Why Some Sports Bettors Only Bet on Underdogs

To some, making wagers against the favorite doesn’t seem like a good bet. Yet, making underdog bets can actually be quite profitable, but only if you know how to do it.

Let’s look at a few reasons why underdog wagers can be profitable and talk about some of the best practices to employ before hitting the betting window.

Top 4 Reasons to Make Wagers on Underdogs

Underdog wagers may seem like a lose-lose situation to a lot of bettors. But some underdog bets can be quite profitable. Here are the top four reasons why players are so keen to make bets against the favorites.

1. Winning Underdog Bets Are Profitable

The favorites generally have lower odds on sportsbooks, making underdog bets more profitable overall – if you happen to win the bet.

2. Favorites Can Skew Odds

When the majority of bettors are making wagers on a favorite, especially a very popular favorite, this can skew sportsbook odds.

Just because the general public believes that a bet is a sure thing doesn’t mean that the bet will win. In fact, since public bias is often based on emotions rather than logic, the general public is frequently incorrect.

3. Underdogs Have Value

Some underdogs have massive winning potential. If you want to win underdog wagers, you’ll want to research which underdogs perform best in certain situations.

4. Betting On Underdogs Is Fun

Making a winning wager on the party that is most likely to lose is just plain fun. Just consider the bragging rights you’ll earn if you happen to make an unlikely prediction.

Should You Only Bet on Underdogs?

Absolutely not. Just because underdogs come with higher odds doesn’t mean only betting on them will turn a profit. Before making underdog bets, you’ll want to do some research (which we’ll cover in the next section).

Tips for Making Wagers on Underdogs

If you want to get better at betting on underdogs, here are a few tips that will help you make more accurate predictions.

Do Your Research

Don’t just blindly bet on someone because they’re an underdog. Before hitting the betting window, find out which underdogs have value, and consider the conditions of the game (weather, playing surface, home or away teams, etc.).

Don’t Get Emotional

It’s easy to get fascinated by underdogs. When they win, everyone gets excited (except for maybe losing bettors).

When making wagers, it’s important to keep your emotions in check so you don’t get too attached to any one bet.

Stick to a Budget

Consider your budget before making any bet – but especially before making underdog bets. Don’t keep throwing down money to dig yourself out of a bet that isn’t going to win.