How to bet the Mayweather-Pacquiao megafight

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will square off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2 in a megafight that's being billed as "The Fight of the Century."

Oddsmakers aren't letting opportunity pass them by with this highly anticipated bout and are offering a more diverse array of options for bettors to wager on the fight.

The traditional options (money line and over/under number of rounds) remain on the board, but they're joined by a litany of alternatives.

Here's a look at some of the different options bettors will have when putting money down on the Mayweather-Pacquiao megafight.

Prop bets

With the fight taking place in Las Vegas, it would have been a shame to see Sin City get done in by offshore sportsbooks when it comes to its props offering.

Luckily that hasn't been the case. The South Point's Jimmy Vaccaro spoke with Marcus DiNitto of Sporting News about the book's diverse props offering.

"I tried to be a little creative," Vaccaro said. "It’s hard with boxing, there's only so much you can do besides the usual ... I did put up a couple (of props) that have been drawing some attention."

Related: Mayweather-Pacquiao Megafight: Staff Picks

Among the added props Vaccaro put on the board are whether or not there will be a knockdown and alternate lines on the number of rounds the fight will last.

"I put up over 4.5 rounds, (in addition to) the conventional 11.5, with a huge price on the over (-800), and we're getting some money on that with the under," said Vaccaro.

Jay Rood, vice president of race and sports at MGM Resorts, posted totals on the judges' scorecards.

"I came up with it because most of Mayweather's fights end in a decision so it gives another aspect for people to bet on," Rood said. "If you think it's going to be a dominating performance (by Mayweather) - if you think about it, it’s really like a (115.5 to 113.5) type of decision - you could bet that OVER; or if you think Pacquiao is going to keep it close, you obviously bet that OVER. It gives you a lot of options."

Live betting

Before the two fighters even step into the ring, they'll already be a part of history.

William Hill will become the first sportsbook operator in Nevada to offer in-progress wagering on a boxing match.

"We've never done it before, but we'll be watching the fight and adjusting numbers as it goes on," William Hill bookmaker Nick Bogdanovich told Micah Roberts of Sporting News. "If there's a knockdown, we'll suspend wagering immediately."

This option will allow bettors watching the fight to make wagers based on what they're seeing as the bout progresses.

Interestingly enough, because William Hill's site is characterized as an office building and not a casino, it won't be subject to the fight's blackout policy (the pay-per-view isn't available to any casinos that aren't MGM properties).

Traditional bets

Pacquiao supporters would have been wise to get in early because the bulk of the action thus far has been on his side, causing oddsmakers to drop their lines.

The line on Mayweather had been as high as -300, but bettors could find lines as low as -175 on Thursday.

"We just keep getting Pacquiao money, so we're seeing if we can attract some Mayweather action," Golden Nugget sportsbook assistant manager Aaron Kessler told Roberts.

More Pacquiao money is expected on the weekend, meaning Mayweather supporters would be wise to wait, while Pacquiao supporters would be best off getting in quickly.

Here's a look at where the odds sit on Saturday morning.

Odds

Prediction

While many expected the years to do more damage to Pacquiao's chances in this fight, he's the fighter that's aged more gracefully of the two, maintaining his speed where the elder Mayweather has slowed. 

Mayweather had some trouble in his two fights with Marcos Maidana, and while Pacquiao may not have the same physical assets Maidana brings to the ring, he is a creative offensive fighter who can keep the pressure on Mayweather. 

This fight is destined to go to the scorecards, and the judges should favor Pacquiao's aggressiveness.

The play: Manny Pacquiao (+171), Over 11.5 rounds (-293)

Odds courtesy Bovada, Pinnacle, Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.