Whether two teams are competing or two individual athletes facing off, there is always a favorite and an underdog. While most bettors play it safe and back the team or athlete pitted to win, underdog sports betting, where a bettor puts money on the side least likely to win, can be highly lucrative and offers a far more exciting betting experience.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about backing the underdog, from how the various betting lines work to what the term “underdog” means. We even offer several strategies to use when placing your wagers. So, let’s get started.
What is Underdog Sports Betting?
Underdog bets see a bettor put money on a team or athlete that is not heralded as the favorite. While there are several ways to classify an underdog, the simple way to look at it is the side least likely to win.
To most, the idea of backing the team or player that is not predicted to win the match or game is crazy, but it comes with its benefits; most significantly, because the risk of backing this option is higher, the odds and payouts are often far greater.
For instance, let’s review our example below. BetOnline offers us moneyline odds of the Miami Heat -260 and the Washington Wizards +220. In this case, the Washington Wizards are the underdogs, while the Miami Heat is the favorite. Here, the probability of each team winning would be:
- Miami Heat – 72.2%
- Washington Wizards – 31.25%
Here, BetOnline is telling us that Miami Heat wins 72.2% of their matches, and whilst they are the favorite, this doesn’t guarantee they will win, putting the Washington Wizards in the running.
But note, when added, these make a total of 103.45%, meaning the vigorish charged by the bookie is 3.45%. While this isn’t important to know, seeing the juice a sportsbook charges is always interesting.
What is the Underdog in Betting?
The term “underdog” goes back to the late 19th century and was used in reference to dogfighting, where the dog that won earned the title of “top dog,” and the losing animal was then named the “underdog.”
Since then, a common theme in literature sees the underdog or weaker character take on a strong opponent where they seemingly have no chance of winning, only to come out on top. This concept of rooting for the “weaker” team or athlete carries through to sports betting, where bettors get a far greater sense of victory if they back the underdog, and that team then wins. This, combined with the greater odds attached to these teams or athletes, makes the underdog bet far more exciting and highly popular.
How Does Underdog Betting Work?
Underdog betting takes two forms, one where bettors regard any option in a particular market that is not the favorite is the underdog. The other is where bettors take it to mean that the longest odds in the market highlight the underdog. While this may sound like the same thing, there are differences.
When betting on the underdog that is not the favorite, bettors look for the odds that are not the shortest in the market. For instance, in our example below, the Philadelphia 76ers at +415 and the Atlanta Hawks at -520 show the Philadelphia 76ers with the longer odds, making them the underdog.
But what about in an instance like futures betting, where there are more than two teams to choose from? In our example below, the Milwaukee Bucks are the favorite as they have the lowest number, while other teams like Los Angeles Lakers (+1200) and the Memphis Grizzlies (+1800) are lower down the ladder, and so any team that isn’t the Milwaukee Bucks is a good choice here.
How to Place Underdog Bets
Many online betting sites offer underdog betting, and these wagers are some of the easiest to place. However, new bettors may find a few pointers helpful, so we created the quick guide below, which takes you through placing these bets step-by-step.
Here, we use BetOnline as an example, and bettors can head to the sportsbook to claim several BetOnline promo codes that make it easier to practice these bets. But there are also plenty of BetOnline alternatives that bettors can use too, and the process for wagering an underdog bet at these sites is very similar. So, let’s look:
Step One – Register with BetOnline
Open the BetOnline website and click the green “Join” button. Next, fill in your details on the registration form that opens, and choose a username and password. Then, click “Create Account.”
Step Two – Get Verified
After you’ve registered your account, BetOnline will email you a verification link which you must click to activate your new profile. So open the mail and click the link, then, use your new credentials to sign back into BetOnline’s website and access your account.
Step Three – Make Your First Deposit
Next, you’ll need to fund your account. So, begin by clicking the blue “Banking” button on the homepage. Then, select your payment method from the dropdown menu, and add in the amount you wish to deposit. Your next step, (and this one is important), is to type your BetOnline promo code “BOL1000” in the promo code box provided. Finally, click “Deposit Now” and follow the prompts to complete your payment.
Step Four – Choose Your Sport
Click on the “Sports” tab on the BetOnline homepage. Then, select the sport you want to place your underdog wagers on, for example, football. Next, from the options available for this sport, select the league and match you want to put your money on; for instance, we chose the NFL.
Step Five – Place Your Wager
Once you have selected the game, click on the underdog in the moneyline to populate your bet slip with the relevant details. Next, add the amount you wish to put down onto your bet slip. Then, click “place bet,” and you’re done!
FAQs
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What is the underdog in sports betting?
The Underdog Betting System – How to Read the Odds
The best offshore sportsbooks and even regulated betting sites in the US display their lines as American odds by default. Here, bettors will find three numbers preceded by a plus (+) sign or a minus (-) sign. The team or athlete with the negative number is the favorite (the one predicted to win) and shows how much a bettor must put down to win $100. In contrast, the team or athlete with the positive number is the underdog, and this figure shows how much a bettor will earn off a $100 wager.
