Definition of Underdog

What does the term "underdog" mean in the world of sports betting? What is the definition of the term "underdog"?

In sports betting, you have the team that is favoured to win (the "favourite") and the team that is supposed to lose.

The team that is expected to lose is referred to as the "underdog".

For instance, let's say that Manchester United is playing host to Hull.

Now, Manchester United is one of the best clubs in the English Premier League, so they will be expected to win in almost any circumstance.

Let's say that the odds for the game looked like this:

Manchester United, 1.14
Draw, 3.50
Hull, 9.50

So, according to these odds, a successful wager on Man Utd would return a total profit of 14% of your original wager, while a successful wager on Hull would yield a total return of 850%.

In this case, Hull would be referred to as the "underdog" because they are expected to lose, and are seen as being the inferior team.