffalo's strong offense faces Patriots' resilient defense. Key players: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs vs. Mac Jones, Matthew Judon. Consider home advantage, weather, and recent form for placing bets. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm
Chicago Bears Detroit Lions |
|
⇗2.00 |
-110 (47.5)
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The Bears' defense struggles against high-powered offenses. Lions have a potent passing game, making them favored. Weather conditions could influence play. Monitor any injuries for impact on betting lines. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm
Indianapolis Colts Tennessee Titans |
|
|
-110 (42.5)
|
Colts and Titans have a strong rivalry. Colts excel in passing; Titans dominate the ground game. Key matchup: Colts’ defense vs. Derrick Henry. Weather could impact passing plays. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm
New York Jets Los Angeles Rams |
|
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-110 (46.5)
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Jets rely on solid defense; Rams boast a stronger offense. Watch for quarterback matchups. Possible low-scoring game. Special teams could decide. Bet cautiously. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm
Washington Commanders Philadelphia Eagles |
|
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-110 (45.5)
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Eagles are favored with strong offense. Commanders need defensive strategy. Key player performance could shift odds. Watch for turnovers and special teams impact. Betting line fluctuates with injuries. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 1pm
Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns |
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Consider the Bengals' strong offense against the Browns' defense. Check injury reports. Weather could affect gameplay. Recent head-to-head statistics and home-field advantage are pivotal for betting decisions. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 4pm
Seattle Seahawks Minnesota Vikings |
⇗5.00 |
|
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Seahawks' strong offense clashes with Vikings' tight defense. Key players: Wilson, Cook. Home advantage favors Vikings. Monitor weather conditions. Bet cautiously, as both teams show unpredictable performances. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 4pm
Las Vegas Raiders Jacksonville Jaguars |
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-110 (-2)
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-110 (40.5)
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Las Vegas Raiders boast a strong offense while Jaguars' defense shows resilience. Monitor line movement and injury reports. Raiders slightly favored, expect a close game with potential high scoring. |
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Sun Dec 22nd 4pm
Miami Dolphins San Francisco 49ers |
-105
|
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The Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers face off in a close matchup. Evaluate recent performance, injuries, and weather conditions before placing your bets. Home advantage favors the 49ers. |
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sun Dec 22nd 8pm
Dallas Cowboys Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
175
|
|
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Cowboys' strong offense faces Buccaneers' solid defense. Key players and turnovers will likely decide the game's outcome. Watch for momentum shifts in crucial moments. |
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Mon Dec 23rd 8pm
Green Bay Packers New Orleans Saints |
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-110 (-14)
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-110 (42.5)
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Green Bay Packers may face challenges against New Orleans Saints due to strong Saints defense. Key players to watch: Aaron Rodgers and Alvin Kamara. Weather could impact play strategies. |
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Wed Dec 25th 4pm
Pittsburgh Steelers Kansas City Chiefs |
|
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-110 (42.5)
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Pittsburgh's defense meets Kansas City's high-scoring offense; pivotal match for playoff positions. Watch for Mahomes' passes and Steelers' counter play. Weather could impact game dynamics. |
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Wed Dec 25th 8pm
Houston Texans Baltimore Ravens |
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-110 (3)
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-110 (47.5)
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Baltimore Ravens likely favored. Monitor Texans' rookie QB play. Consider Ravens' home-field advantage and recent performance. Weather conditions may influence the game strategy. Evaluate injury reports. |
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Thu Dec 26th 8pm
Chicago Bears Seattle Seahawks |
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-105 (2.5)
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-110 (41.5)
|
Consider the Bears' improving defense against Seattle's inconsistent offense. Watch for weather impact as it could favor the ground game. Key players' injuries might influence the outcome heavily. |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm
Buffalo Bills New York Jets |
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-105 (-10)
