6-Point Teasers Explained: The Most Popular Teaser Bet in Football

A 6-point teaser is the most common teaser option in NFL and college football betting. You adjust the point spread by exactly 6 points on each leg of your teaser, moving the lines in your favor in exchange for a reduced payout. The reason 6 points became the standard is simple: it crosses the two most important numbers in football—3 and 7—from the spread ranges where most games are bet.

If you understand teaser betting basics but want to know specifically why 6 points matters and when to use it, this guide will break it all down. We will cover the math behind key number coverage, how sportsbooks price 6-point teasers, which spreads you should target, and how 6-point teasers compare to 7-point teasers or other options.

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What Is a 6-Point Teaser?

A 6-point teaser is a multi-leg bet where you move each spread or total by exactly 6 points in your favor. You must combine at least two legs, and all legs must win for the teaser to cash—just like a standard parlay.

The difference between a 6-point teaser and a regular parlay is that you are buying points to make each leg easier to win. In return, you accept a lower payout than the parlay would offer at the original spreads.

Here is a quick example:

Original spreads:

• Chiefs -7.5
• Bills -8

After a 6-point teaser:

• Chiefs -1.5
• Bills -2

Now both teams only need to win by 2 or more instead of 8. The teaser is easier to hit than a parlay at -7.5 and -8, but the payout is reduced to account for those 6 extra points on each leg.

A 6-point teaser is specifically valuable in football because of how the sport is scored. Touchdowns (6 points) plus extra points (1 point) create natural margins of 7. Field goals add 3 points. These two numbers—3 and 7—dominate NFL final score margins, and a 6-point adjustment can move your spread through both of them.

Why 6 Points Is the Standard

Sportsbooks offer various teaser options—6 points, 6.5 points, 7 points, and sometimes more—but 6 points is the baseline for a reason. It is the minimum adjustment that reliably crosses both 3 and 7 from the spreads where most NFL action occurs.

Key Numbers in Football

NFL games cluster around certain final margins because of scoring increments:

• 3 points: Field goal (extremely common)
• 7 points: Touchdown + extra point (extremely common)
• 6 points: Touchdown without extra point (less common)
• 10 points: Touchdown + field goal (common)
• 4 points: Field goal + safety or missed extra point (rare)

When you tease a spread, you want those 6 points to cross as many of these key numbers as possible. A 6-point tease from -8 to -2 crosses 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3. That covers the two biggest key numbers (3 and 7) plus several others.

The Wong Teaser Connection

Stanford Wong, a gambling author and mathematician, identified that certain spread ranges offered unusually good value when teased by 6 points. His research showed that favorites between -7.5 and -8.5 and underdogs between +1.5 and +2.5 hit at rates high enough to overcome the reduced teaser payout—if the pricing was right.

This became known as the Wong teaser strategy. The entire approach is built around 6-point teasers because that exact adjustment maximizes key number coverage from those optimal spread ranges.

Why Sportsbooks Use 6 as the Baseline

Sportsbooks price teasers based on the value you are buying. A 6-point teaser is their baseline because:

• It offers meaningful value to bettors (crosses 3 and 7)
• It is priced to ensure the book maintains an edge
• It represents the "sweet spot" between value and cost

Smaller adjustments (4 or 5 points) exist for basketball but are rare in football because they do not cross enough key numbers. Larger adjustments (6.5 or 7 points) cost more because they provide even more coverage.

6-Point Teaser Odds and Payouts

Teaser pricing varies by sportsbook, number of legs, and the sport you are betting. For a standard 2-leg, 6-point NFL teaser, here is what you can expect:

Sportsbook Type	Typical Pricing	Required Win Rate to Break Even
Best pricing (shop around)	-110	72.4% per leg
Average pricing	-120	73.9% per leg
Worse pricing	-130	75.2% per leg
Poor pricing (avoid)	-135 or worse	76% or higher per leg

The breakeven math works like this: at -120 odds, you risk $120 to win $100. For a 2-leg teaser, each leg must win for the bet to cash. If each leg wins at 74% individually, your overall win rate is 0.74 x 0.74 = 54.8%, which is just above the 54.5% needed to break even at -120.

Why Pricing Matters

A 10-cent or 20-cent difference in teaser pricing compounds quickly. Over 100 bets at $100 each:

• At -110: You need ~52.4% win rate to break even
• At -130: You need ~56.5% win rate to break even

That 4-point swing in required win rate can be the difference between a profitable teaser strategy and a losing one. Always compare pricing across multiple sportsbooks before placing your teaser.

