Betting on both teams to win in a single game is not typically allowed in traditional sports betting. This is because most sportsbooks require you to choose one side or the other to win, as they set odds based on the implied probability of each outcome. Betting on both outcomes in the same game would essentially guarantee a profit (minus the vigorish, or juice, which is the bookmaker’s commission), which is not how sports betting is designed to work.
However, there are some strategies and types of bets that might give the appearance of betting on both teams:
1. **Parlay Betting**: Some bettors will place a parlay bet that includes multiple games, with the hope that one of the legs of the parlay will cover the loss of the other. This is not the same as betting on both teams in the same game, but it can sometimes result in a net win regardless of which team wins in a particular game.
2. **Teaser Bets**: A teaser allows you to adjust the point spread in your favor for multiple games, but this is not the same as betting on both teams to win in a single game.
3. **If Bets**: An if bet involves two or more straight bets that are dependent on the outcome of the previous bet. If the first bet wins, the second bet is then placed. This is not the same as betting on both teams in the same game, but it can be a way to hedge your bets across multiple games.
4. **Hedging**: Some bettors might place a bet on one team and then hedge their bet by placing a smaller bet on the opposing team to minimize potential losses. This is not typically done in the same game, though, as it would defeat the purpose of hedging.
5. **Prop Bets**: Sometimes, sportsbooks offer prop bets that do not directly involve the outcome of the game (e.g., which player will score first, total points scored, etc.). These can sometimes be used to bet on different aspects of the game, but they are not the same as betting on both teams to win.
6. **Live Betting**: In live betting, you can bet on the outcome of a game while it’s in progress. Some bettors might bet on one team to win at the start of the game and then, if the game is not going as expected, bet on the other team to win. However, this is a risky strategy and not the same as placing a bet on both teams before the game starts.
Ultimately, if you want to bet on both teams to win in the same game, you would be looking for a type of bet that is not commonly offered by traditional sportsbooks. It’s important to understand the rules of the sportsbook you are using and to recognize that such a strategy would not be sustainable over the long term, as it would essentially eliminate the risk and therefore the reason sportsbooks offer betting in the first place.