You don't "have" to get back to even Pel. By the sounds of it, if you are down for the week you're in deep crap. So if you bet to get even and it loses, you're in REALLY deep crap, right? I'd make a regular bet and try to get some of it back, but no need to try to get it all back in one bet. You'll only dig yourself into some real deep holes doing that. And jmizeus is right, parlays are a lousy way to get money back when you feel you "have" to win. Odds are only 1 in 4 that you hit a 2-teamer; 1 in 8 that you hit a 3-teamer (excluding parlays with ML's).