For a 3-leg, 6-point NFL teaser, typical payouts range from +160 to +180. The higher payout reflects the increased difficulty of hitting three legs instead of two.

When 6 Points Crosses Key Numbers

The magic of a 6-point teaser happens when your spread starts in the right range. Here are the optimal zones:

Favorites (-7.5 to -8.5)

When you tease a favorite from this range:

• -7.5 becomes -1.5: Crosses 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
• -8 becomes -2: Crosses 7, 6, 5, 4, 3
• -8.5 becomes -2.5: Crosses 7, 6, 5, 4, 3

All three land in a zone where the team just needs to win by a small margin. You have crossed both 3 and 7, covering the most common NFL final margins.

Underdogs (+1.5 to +2.5)

When you tease an underdog from this range:

• +1.5 becomes +7.5: Now covers losses by 3 or 7
• +2 becomes +8: Covers losses by 3 or 7
• +2.5 becomes +8.5: Covers losses by 3 or 7

These underdogs were already close. Now they cover even if they lose by a touchdown or field goal—two extremely common outcomes.

Spreads to Avoid

Not all spreads benefit equally from 6 points:

-3.5 to +2.5 (teasing through zero): You cross zero, which is not a key number. Games almost never end in ties. Those points are wasted.

+10 or higher (big underdogs): Teasing from +10 to +16 gives you 6 points, but they do not cross meaningful margins. The outcome is rarely decided by whether a team loses by 12 vs 16.

-2 to -3 range (small favorites): Teasing to +3 to +4 does not cross 7, so you miss half the value of a 6-point tease.

6-Point Teaser Examples

Example 1: Classic 2-Leg NFL Favorite Teaser

Week 10 NFL:

Original lines:

• Patriots -7.5 at -110
• Ravens -8 at -110

After 6-point teaser:

• Patriots -1.5
• Ravens -2

Teaser price: -120

Stake: $120 to win $100

Outcome scenarios:

• Patriots win by 3, Ravens win by 7: Both legs cover. You win $100.
• Patriots win by 1, Ravens win by 10: Patriots do not cover -1.5. You lose $120.
• Patriots win by 7, Ravens win by 2: Ravens push at -2. Check your books push rules—some reduce to a straight bet, others grade as a loss.

This is a textbook Wong teaser setup. Both spreads started in the -7.5 to -8.5 zone and now only need to win outright by 2+ points.

Example 2: Underdog Teaser

Original lines:

• Jets +2.5 at -110
• Broncos +1.5 at -110

After 6-point teaser:

• Jets +8.5
• Broncos +7.5

Teaser price: -120

Stake: $120 to win $100

Now both underdogs cover if they win outright OR lose by 7 or less. A Jets 24-28 loss and a Broncos 17-21 loss both cash this teaser.

Example 3: Mixed Favorite/Underdog

Original lines:

• Chiefs -8.5 at -110
• Dolphins +2 at -110

After 6-point teaser:

• Chiefs -2.5
• Dolphins +8

Teaser price: -120

Stake: $120 to win $100

The Chiefs leg teases through 3 and 7 from above. The Dolphins leg teases through 3 and 7 from below. Both legs maximize the value of those 6 points.

Try the 6-Point Teaser Calculator

Use our teaser calculator to see how your 6-point teaser will pay out at different prices and configurations:

6-Point vs 6.5-Point vs 7-Point Teasers

Sportsbooks offer multiple teaser sizes. Here is how they compare:

Teaser Size	Typical 2-Leg Price	Best Use Case
6 points	-110 to -130	Standard Wong ranges (-7.5 to -8.5, +1.5 to +2.5)
6.5 points	-120 to -140	When you need to avoid landing on 3 or 7
7 points	-130 to -150	Wider ranges like -9 favorites or +3 underdogs

When to Consider 6.5 Points

The extra half-point matters when your teased spread would land exactly on 3 or 7:

• -9.5 teased by 6 = -3.5: Good
• -9 teased by 6 = -3: Lands on a key number (push risk)
• -9 teased by 6.5 = -2.5: Avoids the key number

If you are paying -130 for 6.5 points instead of -120 for 6 points, you need to decide if avoiding that push is worth the 10-cent price increase.

When to Consider 7 Points

A 7-point teaser makes sense when your spread is just outside the optimal 6-point range. A favorite at -9.5 teased by 7 points becomes -2.5, which is a strong landing spot. Teased by only 6 points, it would be -3.5—still okay, but you miss landing inside 3.

