"Alt" on FanDuel is an abbreviation for "Alternate." It refers to Alternate Lines or Alternate Point Spreads/Totals offered for games, primarily used in betting on player performance props (like points, rebounds, assists) or sometimes team-based markets.
What are Alt Lines?
Standard betting lines for a player prop might be set at, for example, Over/Under 15.5 points. Alt lines provide different thresholds for the same outcome.
- Purpose: They offer flexibility to bettors seeking different risk/reward profiles.
- Structure: Bettors choose a different stat line (e.g., Over/Under 12.5 points, Over/Under 18.5 points, etc.) instead of the main market line. Each alternate line carries adjusted odds (higher or lower) reflecting the likelihood of that specific outcome.
Key Characteristics
- Higher Reward, Higher Risk: Betting "Over" on a lower alt line (e.g., Over 12.5) is easier to hit than the main line (Over 15.5) but pays significantly less. Betting "Over" on a higher alt line (e.g., Over 18.5) is harder but offers much bigger potential payouts.
- Lower Reward, Lower Risk: Conversely, betting "Under" on a higher alt line (Under 18.5) is safer than the main line (Under 15.5) but pays less. Betting "Under" on a lower alt line (Under 12.5) is riskier but pays more.
- Flexibility: Allows tailoring bets to specific predictions and risk tolerance.
When to Consider Them
- Predicting a Blowout/Struggle: If you strongly believe a player will significantly exceed or fall short of the main projection.
- Managing Payouts: Wanting higher certainty (lower alt lines) or chasing higher payouts (higher alt lines).
- Reacting to News: Adjusting exposure if a key teammate is injured (maybe take a lower alt over) or returning (maybe take a higher alt over).
In essence, FanDuel's "Alt" options provide multiple betting lines on the same event, letting users choose different thresholds with correspondingly adjusted odds based on perceived difficulty.
