Sportsbook Glossary: Ff

Face-Off

Ice Hockey | A face-off is the method used to begin play in ice hockey and some other sports. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing skaters attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official. Face-offs are generally handled by centers, although some wingers handle face-offs and, very rarely, some defensemen as well. One of the referees drops the puck at center ice to start each period and following the scoring of a goal. The linesmen are responsible for all other face-offs.

 

Fair Ball

Baseball | In baseball, a fair ball is a batted ball that entitles the batter to attempt to reach first base.

 

Fair Catch

Football | A fair catch is a feature of American football and several other codes of football, in which a player attempting to catch a ball kicked by the opposing team either on a kickoff or punt is entitled to catch the ball without interference from any member of the kicking team.

 

Favorite

The team bookmakers expect will win their game. Team or individual that is expected to win a particular event.

 

Field

Often time, in proposition (prop) bets, bettors are allowed to bet the field. This refers to an accumulation of all the teams or players that are not listed specifically.

 

Field Goal

Football | A field goal is a means of scoring in American football and Canadian football equivalent to 3 points. To score a field goal the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop-kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar, during a play from scrimmage.

 

Figure

Amount owed by or to a bookmaker.

 

Filly

A female horse, about the age of 4.

 

Firing

Wagering huge sums of money.

 

First Half Bet

A bet on the first half of a game.

 

Five-Second Rule

Basketball, Often referred to as the "Mark Jackson Rule" | In Professional basketball, the five-second rule, or five-second violation, is a rule that helps promote continuous play. There are multiple situations where a five-second violation may occur.

 

Fixed Odds Betting

Is a process of placing bets on pre-determined odds, meaning that you know exactly how much you stand to earn at the time of placing a bet. Regardless of how much the odds fluctuate after you have placed your bet, your potential returns will not change.

 

Flat Racing

Horse Racing | A form of horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance.

 

Fly Out

Baseball | In baseball, a batted ball is any ball that, after a pitch, is contacted by the batter’s bat. One or more of several terms are used to describe a batted ball, depending on how it comes off the bat and where in the field it lands.

 

Force Play

Baseball | In baseball, a force is a situation when a baserunner is compelled (or forced) to vacate his time-of-pitch base-and thus try to advance to the next base-because the batter became a runner. A runner at first base is always forced to attempt to advance to second base when the batter becomes a runner. Runners at second or third base are forced only when all bases preceding their time-of-pitch base are occupied by other baserunners and the batter becomes a runner.

 

Formation

Football | A formation in American football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a down. There are both offensive and defensive formations, and there are many formations in both categories.

 

Formula One

Auto Racing, also Formula 1 or F1 | Highest class of single-seat auto racing that is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

 

Fourth Out

In baseball, the fourth out is a legal out made by the defense after three outs in a half-inning already have been recorded. According to the rules, the third out does not cause the ball to become dead; if the fielders make a subsequent out that prevents a run from scoring, this out will supersede the apparent third out, thus becoming the recorded third out.

 

Fractional Odds

Popular way of expressing odds in the European and Australian betting markets. The stake is not included in the return. For example, 2/1 is equal to 3 decimal, as it only expresses the winning part of the bet.

 

Free Throw

In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court (the free throw line; informally known as the foul line or the charity stripe), and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team. Each successful free throw is worth one point.

 

Freemont Cannon

College Football | An American college football rivalry between the Nevada Wolf Pack football team of the University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada) and the UNLV Rebels football team of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

 

Fumble

Football | In American and Canadian football, a fumble occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled) or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful handing that results in loss of player possession.

 

Future Bet

This refers to bets that come down in advance of an event. For example, one can bet a Super Bowl future prior to the beginning of the season by selecting who they believe will win the championship. A bettor would receive payment at the end of the season if their selection did claim the title.