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A week ago, we broke down the most profitable underdogs from the 2019-20 season.
Now we visit the opposite end of that list, as we dive into the teams that just couldn't buy a win when the odds were stacked against them.
Note: Profits listed for $100 bettor
1. Detroit Red Wings, -$2,330
Sheer volume makes the Red Wings runaway winners when it comes to the least profitable underdog in the NHL this season. If you bet $100 on Detroit every game it was a 'dog this season, you would have gifted books $2,330 of your hard-earned money. Only once throughout the entire season were the Red Wings favored, as they finished 17-53 on the campaign at plus-money. Stunningly, there was one team with a worse winning percentage as 'dogs this season, but more on that later ...
2. Ottawa Senators, -$1,312
The Senators were not that team. Ottawa finished 19-41 on the season with a longer line than its opponents. As big 'dogs, the Senators were a virtual lock to lose. They posted a 1-18 record (-$1,538) at +185 or longer. They were actually profitable when priced between +100 and +184, earning bettors $262 thanks to an 18-23 record.
3. San Jose Sharks, -$889
The 2019-20 season was an unmitigated disaster for the Sharks, who entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations. Most of the damage was done in October, with the Sharks finishing the opening month of the season 1-7 as 'dogs (-$585). After bouncing back in November (4-0), they reached rock bottom in December, losing six in a row as 'dogs to start the month. Overall, the Sharks had the fourth-worst win percentage this season at plus-money (15-29, 34.1%).
4. Arizona Coyotes, -$554
A total of 11 teams in the league had worse records as underdogs this season than the Coyotes, who were done in by a short average line of +129. Nine of their 14 victories as 'dogs came with a line between -102 and +115, failing to erase enough from their 22 defeats to get them off this list.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs, -$535
The Maple Leafs owned the league's worst winning percentage as underdogs this season, posting a paltry 2-8 record at plus-money. They started the season 0-6 as 'dogs. The fact that they were underdogs just 10 times this season is revealing of the way they're perceived by the public; oddsmakers are forced to overvalue this team because of the attention it receives in the betting market.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
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