What Does ‘Drift’ Mean in Sports Betting?
In sports betting, “drift” means the odds on a selection are getting longer (i.e., the payout is getting bigger).
When odds “drift,” it means bettors are not backing that team, and the sportsbook is making the odds more attractive to encourage people to bet on it. It’s the opposite of a “steamer.”
A Quick Example
Let’s say you’re looking at an NFL game on Tuesday:
- Dallas Cowboys +150
- Philadelphia Eagles -170
You wait until Saturday, but a lot of money has been bet on the Eagles. To balance its books, the sportsbook “drifts” the Cowboys’ odds. The new line is:
- Dallas Cowboys +180
- Philadelphia Eagles -200
The Cowboys’ odds drifted from +150 to +180. This is good for you if you wanted to bet on the Cowboys, as your potential payout is now higher.
Why Do Odds Drift?
- One-Sided Money: This is the most common reason. So much money is being bet on the other side (the “steamer”) that the book has to drift the odds on the unpopular side to balance its risk.
- Lack of Interest: Nobody is betting on a team, so the sportsbook increases the payout to entice action.
- Breaking News: A key player for the other team is announced as healthy, or a negative report comes out about the team you’re watching (like bad weather for a passing team).
You’ll often hear this in horse racing (“That horse is drifting like a barge!”), but it applies to any sport.