Underdog (Dog)
The team or player expected to lose, indicated by positive moneyline odds.
The underdog is the team or player not expected to win according to the odds. On the moneyline, underdogs have positive odds (e.g., +200), meaning a $100 bet returns $200 in profit if they win.
Underdogs get points on the spread (e.g., +6.5), meaning they can lose the game and still cover the spread. Betting underdogs against the spread is a popular strategy in NFL betting.
Historically, underdogs tend to be slightly undervalued by the market, particularly in the NFL, because public bettors gravitate toward favorites. This doesn't mean all underdogs are good bets — it means the market bias toward favorites can create value opportunities.
Related Terms
Favorite (Chalk)
The team or player expected to win, indicated by negative moneyline odds.
Moneyline
A bet on which team or player will win a game outright, with no point spread.
Point Spread
A handicap applied to the favorite to create a more even betting market.
Cover
Winning a bet against the point spread.
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