The opposite of an underdog is the favourite – an athlete or team with a good chance of winning.
The term "underdog" first originated from dogfighting. This is what they called the dog going up against a physically stronger opponent.
Who can be an underdog?
Any team or sportsman – it depends on the opponent's status and the conditions. Top clubs also may have weak chances to win due to injuries of the leading players, poor preparation or failures in recent matches. On the contrary, weak teams can be favourites if they have a lucky streak before the match or get a weaker club as their opponent.
Assessment of the club often depends on the calendar. A football club can become an underdog, if it participates in several matches per week, for instance, if it plays in a championship, in a national cup or in European cups. There is a term in hockey, back-to-back, when a club has to play every day. In both cases the players have not had enough time to rest, so the bookmakers think the team is less likely to win.
How to bet on underdogs?
There are several ways of profiting from high odds on an underdog win.
Handicap bets
Player bets on the win of an underdog with a handicap. The size of handicap depends on the analysis of the odds and opponents. The optimal strategy is to select the handicap whose odds is not less than 1,70-1,80.
Bets on a double chance
This strategy is acceptable, if there is a little difference in class between the underdog and the frontrunner. In this case the nominal underdog has a real chance to win, and if the match is not leaning in his favour at least he can fight for a draw. Such players are insured and cover two selections, and the odds of such bets often reach 2,00.
Bet on the individual underdog total
Underdogs often score even in the matches where they initially have no chance of a win. For instance, in football an underdog can score from a set position by using a prepared combination or at the end of the match, when the favourite is close to a comfortable win and relaxes. Don't select high values when betting on the individual underdog total: it is unlikely that a weaker team will score more than one goal.
Bets on the individual frontrunner total
It is important to choose the right value when betting on the individual frontrunner total. If the underdog doesn't miss many goals and performs well in face-to-face matches then bet less on total. If, on the contrary, the underdog tends to miss often, then it is advisable to choose a higher frontrunner total.
Chasing strategy
Chasing is a betting strategy when a player bets on the same thing until it happens. During every loss the player increases the bet amount and the win compensates all the money lost. A chasing strategy can be used in combination with any strategy described above: for instance, you can bet on the handicap, double selection and individual total.
What do you need to pay attention to when betting on underdogs?
Assess the events without reference to the odds. Evaluate the statistics and the odds of the teams winning on your own and compare them with the odds offered. It will help you find the overload.
Overload is a situation when the players make a lot on one of the teams winning. In order to redirect the flow of bets, bookmakers reduce the odds for this selection and increase it for the opposite selection. Because of such overrating, it may seem that a team has a low chance of winning, but this doesn't reflect the reality – bookmakers simply even the bet amounts on different teams. If you find an overload, you will be able to place a bet with higher odds on a club with a good chance of winning.