Most people who bet on a specific event will always choose the favorites. These people/clubs dominate the preseason betting market every year, and sportsbooks are well aware that people like them. Consequently, they adjust the odds accordingly.
With that said, we at Nostrabet.com have been in this business long enough to know that there are times when wagering on specific underdogs can be a really good position. Individual athletes and clubs are giving all they’ve got, and the performance data suggests they’re closer to contention than the market currently believes. Bookmakers will usually adjust the odds as the specific competition approaches, so here are the underdogs that deserve more attention.
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Morocco
We are just months away from the biggest football competition of all – the FIFA World Cup. The 2026 edition will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, and it will be among the key sports events of the year. While most people will focus on the big favorites, we believe Morocco can be a hidden gem.
Morocco has a solid football team, and it proved it during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The African country reached the semifinals, and following the recent AFCON 2025, we can safely say it has the motivation. Despite losing in the final against Senegal, Morocco proved it is among the best in the world.
We believe that the 2026 World Cup will be Morocco’s prime competitive window. The new format will reward teams that concede fewer high-quality chances and remain emotionally composed. Unsurprisingly, Morocco feels exactly like that.
Betting on the team to win the FIFA World Cup 2026 is a bit of a long shot, and it is clear from the odds (51.00 on bet365). However, wagering on “To Reach Quarterfinals” or Semifinals can be solid options. The price inefficiencies tend to be greater than in outright winner markets.
UEFA Champions League – Newcastle United
The UEFA Champions League is the pinnacle of club football, and this season is more interesting than ever before. The results of Newcastle United so far do not paint the full picture, but we believe the team is among the underdogs who deserve more attention.
Newcastle have proven to be compact defensively and are relatively more efficient at finishing than many other opponents. The midfield balance allows them to absorb pressure, and this makes them a solid choice for online betting.
While winning the UCL 2026 is unlikely, there are several other markets that we believe are worth trying:
- To Reach Final
- To Reach Semifinals
- Each-way Outright Exposure
The tests we’ve conducted show that the team’s odds are often higher than they should be. This makes Newcastle an excellent choice for betting.
NBA Finals 2026 – Oklahoma City Thunder
The NBA championship windows often open faster than markets adjust. There are several teams that you can consider here, but our analysis believes the Oklahoma City Thunder are solid picks.
Anyone who’s been following the squad throughout the season knows it has a long-term vision. The combination of elite guard play and switchable defenders allows tactical flexibility across playoff matchups.
There is still a lot of time left until we see this match, but the Thunder is already priced outside the top favorites, at least on some bookies. Others, however, acknowledge the team’s potential and will often place them as the big favorite. In both cases, we recommend checking the odds for options like Western Conference Winner and Outright Champion. Given the team’s current performance and how everything works, it is only a matter of time before the team steps up its game.
Formula 1 World Championship – McLaren
Formula 1 is not everyone’s cup of tea in terms of online betting, but the sport is becoming more popular. More and more bookies offer different opportunities, so if you decide to take advantage of them, you should consider McLaren. The latter has demonstrated progressive automotive development and has invested heavily in infrastructure.
A quick look at the F1 Constructor Championship 2026 shows that some bookmakers put McLaren among the favorites. Others, however, have placed them below the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull, which we believe is a hidden opportunity. Bet on them to win or securing a constructors’ top 3 can provide value before public sentiment catches up. Don’t forget that bookmakers will adjust their odds when one of the markets becomes more popular.
The French Open – Novak Djokovic
A lot of people consider Novak Djokovic to be one of the greatest players the world has ever seen, and for a good reason. Despite his age, he remains one of the best and has proven it at the Australian Open. Sure, Nole was unable to lift the trophy, but he did not go down without a fight.
In generation transition periods, betting markets often overcorrect toward youth. This will also be the case during the French Open, one of the key Grand Slam competitions. It rewards mental endurance and tactical adaptability, and this is where Djokovic shines.
The Serbian player has an elite return game, match-to-match strategic adjustments, and proven stamina in events like this. When you add experience to the mix, Djokovic is definitely one of the players to consider. Even if priced behind emerging stars, his experience makes him uniquely dangerous in best-of-five formats. Aside from choosing the Outright Winner, you may consider markets like to reach the Semifinals.
MLB World Series 2026 – Baltimore Orioles
It’s safe to say baseball is an incredibly interesting sport for online betting. A team does not need to be the dominating regular-season powerhouse to win a championship. It just needs to have it inside it, and the Baltimore Orioles fit that profile.
The squad’s roster construction emphasizes controllable pitching, defensive efficiency and lineup balance instead of relying on individual stars. This usually reflects on the odds because most bookies do not consider the Orioles to be heavy favorites.
Markets tend to overprice teams with marquee veterans and undervalues squads with young cores. Even though there is a lot of time left for the MLB World Series 2025, the way things are going, the Orioles’ fall into the second group.
Aside from betting on them to be the American League Winner, you can also wager on them to Reach the ALCS and the World Series Each-Way. When it comes to MLB betting, timing your entity is everything, and early futures exposure can outperform waiting until September. This is true for most sports, but even more so for baseball.
NHL Stanley Cup 2026 – New Jersey Devils
People who have been betting on hockey features know that they are very sensitive to goaltending variance. That’s why finding an undervalued roster before a breakout season matters a lot. This is where we believe that the New Jersey Devils stand out.
Fans familiar with the team know the many small aspects that make it stand out, such as the shot-quality suppression. Not many casual bettors factor this metric, but it is important when it comes to playoff resilience.
The Stanley Cup odds often collapse quickly once a team starts playing well. The Devils are the type of squad that could shorten from mid-tier pricing to contender status within weeks, especially after securing a few good results. That’s why we believe it is among the names worth mentioning.
Aside from betting on the New Jersey Devils to win the Eastern Conference and the Stanley Cup, you can also consider the “To Reach the Final” market.
UFC 2026 Title Picture – Shavkat Rakhmonov
Betting on combat sports was not that popular before, but things are changing. Nowadays, combat sports futures are extremely sensitive to narrative momentum, and the odds can shift at any minute. That’s exactly why we believe that Shavkat Rakhmonov presents an excellent opportunity.
A quick look at his performance so far shows that his finishing rate and grappling control are superb. He also matches up well against most of the top-tier welterweights. Our overview shows that many markets tend to lag behind fighters who are dominant but not yet mainstream superstars, and you can take advantage of that.
We believe that it’s a matter of time before Shavkat Rakhmonov secures a high-profile win. Once that happens, most sportsbooks will adjust their odds immediately, so we decided not to wait. Instead, you can consider things like “To Win Welterweit”.
The International 2026 – Xtreme Gaming
Valve has recently announced more information about Dota 2’s most important tournament – The International. Taking place this August, TI 2026 will feature 16 world-class Dota 2 teams, and Xtreme Gaming will most likely be among them.
People who follow professional Dota 2 know that XG is not often among the favorites. However, the team has performed really well in big tournaments, especially over the last couple of months.
Since we are still in early 2026, bookmakers will often offer really high odds on the team for markets like Outright Winner or Reach the Final. There are many more tournaments until The International 2026, and if XG performs well, the odds will go down drastically, so keep that in mind.
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