Sports betting has evolved beyond traditional wagers to include a diverse range of contests that add excitement, strategy, and interaction to the betting experience. From predicting outcomes to showcasing your expertise, these contests offer unique ways for enthusiasts to engage with their favorite sports. In this article, we’ll dive into the world of sports betting contests and highlight seven of the most exciting options available.
1. Survivor Pools
Survivor pools, also known as elimination pools or last-man-standing pools, challenge participants to pick one team to win each week during a sports season. The catch? Once you choose a team, you can’t pick them again for the rest of the season. If your chosen team wins, you advance to the next week. If they lose, you’re eliminated. The last person standing wins the pool.
Survivor pools require strategic planning, as you need to weigh the strength of each team and plan your selections accordingly. These contests are popular for football, but they can be adapted to other sports as well.
2. Bracket Challenges
Bracket challenges are a staple of tournaments like March Madness in college basketball. Participants predict the outcomes of a series of games, typically starting with a field of teams and narrowing down to a champion. Points are awarded for correct predictions, and the participant with the most points at the end of the tournament wins.
Bracket challenges combine sports knowledge with a bit of luck, as upsets can drastically impact the standings. They’re a great way to engage with friends, coworkers, or online communities during major sports events.
3. Fantasy Sports Leagues
While not traditional sports betting, fantasy sports leagues involve drafting real players to create a virtual team. Participants earn points based on their players’ performances in actual games. Fantasy sports contests are available for various sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and even esports.
Fantasy sports require strategic thinking, as participants must manage their teams throughout the season, making decisions about lineups, trades, and waiver wire acquisitions. Daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests also offer shorter-term competitions and the chance to win prizes.
4. Over/Under Challenges
Over/under challenges involve predicting whether the total combined score of a game will be over or under a specified number. These contests are often run daily for various sports events. Participants don’t need to predict the winner; they just need to gauge whether the total points scored will surpass or fall short of the set line.
Over/under challenges add an extra layer of excitement to games, as participants track scores and root for high-scoring or low-scoring affairs.
5. Pick’em Pools
Pick’em pools are straightforward contests where participants select the winners of a set of games or matches. Points are awarded for each correct prediction, and the participant with the most points at the end of a specified period wins.
Pick’em pools can cover a single sport or multiple sports, and they’re often used for regular-season games, playoffs, or tournaments.
6. Prop Bet Competitions
Prop bets, short for proposition bets, involve predicting specific events or occurrences within a game. Prop bet competitions challenge participants to make predictions on a variety of game-related scenarios, such as the first team to score, the total number of touchdowns, or the player with the most rebounds.
These contests require participants to analyze individual player performances and game dynamics. Prop bet competitions are particularly popular during major sporting events like the Super Bowl.
7. Handicapping Challenges
Handicapping challenges involve analyzing and predicting point spreads or odds for various games. Participants aim to identify value bets where the odds offered by sportsbooks provide an edge. These challenges require a deep understanding of odds, statistics, and betting markets.
Handicapping contests are a test of expertise and strategy, making them appealing to seasoned bettors looking to showcase their skills.
Sports betting contests offer a dynamic and engaging way for enthusiasts to connect with their favorite sports and test their predictive prowess. From survivor pools that test your longevity to bracket challenges that capture the excitement of tournaments, these contests cater to a wide range of preferences and expertise levels. Whether you’re a casual fan looking for some friendly competition or a seasoned bettor seeking a strategic challenge, these top seven sports betting contests provide a thrilling avenue to enhance your sports experience and showcase your knowledge.