|
-110 (48.5)
|
Buffalo Bills strong offense meets New York Jets resilient defense. Watch for key player matchups, turnovers, and weather impacts. Bills favored, but Jets' underdog status could offer value. |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carolina Panthers |
-250
|
-110 (-8.5)
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-110 (47.5)
|
Tampa Bay's strong defense faces Carolina's struggling offense. Monitor player injuries. Weather might impact gameplay. Consider betting under on total points and favor Tampa Bay to win. |
|
Sun Dec 29th 1pm
Minnesota Vikings Green Bay Packers |
122
|
-110 (-1.5)
|
-110 (48.5)
|
Vikings face Packers, NFC North rivalry. Key players matter: Cousins for Vikings, Love for Packers. Weather at Lambeau Field plays a role. Defense challenges and interceptions can decide winner. |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm
Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans |
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-110 (-1)
|
-110 (39.5)
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Jaguars' strong offense faces Titans' robust defense. Key players: Jaguars' Lawrence and Titans' Henry. Home advantage may favor Jaguars. Monitor Titans' injuries for betting impact. |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm
New Orleans Saints Las Vegas Raiders |
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-110 (-2.5)
|
-110 (40.5)
|
Consider Saints' strong home record and Raiders' travel fatigue. Saints' defense solid, Raiders' offense struggles. Saints favored but expect a close game. |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm
Washington Commanders Atlanta Falcons |
122
|
|
-110 (46)
|
The Commanders' defense may struggle against the Falcons' versatile offense. Betting on Atlanta could be wise as they play strongly at home. Monitor injury reports closely before placing bets. |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm
Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos |
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-105 (-3)
|
-110 (47.5)
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Cincinnati Bengals have strong offense. Denver Broncos rely on solid defense. Key player injuries might affect game outcome. Weather conditions could play a role. Bet cautiously on point spread. |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm
New York Giants Indianapolis Colts |
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-110 (6.5)
|
-110 (40)
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The betting insight for New York Giants vs. Indianapolis Colts: Giants' strong offense vs. Colts' inconsistent defense may lean the scale. Consider the home field advantage in Giants' favor. |
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Sun Dec 29th 1pm
New England Patriots Los Angeles Chargers |
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-110 (5.5)
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-110 (41.5)
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Patriots' strong defense faces Chargers' dynamic offense. Quarterback matchup is crucial. Both teams aim for playoff contention. Key injuries could impact performance. Weather may play a role. |
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Sun Dec 29th 4pm
Los Angeles Rams Arizona Cardinals |
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-110 (49)
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Rams' defense outshines Cardinals. Expect high-paced game, Rams likely to cover spread. Key players: Stafford, Kupp. Cardinals need Murray's agility to excel. Watch weather conditions. |
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Sun Dec 29th 4pm
Philadelphia Eagles Dallas Cowboys |
-145
|
-110 (-11)
|
-110 (44.5)
|
Eagles' strong offensive line balances Cowboys' defense. Watch Hurts vs. Prescott duel. Turnovers and home advantage crucial. Eagles favored slightly, but it's a close matchup. Monitor injured players closely. |
| Upcoming matches | Money Line | Spread | Total | Featured Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sun Dec 29th 8pm
Cleveland Browns Miami Dolphins |
|
-110 (3.5)
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-110 (41.5)
|
The Cleveland Browns face the Miami Dolphins. Consider Miami’s strong offense and Cleveland’s inconsistent form. Monitor injury reports and line movements for strategic betting decisions. |
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Mon Dec 30th 8pm
San Francisco 49ers Detroit Lions |
|
|
-110 (51.5)
|
49ers have a strong defense, but watch out for Lions' offensive push. Injuries could affect performance. Home advantage favors Lions, but 49ers' track record shines. |
Pleaser bets are apparently not very popular, as evidenced by the fact that only three Vegas sports book families offer pleaser cards, as follows:
- William Hill — 7-point pleaser
- Stratosphere — 7.5-point pleaser
- MGM — 9-point pleaser
I have never heard of an off the board pleaser bet.
Following is my analysis of each one.
7-Point Pleaser
 |
 |
The 7-point pleaser card is available at William Hill sport books and the Aliante only. All point spreads end in a 1/2, thus there can be no ties. The following table shows the win (on a "for one" basis), probability of winning, and expected return for 3 to 8 picks, assuming a random picker. The probability of each leg winning is 28.65%.
To following table is based on the William Hill pay table. The right column shows the house edge ranges from 39% to 73%.
