Underdog Pick'em is one of the simpler player-pick fantasy formats to get to grips with. If you want a format built around higher-or-lower style projections rather than full roster management, it gives you a more direct way to engage with major sports.
This guide explains how Underdog Pick'em works, which states currently support Underdog’s player-pick products, and what to keep in mind before entering your first contest. Because product names and availability can vary by location, it is worth checking the latest state details before signing up. New customers can also claim the current welcome offer of Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries when signing up.
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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. Offer not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; AZ: 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783) or text NEXT-STEP to 53342; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
Pre game: Underdog in a nutshell
New customers can currently claim Underdog’s main welcome offer: play $5 get $50 in bonus entries when you sign up, giving a helping push to get started with Underdog's pick'em games and daily fantasy contests.
To claim this offer, you must be at least 18 (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog operates. The offer is not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA.
Full Terms and Conditions apply. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or visit www.ncpgambling.org; NY: 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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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. Offer not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; AZ: 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783) or text NEXT-STEP to 53342; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
Xs and Os: Understanding Underdog Pick'em
In locations where Pick'em is available, 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 stats. 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
Simple player-pick format
Mobile-friendly app and site
Welcome offer for new customers
Alternative formats such as Rivals
Available products vary by state
Reaching the endzone: Ultimate tips for playing Underdog Pick'em
Playing Underdog’s player-pick formats is simple on the surface, but it still helps to look beyond the headline projection. The most useful approach is to review matchup context, player role, and injury news before finalizing an entry. That gives you a stronger foundation than relying only on name value. 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 defense 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 stats 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 picks. 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 picks like this makes your higher/lower decision a very easy one.
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.
Underdog promo offer
Underdog streaks
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. Offer not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; AZ: 1-800-NEXT-STEP (1-800-639-8783) or text NEXT-STEP to 53342; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
Underdog Football FAQs
🧑 Can I play Underdog in my state?
Underdog is available in many US states, but the exact fantasy products vary by location. The best way to check is to review the latest state availability page before signing up.
🔢 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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