What is an underdog in sports betting?
The side expected to lose, shown with a plus sign.
At a glance
- Category
- Basics
Run the numbers
Reading an underdog
A plus sign marks the underdog. On the spread, +7 means the team receives seven points, so it covers by losing by six or fewer or winning outright. On the moneyline, +200 means a $100 stake returns $200 profit if the team wins.
Underdogs and value
Underdogs lose more often and pay more when they win, and at a fair price those balance exactly. There is no inherent edge in backing dogs, though public money's preference for favorites does sometimes leave underdog prices slightly better than they should be.
Frequently asked questions
What does the plus sign mean in betting odds?+
A plus sign marks the underdog. On a spread, +7 means the team gets seven points. On a moneyline, +200 means a $100 bet wins $200 in profit.
Do underdogs win more against the spread?+
Not systematically. Spreads are set so both sides are close to even. Any edge comes from specific mispriced situations, not from backing underdogs as a rule.
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