7-Point William Hill Pleaser Card — Random Picker
| Pick | Pays | Prob. Win | Exp. Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 26 | 0.023508 | -0.388796 |
| 4 | 80 | 0.006734 | -0.461266 |
| 5 | 240 | 0.001929 | -0.537016 |
| 6 | 700 | 0.000553 | -0.613166 |
| 7 | 2000 | 0.000158 | -0.683388 |
| 8 | 6000 | 0.000045 | -0.727906 |
To following table is based on the Aliante pay table. The right column shows the house edge ranges from 39% to 73%.
7-Point Aliante Pleaser Card — Random Picker
| Pick | Pays | Prob. Win | Exp. Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 23 | 0.023508 | -0.459319 |
| 4 | 70 | 0.006734 | -0.528608 |
| 5 | 210 | 0.001929 | -0.594889 |
| 6 | 600 | 0.000553 | -0.668428 |
| 7 | 1700 | 0.000158 | -0.730880 |
| 8 | 5000 | 0.000045 | -0.773255 |
The smart gambler could cut down these house advantages by playing situations where he gives up less than 7 points and/or stays away from giving up key margins of victory. However, the random-picker house edges are so high to begin with that I wouldn't touch this pleaser card, even utilizing everything in my bag of tricks.
7.5-Point Pleaser
 |
 |
The 7.5-point pleaser card is available at the Stratosphere family of sports books only. All point spreads end in a 1/2, thus there can be no ties. The following table shows the win (on a "for one" basis), the probability of winning, and expected return for 3 to 6 picks, assuming a random picker. The probability of each leg winning is 27.38%. The right column shows the house edge ranges from 64% to 81%.
7.5-Point Stratosphere Pleaser Card — Random Picker
| Pick | Pays | Prob. Win | Exp. Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 17.5 | 0.020534 | -0.640647 |
| 4 | 50 | 0.005623 | -0.718844 |
| 5 | 170 | 0.001540 | -0.738230 |
| 6 | 450 | 0.000422 | -0.810251 |
As with the 7-point pleaser, we could chip away at these enormous house advantages via gaining extra half points by carefully comparing the spreads on the card against those on the board. By waiting as long as possible, the bettor can take advantage of line movements. Even with no line movements, if the point spread ended in a half to begin with, then the card maker would have to move the point spreads on each side by 7 and 8 points to keep the pleaser spreads ending in one half. The bettor will improve his odds giving up 7 points only, compared to 7.5. However, it is all a losing battle against house advantages starting at 64%.
9-Point Pleaser
 |
 |
The 9-point pleaser card is available at MGM sports book only. All point spreads end in a 1/2, thus there can be no ties. The following table shows the win (on a "for one" basis), the probability of winning, and expected return for 3 to 8 picks, assuming a random picker. The probability of each leg winning is 24.17%. The right column shows the house edge ranges from 75% to 94%.
9-Point MGM Pleaser Card — Random Picker
| Pick | Pays | Prob. Win | Exp. Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 17.5 | 0.014123 | -0.752850 |
| 4 | 55 | 0.003414 | -0.812244 |
| 5 | 180 | 0.000825 | -0.851471 |
| 6 | 500 | 0.000199 | -0.900272 |
| 7 | 1500 | 0.000048 | -0.927682 |
| 8 | 5000 | 0.000012 | -0.941732 |
A 94% house edge? Are you f#*&ing kidding me! Fair odds for a 8-leg MGM pleaser, for a random picker, would be 85,810, and they are playing 5,000 only. Lottery tickets are an outstanding value compared to this.
For a second, I thought this was the worst casino bet I've ever seen. However, that honor still goes to the Harrah's Las Vegas keno room, where the house edge on their "pick-10 stimulus ticket" is 96.63%.
Summary
Let me make this loud and clear. Pleasers are a sucker bet! If you must bet one, the best odds are on the pick-3 pleaser at William Hill sports books, with a 39% house edge. As mentioned before, you can cut down on the house edge by betting as late as possible to give up as few points as possible, compared to the market lines on the board. Even if you could cut down the house edge in half, it would still be an awful bet.
Forget the pleaser cards. Your odds are a lot better with ordinary parlay cards.
Internal Links
- Parlay Bets in the NFL
- Teaser Bets in the NFL
- Betting the NFL
- Las Vegas Sports Book Groups
- Miscellaneous topics in betting the NFL
External Links
- Las Vegas Sports Betting Survey — What each sports book family pays on parlays and teasers.