Chalk
The favorite. "Betting the chalk" means consistently backing the favored side.
Chalk is sportsbook slang for the favorite. Origins trace to old chalkboard odds boards where favorites were emphasized.
Common uses:
- “He’s a chalk bettor” → he favors favorites
- “The chalk won every game today” → all favorites covered
- “That’s a chalky parlay” → all heavy favorites combined
Betting chalk isn’t wrong; it just means you’re paying the premium. Plus-money underdogs require more sustained correctness to be profitable; -300 chalk requires you to be right ~75% of the time just to break even.