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Online Gambling Sites > Underdog Review > Underdog Pick'em 2026: Underdog Pick'em Rules & Legal States

Underdog Pick'em 2026: Underdog Pick'em Rules & Legal States

Last Updated on 31/12/2025
Fact checked by: Graham Stevans

Fancy yourself as an NFL expert? If so, you will love Underdog Pick'em. This easy-to-play prediction game gives you the chance to use your NFL knowledge to predict player performances and win prizes.

By reading this guide to Underdog Pick'em, you can learn exactly how to play the game. Not only that, but we will also give you some essential advice on how to build your ideal Underdog Pick'em roster, plus get exclusive news on how to claim a Pick’em Special to enhance it.

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Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. See assets.underdogfantasy.com/web/PlayandGetTerms_DFS_.html for details. Offer not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).

Pre game: Underdog in a nutshell

Underdog has introduced a new limited-time welcome promotion, Play $5, Get $75. When new users who are eligible get to place a of $5 to unlock $75 bonus value, giving a helping push to get started with Underdog's pick'em games and daily fantasy contests.

To know if you qualify to claim this offer, you must be 18 and above (19 or older in AL and NE, 19 or older in CO for selected games, and 21 or older in AZ, MA, & VA) also have to be in a state where Underdog operates legally.

Please note that this promotion is not offered in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, or PA.

Always play responsibly. If you or someone you know is experiencing issues with gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org for support. New York residents: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369).

Underdog started in 2020 and is now the fastest-growing fantasy app in the United States. If you have read our full Underdog review, you will know that the site provides an exciting twist on standard fantasy play.

You can enter fantasy games that cover a wide range of popular sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB, EPL and NHL. In the case of NFL fantasy football at Underdog, there are season long contests (known as Best Ball) that, unlike games at other daily fantasy sports sites, do not feature waivers, trades or manual substitutions. You just draft a roster, and each week your highest scoring players are placed in your starting lineup.

The other main game at Underdog is their Pick'em game. So let’s take a detailed look at how that contest works…

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Xs and Os: Understanding Underdog Pick'em

The Underdog Pick'em game requires you to build a roster of between two and five players. Each player will have a specific stat total attached to them. Your task is to predict whether each player’s actual stat total in their next game will be higher or lower than the specified amount. A running back such as Aaron Jones will have a stat for rushing yards attached to them, wideouts and tight ends will have receiving yards next to them, whilst quarterbacks have passing yards stats.

If you get all of your higher or lower predictions correct, you win a prize. The more players on your entry the bigger the prize. Here’s what you could win:

Number of players Prize
2 3x your stake
3 6x your stake
4 10x your stake
5 20x your stake

Underdog Pick'em Rivals

There is also an alternative version of Underdog Pick'em known as Rivals. In this version, you have to choose which one out of two players will achieve the higher stat line. For example, one of your entries could be for ‘Patrick Mahomes vs Sam Howell’. You have to predict which of the two quarterbacks will pass for the most yards in their next game.

Pros and cons of Underdog Pick’em

Pros and cons
Pros and cons
  • Use your NFL knowledge to make predictions
  • Easy to play
  • Win 20 times your stake
  • Hard to win five player contests

Reaching the endzone: Ultimate tips for playing Underdog Pick'em

Playing Underdog Pick'em is straightforward, however winning prizes requires a bit more skill and thought. Luckily, our NFL gurus have compiled three expert tips to help you make your Underdog football picks:

Consider the opposition and conditions

We all know that Patrick Mahomes is a better quarterback than Daniel Jones, but what if Mahomes is playing against a defence that is vastly superior to the one Jones will be facing? Or what if the weather forecast for Mahomes’ game is atrocious, but Jones is playing in a dome? Predicting which player will achieve the higher stat line isn’t always a simple case of choosing the better player. Similarly, the quality of the opposition and expected conditions can also inform your higher or lower decisions when playing the standard Pick'em game. 

Read the injury reports

You want to know whether a player on your entry is carrying an injury into a game, but you also need to consider the other players in the relevant NFL games. If you have an elite receiver like AJ Brown on your roster, then the natural assumption is that he will get a healthy amount of receiving yards. But if his team’s QB is carrying an injury, then those expectations may need to be dampened. On the flip side, if the opposition defense is missing key players, then expectations for Brown’s receiving yard total will be even higher. 

Use your head

When playing Underdog Pick'em, there can be a temptation to pick players from your favorite team. And because you obviously want those players to perform well, the temptation is to select the higher option for their stat line. Unfortunately, football rarely goes the way you want it to, and playing with your heart will often lead to defeat. Always let your head overrule your heart when playing Underdog. Make logical decisions based on the factors listed above plus the strength of the teams. That will give you a far better chance of winning a prize. 

The Underdog Pick’em Special

The best way to start your Underdog Pick’em experience is to use an Underdog promo code when you first join the site. Using this code will give you a Pick’em Special to use on your first entry.

The Pick’em Special works by giving you a specific player that you can add to your first Pick'em roster. The higher or lower total that comes with this player will be heavily skewed in one direction. For example, a Pick’em Special for Keenan Allen could be for him to have 0.5 receiving yards in his next game. A stat line like this makes your higher/lower decision a very easy one and effectively gives you a free ‘win’ on your entry.

The specific player chosen for the Pick’em Special will change regularly, but all you need to do is head to the game lobby after joining Underdog and you will see the player you have been allocated.

Lift a title with Underdog Pick’em

You will struggle to find a fantasy game that is more straightforward than Underdog Pick’em. Just select your two to five players, choose the higher or lower options, and then just sit back and watch the games. Of course, you can improve your chances by following our expert tips. Always take the time to weigh up all the relevant parameters before making your higher or lower choice. Sometimes the sensible option isn’t the one you initially think of.

Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of the Pick’em Special, since this may assist in your review of one of your players, giving you a much higher chance of winning a prize.

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Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. See assets.underdogfantasy.com/web/PlayandGetTerms_DFS_.html for details. Offer not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).

Underdog Football FAQs

🧑‍ Can I play Underdog legally?

That depends on your location. The good news is that Underdog is now legal in around 30 US states. Check out our exclusive Underdog review for the latest news on where the site is available.

🔢 What is the Underdog promo code for the Pick’em Special?

To find out the current Underdog bonus code to use, you need to read our Underdog review. Do this before signing up, as it will ensure you enter a valid code for the Pick’em Special.

🤔 What is the best strategy for Underdog Pick’em?

Research is the key to success when playing Underdog Pick’em. Look at the opposition players, the injury reports, the weather conditions and much more. The more information you have, the better placed you will be to make winning predictions.

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Graham StevansHeather Williams
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