But the actual games over this time period averaged to nearly +140. That means if you’d made all of these picks while staking the same amount per bet, you would actually earn an almost 8% return on your investment. When an underdog wins it’s generally referred to as upset or a shock result. It depends on how much the odds between the underdog and the favorite differ as to how much of a shock result it is. You should never be put off a bet simply because of its price and it’s not always the case that a sportsbook has priced up the odds for a market correctly. Given the sheer volume of games to bet on, means that underdog sports betting is way more common than almost all other sports.
You’ll get a lot of casual bettors wagering on the favorite, thus creating some good value on the odds for the dog. The best bets are grounded in statistics and research—the key to long-term success in online sports betting. After all, studying prior teams’ or players’ history can be a good indicator of what could happen in the future.
Shrewd bettors can analyze such patterns, to capitalize on these opportunities and maintain an upper hand in their betting pursuits. The underdog advantage in sports betting offers a unique perspective to bettors, providing a betting edge by capitalizing on market inefficiencies. This concept stems from the idea that the seemingly overlooked or underrated teams can actually present more profitable betting opportunities. If you’re unsure about betting on underdogs, here’s some inspiration to consider. Some of the most celebrated moments in sports betting history happened when underdogs defied the odds and came out on top.
We’ll cover bankroll management, betting strategies, and real examples of underdog wins. By the end, you’ll know when to take the risk and when to walk away. One of the safer routes for betting on upsets is doing it through point spreads or handicap betting, where you’re trying to predict the margin of victory correctly. Bettors can get excellent value on bets where the favorite is expected to win by a wide margin.
Some might say that because the Raptors are the longest price at +6000, this would be the obvious pick. However, based on the underdog simply not being any pick other than the favorite, we are happy to take any team that is not the Nets. Over the years there have been many stories that included an underdog winning, such as David and Goliath and Robin Hood and King Arthur. The moral of each story is following someone who should, by all accounts, lose their fight. Esports, soccer, tennis, and college sports offer frequent underdog successes due to dynamic and unpredictable gameplay. Betting on underdogs can be exciting, but emotional decisions often lead to poor outcomes.
Make sure you use all the tools possible to find when the longer price offers more value than the favorite and then simply back your research for the bet. What this game show is a typical NFL example of the difference between the odds for two single moneyline bets. The example above shows a game between Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons. Let’s concentrate on the “win” bet, which is essentially just the moneyline and is the market for the outright winner and no handicaps applied.
Similarly, the bookmakers are trying to gauge teams’ potential and price their odds accurately. During this time of the year, they’re liable to overvalue the previous season’s results and rely on their pre-season projections. With each series being four to five games long, and only five teams per division, that adds up to a significant amount of games versus the same opponents.
Backing the Pistons at +375 would be a huge underdog bet and a common one for NBA betting. This will add them to your bet slip where you can choose your stake. For this example, we’ve added both picks to our bet slip and placed a $10 bet on each.
The smart plan is to gradually find out what you’re good at forecasting and develop a specific niche to specialize in. What we’re wagering on is the fact that tough home teams will not give up a series sweep. You may also want to start placing bets on these situations after only one game. If so, utilize the Series System as well, doubling your bet after a loss. The odds of a dominant home team being swept are very low, so this is a reliable method of incrementally growing your bankroll. Once you’ve located some franchises with a statistically significant home field advantage, you’ll want to search out series in which they’ve gotten behind by two or more games.
You might only land 35–45% of your bets, but if the average odds are 5/2 or higher, you can still turn a steady profit. Stick to flat staking, risking the same amount per bet, rather than increasing stakes when chasing losses or betting bigger just because the potential return looks tempting. If you’re unfamiliar with parlay betting, it’s best that you check out our dedicated guide on the best parlay bets to learn about them before diving into this section.
The odds are a far cry from the first favorite, nearly roobet apk in dark horse territory. Schroder and Franz Wagner are among the MVP favorites, so Germany expert Eurobasket 2025 predictions may be right on point for the German team. Germany is the world champion after winning the title against Serbia in 2023.
Pay attention to games where the underdog performs better than expected early on, and place smart wagers mid-game. In baseball, betting underdogs isn’t about guessing; it’s about spotting edges where the numbers don’t match the market. MLB underdog betting can offer strong value due to the sport’s long season and frequent upsets. Betting on upsets means that you’re getting longer odds because the likelihood of the underdog outcome is less likely to happen.