However, 7-point teasers are priced worse than 6-point teasers. The extra point costs more because you are buying more value. For most standard Wong teaser setups, 6 points is sufficient and more cost-effective.

6-Point Teaser Strategy Tips

Stick to NFL Sides

Football sides are the best candidates for 6-point teasers because of key numbers. Totals, props, and basketball spreads do not have the same predictable distributions.

Focus on 2-Leg Teasers

Two-leg teasers give you the best risk-reward balance. Adding a third leg boosts the payout but also adds another way to lose. Most sharp bettors stick to 2-leg teasers almost exclusively.

Shop Aggressively for Pricing

A 6-point teaser at -110 is significantly better value than the same teaser at -130. Check multiple books before placing your bet. Use a teaser calculator to see how different prices affect your breakeven requirements.

Know Your Push Rules

Different sportsbooks handle pushes differently:

• Some books: Push on a 2-leg teaser = loss
• Other books: Push on a 2-leg teaser = refund (treat as 1-leg straight bet)
• 3+ leg teasers: Usually reduce by one leg on a push

Know the rules before you bet. A book that refunds pushes is more valuable than one that grades them as losses.

Avoid Adding Weak Legs

It is tempting to add a third or fourth leg to boost your payout, but every leg is another way to lose. Only include legs that genuinely fit the 6-point teaser criteria. Forcing a leg that does not cross key numbers properly defeats the purpose.

Common 6-Point Teaser Mistakes

Teasing the Wrong Spreads

The most common mistake is teasing spreads that do not benefit from 6 points. A -3 favorite teased to +3 or a +8 underdog teased to +14 wastes the value of a 6-point adjustment. Stick to the Wong ranges or similar setups where 6 points crosses multiple key numbers.

Overpaying for Teasers

Paying -135 for a 6-point teaser when another book offers -115 is throwing money away. The legs and outcomes are identical—only the price differs. Always shop.

Adding Legs for Payout, Not Value

Each additional leg should add value to your teaser, not just increase the payout. If you are adding a weak third leg just to turn +100 into +165, you are probably hurting your expected value.

Ignoring Push Rules

Landing on a key number can be profitable at some books and costly at others. Know whether your book reduces pushes or grades them as losses before you place the bet.

For more pitfalls to avoid, see our guide on common teaser betting mistakes.

6-Point Teaser FAQs

What is a 6-point teaser in simple terms?

A 6-point teaser is a parlay where you move each spread by 6 points in your favor. All legs must win, but the adjusted spreads make each leg easier to hit. You get a lower payout than a standard parlay in exchange for the extra points.

Is a 6-point or 7-point teaser better?

It depends on your spreads. If your legs fall in the classic Wong ranges (-7.5 to -8.5 or +1.5 to +2.5), a 6-point teaser is usually better value because it crosses both 3 and 7 at a lower cost. If your spreads are slightly outside those ranges, a 7-point teaser might be worth the extra price.

What spreads should you tease with 6 points?

The optimal ranges are favorites between -7.5 and -8.5 (tease down to -1.5 to -2.5) and underdogs between +1.5 and +2.5 (tease up to +7.5 to +8.5). These maximize key number coverage.

Can you do a 6-point teaser in basketball?

No. Basketball teasers typically offer 4, 4.5, or 5 points. The numbers are different because basketball scoring does not cluster around 3 and 7 like football does.

How many legs should a 6-point teaser have?

Two legs is the standard recommendation. Adding more legs increases variance and usually does not improve expected value unless the pricing scales favorably.

Final Thoughts

A 6-point teaser is the foundation of teaser betting in football. It is the standard because 6 points is enough to cross the key numbers 3 and 7 from the most commonly bet spreads. When you target the right spread ranges—favorites from -7.5 to -8.5 and underdogs from +1.5 to +2.5—a 6-point teaser offers real value.

But value only exists if the pricing is right. Shop for -110 to -120 on 2-leg, 6-point NFL teasers. Avoid books charging -135 or worse. Know the push rules. And stick to 2-leg teasers with spreads that genuinely benefit from those 6 points.

For deeper strategy on which spreads to target and when 6-point teasers still offer an edge in todays market, see our complete Wong Teaser Strategy Guide. For a broader overview of how teasers work, check our main Teaser Betting Guide.

Sports betting should stay optional, affordable, and fun. If you feel betting is affecting your life negatively, take a break and reach out for help.