Underdog Sports Betting – How does Underdog Betting Work?

Where can I place underdog bets?

Generally, all online sports betting sites offer wagers on the underdog in betting, from the moneyline to spreads, totals, props, and futures. However, for the best underdog wagering, we recommend visiting BetOnline, which provides competitive odds, and a variety of sports and betting markets.

What is the term used when an underdog wins?

Since the underdog taking a win is not nearly as expected as the favorite winning, the term used to reference an instance where this happens is called an “Upset” or a “Shock Result.” How much of a shock result it ends up being is largely determined by the margins between the two opposing teams.

Does the underdog have positive or negative odds alongside them?

In American odds, the underdog is represented by three figures preceded by a plus (+) sign, while the favorite is typically highlighted with a negative number.

What is the underdog in sports betting?

Typically, in sports betting, the underdog references the team or athlete with the lesser chance of winning. Additionally, this team usually has higher odds that are more eye-catching and certainly more lucrative. Since the team is viewed as least likely to win, the risk when backing them is higher, which leads to the greater 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Sports bettors have many betting sites to choose from when putting money on the underdog in betting, but one site that offers some of the most competitive odds and releases its lines early is BetOnline. Additionally, the sportsbook offers various underdog markets and covers over 35 sports markets, making it a top choice for many avid bettors.