If you’re new to sports betting, things can get very confusing, which is why most people will tell you to start betting only on totals, point spreads, and money lines.
This is because something like Totals (Over/Under) betting along with the other two I mentioned above, are some of the most straightforward and easiest ways to begin your sports betting journey.
And it makes sense because it’s a straight bet, that doesn’t require that you know too many rules.
What Is Over/Under Betting?
A Total “Over/Under” bet is a type of bet that allows you to wager on whether the total combined score of a game or event will be higher or lower than the predicted total established by sportsbooks.
If you think that the final score will exceed the predicted total, you would place a bet on the “Over.”
If you believe the score will be lower than the predicted total, you would bet on the “Under.”
How Does Over/Under Bet Work in Sports Betting?
Let’s take Super Bowl LIV as an example to understand how Over/Under odds works.
For Super Bowl LIV, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, the Over/Under was set at 53 points.
Each side of the total, the Over and the Under, comes with a cost known as juice or vig. In most cases, the vig for Over/Under bets is -110 on each side.
This means that to win $100 when betting on the Over or the Under, you would need to wager (bet) $110.
In Super Bowl LIV, the final score was 31-20, resulting in 51 points scored by both teams.
This outcome was below the predicted total of 53 points.
Therefore, if you placed a bet on the Under 53, you would have won your bet, while those who bet on the Over 53 would have lost their bets.
Here Are Key Points to Remember
- A bet on the Over/Under line in sports betting focuses solely on the total points scored in the entire game.
- Regardless of the sport and the expected outcome, you can place bets on the total points to be scored in the game.
- Line adjustments in the form of changing the “juice” on the lines are usually made by the sportsbooks to balance the total amount wagered on each side of the line by making one side more appealing to sports bettors.
- While -110 odds is the standard, you may encounter lines that deviate slightly, such as O -105 / U -115 or O +105 / U -125.
- Typically, the odds for both the Over and Under bets are the same. This is because the sportsbooks aim to set a line that attracts balanced action from the betting public on both sides of the line but are usually -110 with about 10% of every bet representing the sportsbook’s commission.
How Are Over/Under Odds Calculated?
Over and Under odds are calculated based on the likelihood of two teams actually achieving the outcome you’re betting on in a game.
Sportsbooks use teams’ skill level, defense, motivation, trends, past data, and public perception to set odds for over/under bets.
Using this example, I will consider a scenario where two individuals bet on opposite outcomes for the same game with equal payout lines of -110.
Let’s say you believe a basketball game will have more than 225 points scored and you want to make a $100 profit.
With the -110 line, you would need to bet $110 on the Over to receive a total return of $210 ($110 initial investment returned plus $100 profit).
Let’s assume you believe the game will be a lower-scoring game with fewer than 225 points. You would also bet $110 on the Under for a total return of $210.
In this example, the sportsbook collects $220 ($110 from each bettor on both sides) before the game. After the game, they pay out $210 to the winner.
This leaves them with a $10 profit. This is why the sportsbook tries to get equal action on both sides of the line when the odds are the same.
It ensures them a profit regardless of the game’s outcome. So, in theory, the sportsbooks want to pay you winnings from someone else who has already lost their bet.
Examples of Over/Under Betting?
NBA Total Points Over/Under
In an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, the sportsbook sets the Over/Under line at 220.5 points.
You can then place bets on either the “Over” or “Under” for the total points scored in the game.
If you bet the “Over” and the final score is Lakers 115, Warriors 110 (total of 225 points), you win your bet.
If you bet the “Under” and the final score is Lakers 105, Warriors 100 (total of 205 points), you would lose your bet.
NFL Total Touchdowns Over/Under
NFL football game played between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs, the sportsbook sets the Over/Under line at 6.5 total touchdowns.
You can place bets on either the “Over” or “Under” for the total number of touchdowns scored in the game.
If you bet the “Over” and there are a total of 7 or more touchdowns in the game, you win your bet.
If you bet the “Under” and there are 6 or fewer touchdowns, you would lose your bet.
Soccer Total Goals Over/Under
In the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the sportsbook sets the Over/Under line at 3.5 total goals.
You can place bets on either the “Over” or “Under” for the total number of goals scored in the match.
If you bet the “Over” and the final score is Barcelona 2, PSG 3 (total of 5 goals), you win your bet.
If you bet the “Under” and the final score is Barcelona 1, PSG 1 (total of 2 goals), you would lose your bet.
Over/Under Betting Outcomes
Win
You win an Over/Under bet when your chosen outcome matches the actual result of the sporting event.
If you placed an “Over” bet, you win when the actual statistic (e.g., total points, goals, runs) in the game exceeds the set line.
For example, if the sportsbook sets the line at 215 points for a basketball game, and the final score is 110-108.
This makes the total points 218; you win your “Over” bet because it’s over the set line.
If you placed an “Under” bet, you win when the actual statistic in the game falls short of the set line, so in the example above you would lose.
For instance, if the sportsbook sets the line at 215 points for the same basketball game, the final score is 102-98.
This makes the total points 200; you win your “Under” bet because it’s under the set line.
Lose
You lose an Over/Under bet when your chosen outcome does not match the actual result of the sporting event.
If you placed an “Under” bet with a line of 215 points, and the final score is 216 points, you also lose your bet because it’s not under the set line.
Push
A “push” occurs when the actual statistic in the game matches the set line exactly.