For instance, if we look at our example below, the Houston Rockets are priced at -180 to win, and you would need to put down $180 to make a $100 profit. In contrast, the Charlotte Hornets are the underdogs, and bettors putting down $100 will win a profit of $160 should they win.
Knowing which wager is the underdog is as quick and easy as seeing which team has the positive number next to their name, as typically, in sports betting, the team with the positive number is always the underdog.
While there will never be an instance where both sets of odds will be positive, you may sometimes encounter an instance where both are negative. For example, you may have a situation where the Charlotte Hornets have odds of (-115) and the Houston Rockets are priced at (-105). Because -105 is a greater number than -115, the Charlotte Hornets would be the underdog here.
In this case, the probability of each team winning is as follows:
- Houston Rockets = 53.5%
- Charlotte Hornets = 51.2%
Below, we look at how underdog betting applies to different lines and how these might look.
Underdog Spread Bets
The points spread is a line where the sportsbook applies handicap points to one or both teams to even the playing field. Then, when the game ends, bookies add or subtract the points from the final score to obtain the spread.
It is important to note that the spread differs for each game and depends on how much better the sportsbook (handicapper) predicts one team is over its opponent. Additionally, each team will have points added or removed, the underdog typically has points added to their final score, while the favorite has points removed. In doing this, the sportsbook improves the odds and generally sees them sitting around -110.
In the example below, there are several games highlighted, with spreads of +/-10.5, +/-13, and +/-1. Typically, the lower the spread, the tighter the game.
Taking advantage of handicap betting for the underdog is easy if you know how to create your own handicaps, which you can then compare against those released by bookies. If they match up or are even better than your own predictions, these offer great value and are worth placing. To learn more about handicap betting, you can read our article here.
Moneyline Underdog Bets
In contrast to the spread bet, the moneyline is far more straightforward and sees bettors backing the team they predict will win overall. Here, the underdog is reflected as the team with the positive numbered odds and has the higher price of the two. In most instances when moneyline betting, there will be a positive and a negative figure.
Let’s look at our example below:
Here, you can see several matches listed, for instance, Clermont -135 vs the Scarlets +105 sees the Scarlets as the underdog, although there isn’t much of a margin. In comparison, right at the bottom of the list are the Lions +600 vs Glasgow -1000, where the Lions are the clear underdog by a wide margin.
In an instance where both teams have the same price, both teams have equal chances of winning, and the game could swing either way. As a result, there is no clear underdog.
Underdog Prop Bets
Underdog prop bets typically work the same as those provided for the moneylines. Again the team or the outcome with the positive figure is the less likely option or the underdog, while that with the negative value is the more probable outcome. If we look at our example below, using the NBA match of the Miami Heat vs. the Washington Wizards, the Miami Heat are the underdog in the prop for the team to score last.
Underdog Betting Strategy
Underdog betting tips make it easier to focus your wagers and make more profitable choices. Below, we look at several top strategies and suggestions to get you on your way with underdog betting.
Do Your Research
The first and best of our underdog betting tips is to do your research. By this, we mean taking the time to analyze the teams’ recent performances and whether anything has happened of late that could impact the outcome of a game. For example, a soccer team losing their star shooter to an injury could have a significant effect on an upcoming match. Researching these aspects will help you determine whether backing the underdog is a good choice or not.
Make Use of Several Betting Markets
The best online sportsbooks offer several betting lines that allow bettors to back the underdog. For instance, it may be more profitable to back the underdog using a spread or handicap bet where the odds are more even. Alternatively, placing prop bets also provides a great way to back the underdog without running a high risk of a loss.
Consider The Public
The public (general bettors) typically back the favorite or the home team. These wagers typically influence the odds, making those for the favorite less favorable and boosting those for the underdog. Here, take the time to look into the underdog and see whether the chances of them losing really are that great; if not, this is the ideal time to back the underdog in betting.
Take a Closer Look at The Value in the Odds
Be careful not to simply back the team with the highest odds. Instead, we recommend looking for those underdogs who are undervalued and that have odds higher than they should be according to the team’s real chances of winning. Placing an underdog bet here can be highly lucrative if the team wins.
Sign Up with Several Sportsbooks
Instead of relying on the odds of a single online sportsbook, we recommend shopping around. While one site may offer better odds for a spread bet on the underdog, another may provide more competitive odds on a moneyline or totals bet. Placing bets at several bookies ensures you get the best underdog bets all-round.
Underdog Sports Betting
The leading sports betting sites in the US cover a variety of sports, all with options and markets for underdog sports betting. Below, we take you through the top US sports and the types of underdog bets you can wager on them.
