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Underdogs are Man’s Best Friend

Author

Listed:
  • Ladd Kochman
  • Randy Goodwin

    (Kennesaw State University)

Abstract

Two mechanical betting rules that had exposed biases in previous studies were applied to National Football League games for the five consecutive seasons ending with the 2003 Super Bowl. Although bets on home teams produced only break-even results, wagers on underdogs posed a serious challenge to the efficient market hypothesis. One possible explanation is that favorites are no less “public†in the minds of bettors than IBM, GE, and the like are public in the minds of investors and may therefore be the victims of inflated expectations and point spreads.

Suggested Citation

  • Ladd Kochman & Randy Goodwin, 2004. "Underdogs are Man’s Best Friend," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 5(4), pages 387-391, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:5:y:2004:i:4:p:387-391
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002504264426
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ladd Kochman & Randy Goodwin & David Bray, 2015. "So Easy a Caveman Can Beat the Football Betting Market," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 60(2), pages 225-228, September.

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    Keywords

    NFL underdogs; football market efficiency;

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