What is Over/Under Betting? Totals Sports Betting Explained, Examples & Tips
Apart from perhaps the moneyline, over/under betting, or totals betting, is one of the easiest ways to place a wager on your favourite sports. Discover everything you need to know about over/under betting and how to make winning selections when betting totals at Stake's leading online sportsbook.
What is Over/Under Betting?
Sometimes called totals betting, over/under betting is a wager on the specific number of goals or points scored in a sports match - usually this will be the total combined score of both teams. The sportsbook sets the line, and sports bettors are invited to bet on whether more or fewer goals/points will be scored in a match – it’s as simple as that.
How Does Over/Under Betting Work?
Over/under betting is a popular type of bet when a game might be hard to predict. After all, it doesn’t matter which teams score the points or goals; the only thing that matters is the total number of points on the scoresheet at the end of the match.
At the start of each match, the sportsbook will determine the totals line depending on the teams playing. You can then decide whether to bet over or under the line in accordance with your pre-match predictions on upcoming games.
What if the Over/Under is an Exact or Whole Number?
If the over/under is an exact or whole number - think 4 or 5 rather than 4.5 or 5.5, for example - you can end up with a push bet. Take a totals line of 4; if a game finishes 2-2, it has landed right on that line, meaning the result is a push bet, and your wager is returned. This is why most totals will be given in decimals.
Do Over/Under Bets Include Overtime?
Whether or not the over/under bet includes overtime or extra time depends. In some cases, extra time will be included, but a lot of bets default to only covering regulation time. If a totals bet does have extra time or overtime, it will specifically say so. It’s always a good idea to double-check the terms of any bet before placing it so you know what to expect.
How to Bet the Over/Under?
Betting the over/under is straightforward, as with all betting markets. When betting on totals, look at the line set for the fixture in question and decide whether you think more or fewer goals/points will be scored. You can then decide how much to bet and calculate how much you can win from your selection.
Over/Under Betting Examples
For our example, we’ll assume you’re placing a bet on a soccer match. Let’s consider a game between Premier League champions Liverpool and rivals Manchester United. If the total line for this game was set at 3.5 and you bet under, a 2-1 result or fewer goals would win.
However, if the game were to finish 3-1, you would lose. The opposite is true if you had bet on the over for that line. It’s a simple case of totting up the number of goals scored in the game.
How are Over/Under Betting Odds Calculated?
We consider various things when calculating over/under odds. Each team's recent goal/point-scoring exploits influence total odds, form, and injuries. We also look at historical head-to-heads to determine how to set the totals line for a particular fixture.
How Do You Win at Over/Under Betting? Tips & Totals Betting Strategies
As with all types of bets, developing a totals betting strategy can help you win more often than you lose. Here are some tips to help you get started with over/under betting at Stake.com:
Always look at the individual team’s current form before placing a totals bet. If they’re both struggling to score points or goals, it indicates that the under is the better value bet.
Consider the weather conditions for outdoor sports (such as football games) or the stadium/venue environment for indoor sports (such as basketball games), as this can have a major impact on the state of play of the match and also result in an odds shift for that particular game.
Diversify your betting: You can bet over/under on a number of different sports, including betting on the NBA and the NFL.
Over/Under vs Point Spread Betting
Totals bets and point spreads aren’t the same thing. While an over/under bet is concerned with the total number of goals or points scored, a point spread bet is based on the outcome of a fixture. Let’s look at an NFL point spread bet as an example.
Let’s say you pick the Green Bay Packers (-7) to beat the New York Giants. The (-7) in the spread indicates the handicap that the Packers must overcome for your bet to succeed.
Therefore, two things must happen for your point spread bet to win:
The Packers must win
The Packers must overcome a –7 point handicap and have a winning margin of eight
In contrast, the margin of victory or winning team is not considered in an NFL totals bet. The only thing that matters is how many points, in total, are scored by both teams in the football game.
Over/Under Betting Odds & Payouts
You can bet over/under on a whole host of markets here at Stake sportsbook, and we strive to offer the best prices on the market. You can use our guide on how to read sports betting odds to help better understand your chosen selection’s odds.
We’re also committed to player safety, which is why we offer responsible gambling resources, including our Stake Smart initiative guide to help you when your gambling feels like it’s getting away from you.