NBA Underdog Betting
Some of the best underdog bets can be placed on the NBA. This is primarily because there are many games to bet on, with each team participating in over 100 games between the regular season and the playoffs.
The most common underdog sports betting line is the singles market, where bettors can find several matchups with wide margins between the teams. For instance, in the example below, the Los Angeles Lakers -800 are massive favorites against the Phoenix Suns +580. Backing the underdog here would result in a huge profit.
Bettors visiting the best NBA betting sites will also find plenty of underdog betting options under the futures bets section and in the spread betting markets.
NFL Underdog Betting
Each NFL season begins with 32 teams, with a wide margin between the top and bottom squads, making underdog betting on the NFL exciting and profitable. Additionally, many of these teams pick up star college players in the offseason, boosting their chances during the regular season.
The first market bettors may want to consider when backing the underdog in betting on the NFL is the singles market, where the team with the positive odds is the underdog.
Another popular underdog wager, when visiting the best NFL betting sites, focuses on futures betting, like those placed on the Superbowl, where a sportsbook lists all 32 teams and their predicted odds for winning the tournament overall. The team with the lowest number here is the favorite, with all others after it regarded as the underdogs. However, choosing the best wager is important. While the Kansas City Chiefs may have odds of +575 and the Arizona Cardinals may have a price of +15000, the likelihood of the Cardinals actually winning are slim, making backing them a poor bet.
Other NFL bets where bettors can back the underdog include prop bets, spreads, and totals.
MLB Underdog Bets
Since the Major League Baseball season sees each team playing a minimum of 162 games, this is the ideal sport for backing the underdog in betting. Because of the vast number of games played overall, the chances for underdog sports betting are much higher than in any other sport.
As with most sports, underdog wagering on baseball and particularly the MLB, encompasses more than just the single bets and extends to runlines, futures, and props. As a result, we suggest heading to your best MLB betting sites during the offseason and thereafter to make the most of these varied markets and options.
NHL Underdog Betting
Underdog sports betting on the NHL is somewhat different than other sports, as the accumulation of points is unique. Here, two points are awarded for a win and one point for a game that goes into overtime.
The best NHL betting sites offer two options. While some offer three markets (regular time home win, away win or draw), others only provide markets for a home or away win, and the overtime is then included in these.
However, when underdog betting on the NHL, bettors still look for the team with the longer-priced odds. For instance, below, the Carolina Hurricanes -155 are the favorites, while the Buffalo Sabres +140 are the underdogs.
The Top Underdog Sports Betting App
Bettors looking for the best underdog sports betting app need to check several aspects before signing up with a bookie. Whether the sportsbook offers a downloadable app or a mobile-optimized website, it should offer all your favorite underdog sports betting lines for your top teams and leagues.
Additionally, the best betting apps function seamlessly on several devices, like smartphones and tablets, and are compatible with various operating systems like iOS and Android. Further, these apps should load quickly, offer several promotions, and make depositing and withdrawing funds quick and easy.
Is Underdog Sports Betting Worth It?
Yes. While following the underdog betting system can be slow and take a lot of time and research, backing the underdog can also be the most lucrative way to bet. Below, we look at some of the pros and cons that come with backing the underdog in betting:
| Pros | Cons |
| Single wins equal the sum of multiple small wins– often winning a single bet on the underdog is more lucrative than winning several small bets on the favorite and it takes much less time. | Lower chances of winning – It is important to remember that in most cases, the underdog is the underdog for a reason and in all likelihood won’t win the game. As a result, the chances of winning an underdog bet are much smaller than they are for betting the favorite. |
| Finding value bets is easy– each sportsbook calculates its own odds. As a result, it is easy to shop around and find the betting site with the best price. | |
| Massive payouts – if you do the research and back an undervalued underdog, you can put money on the highest payout on the market and earn large payouts if you get it right. |
Underdog Betting vs Favorite Betting
When sports betting there is no right or wrong bet whether you back the favorite or the underdog. If the value sits with the favorite, back them, and if it lies with the underdog, then wager that bet instead. Generally, the latter is always more lucrative, provided the value falls with the underdog.
It is always best practice to look for instances where the underdog has a chance of winning their match. For example, in futures betting, a team with +50000 odds is highly unlikely to win, whereas a team with +1600 has much greater chances.
One of the most straightforward ways to find value is by looking at team and player stats. Many of the top US sportsbooks offer stats and offer plenty of data for bettors to browse. Taking a closer look at how teams have faired against one another in the past and against other teams in recent times can provide excellent insight into their chances in an upcoming game and can be a deciding factor for many bettors placing an underdog wager.
Which Site Offers the Best Underdog Bets
Underdog sports betting, if done correctly and researched properly, can put the bettor in line for exciting payouts and a nail-biting betting experience. While there are many more instances where backing the favorite seems like a better option, backing the underdog comes with many pros, provided it has value.
