PrizePicks Demons and Goblins Explained | DMP Learn
Definition
PrizePicks Demons & Goblins in sports betting what Demons and Goblins are, how they change payouts, and when sharp bettors use them.
Think of it this way
Think of Demons as a parlay booster — more risk, more reward. Goblins are a safety net — less risk, less reward. Both are only worth it if the math still shows +EV.
PrizePicks Demons & Goblins
Demons and Goblins are alternate lines on PrizePicks. They change the difficulty of a pick — and the payout that comes with it.
Demons 👹
Demons are harder projections. The threshold is set higher than PrizePicks' standard line.
Example: LeBron's standard projection is 24.5 points. His Demon is 29.5 points — 5 points harder.
- Marked with a red icon
- You can only pick More (not Less)
- Adding Demons increases your payout multiplier
- Maximum multiplier with six Demon picks: up to 2000x
The math is simple: harder to hit, so the payout is higher.
Goblins 🟢
Goblins are easier projections. The threshold is set lower than PrizePicks' standard line.
Example: LeBron's standard is 24.5 points. His Goblin might be 19.5 points.
- Marked with a green icon
- You can only pick More (not Less)
- Adding Goblins reduces your payout multiplier
- Easier to hit, but pays less
Goblins trade upside for a higher win rate on that leg.
Mixing Them
You can combine Demons, Goblins, and regular lines in one entry. The multiplier adjusts in real time:
- Add a Demon → multiplier goes up
- Add a Goblin → multiplier goes down
- Each pick is independent — one Goblin doesn't change other picks' difficulty
The Sharp Bettor Approach
Most sharp bettors avoid Demons and Goblins by default. Here's why:
With regular lines, you can calculate fair probability cleanly: compare the sharp sportsbook consensus to PrizePicks' implied break-even. The math is clear.
With alternate lines, the fair probability math gets murkier. Is a Demon line that's 5 points higher truly bad value, or is there edge there? It's harder to know without deeper modeling.
The exception: If you can verify a Goblin line is still +EV (DMP's fair probability is above your break-even threshold even at the easier line), a Goblin can legitimately improve a slip. You're trading some payout for a more reliable leg.
Demons: When to Consider Them
Demons are high-risk, high-reward. They can make sense when:
- You have high conviction on a specific line — e.g., you believe LeBron will have 32+ points in a specific matchup
- You want big payout potential — the 2000x ceiling is real
- You've verified the edge — DMP's fair probability agrees the harder line still has value
But be honest: most casual Demon picks are -EV. The house wouldn't offer 2000x payouts if the math didn't favor them.
Quick Reference
| Demon | Goblin | Regular | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line difficulty | Harder | Easier | Standard |
| Pick direction | More only | More only | More or Less |
| Multiplier effect | Up | Down | Neutral |
| Max payout | Up to 2000x | Lower | Standard |
| Sharp bet default | Avoid unless +EV verified | Only if still +EV | Default option |
DMP and Alternate Lines
DMP calculates fair probability for props using sharp sportsbook consensus. For Goblin lines, you can use DMP's research to check whether the easier threshold is still +EV at the reduced multiplier. For Demon lines, apply the same test: is the harder threshold still justified by a large enough edge?
When PrizePicks Slips launch, DMP will handle these comparisons automatically.
Next: Underdog vs PrizePicks — a side-by-side comparison of both platforms.
How DMP uses this
DMP's fair probability calculations work the same way for Demons and Goblins. The question is whether the adjusted line still gives you an edge vs what the payout requires.
Common mistake
Stacking Demons for a huge payout without verifying the edge. A 2000x payout sounds amazing — but if the fair probability of hitting all legs is 0.01%, that's -EV at any payout below 10,000x.
After this lesson
You understand what Demons and Goblins are, how they affect payouts, and how to evaluate whether including them makes a slip better or worse.