In this case, neither the “Over” nor the “Under” bettors win or lose. Instead, the bet is considered a tie, and the wagered amount is typically returned to the bettors.
A push is essentially a voided bet, and it’s a way for sportsbooks to ensure a clear outcome for each bet.
For example, if the sportsbook sets the Over/Under line for total points in a soccer match at 2 goals, and the game ends with exactly 2 goals scored, it’s a push.
“Over” and “Under” bettors would receive their original stake back.
How Do You Bet Team Totals?
NBA: Basketball
Betting on the over/under or points totals in an NBA game involves wagering on the overall points that both teams will score combined in the game.
For example, if a line is set at 208.5 points and the game ends with a score of 110-104, resulting in a total of 214 points, then the over bet wins.
If the final score is 104-90, resulting in only 194 points, then the “under” bet is the winner.
NBA over/under betting provides an appealing alternative to betting on a specific team or the point spread (ATS).
The total points line in NBA games typically falls between 180 to 240 points.
Sportsbooks evaluate various factors, including team matchups and playing styles, to determine the expected total points for the game.
What makes NBA over/under betting exciting is that every possession and every shot can impact the outcome.
A last-second shot can determine whether you win or lose an over/under bet.
NFL: Football
Football offers a lot of Over/Under betting options, including total points scored by the teams in the first quarter, first half, and the entire game.
You can also bet on the total points scored by a specific team, receiving yards gained, rushing attempts, passing touchdowns, sacks accumulated, and turnovers committed.
Similar to other team sports like baseball, bookmakers provide odds for all Over/Under bets they offer. Here are two examples:
Tom Brady Over/Under 1.5 TD passes vs. Green Bay (Over -165/Under +145):
If you believe Tom Brady will throw at least two touchdown passes in the game and want to win $100, you need to risk $165.
If you bet on under 1.5 touchdowns and he throws only one or zero touchdown passes, and you wager $100, you would win $145.
Example 2
49ers-Rams Over/Under 23.5 combined first-half points (Over -110/Under -110):
If you’re confident that the Rams and 49ers will have a high-scoring first half, you can bet $110 to win $100 on Over 23.5 first-half points.
If you think the defenses will dominate early in the game, a $110 bet on Under 23.5 first-half points could win you $100.
MLB: Baseball
Let’s say the sportsbook sets the over/under line for a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at 8.5 runs.
If you believe the total number of runs scored by both teams will be nine or more, you would bet on the over. If you think the total will be eight or less, you would bet on the under.
To understand how the odds work in baseball over under-betting, let’s assume the odds for the over-bet are -110 and the odds for the under-bet are also -110.
This means that if you want to bet $110 on the over, you would need to risk $110. If your bet wins, you would receive (4220) your initial stake back plus an additional $100 as winnings.
Similarly, if you want to bet on the under, you would also need to risk $110. If your bet wins, you will receive your $110 back plus $100 in winnings.
Soccer
Soccer totals betting is akin to hockey, with the main difference being that soccer goals are scarce.
As a result, sportsbooks typically set totals at 1.5, 2, or 2.5 goals for high-level professional soccer matches.
This type of bet focuses on whether both teams will collectively score more or fewer goals than the sportsbook’s total.
The outcome depends on the team’s offensive and defensive capabilities.
For example, if you bet on Real Madrid-Liverpool Over 2.5 goals, you need the teams to score three or more goals to win your bet.
Choosing the under means you’re betting on a final score of 0-0, 1-0, or 1-1.
Hockey
In hockey totals betting, whether for the full game, first period, or individual player props, your evaluation of the goaltenders is very important.
Goalies play a role similar to pitchers in baseball when it comes to over/under bets.
If both teams have top-tier goalies, the goal totals are often set low (often 5 or 5.5).
However, when lesser goalies face teams with strong offensive capabilities, the over/under typically increases to 6 or 6.5, sometimes even as high as 7.
For instance, let’s consider an over/under of 6.5. If you believe the two teams combined will score six goals or less, place your bet on the under.
On the other hand, if you expect a high-scoring game with at least seven combined goals, choose the over.
In hockey totals, the juice/odds concept also comes into play. To win $100, if the over 6.5 is -135 and the under 6.5 is +115, you’d need to wager $135 on the over (total return: $235) or $86.96 on the under (total return: $186.96).
Boxing/UFC
Over-under betting is a popular form of wagering in UFC where you can bet on the total number of rounds the fight will last.
Let’s say there’s a fight between two UFC fighters, and the sportsbook sets the over-under line at 2.5 rounds.
If you bet the over, you win if the fight lasts more than 2.5 rounds. If you bet the under, you win if the fight ends before 2.5 rounds.
Let’s assume the odds for the over bet are -150 and the odds for the under bet are +120. In this case, if you bet $150 on the over and win, you would receive a profit of $100.
If you bet $100 on the under and win, you would receive a profit of $120. The odds indicate the potential payout for each bet.
Tennis
You have two options in the over/under betting in tennis: betting on the number of games in a match or the number of matches a player will win in a tournament.
For the latter, consider Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. sportsbooks might set the over/under at 5.5 matches won.
Those betting over 5.5 believe Nadal will reach at least the semifinals (winning six matches).
Those betting under 5.5 are wagering on him getting ousted before the quarterfinals.
As a tournament progresses, you can also make over/under wagers on the number of games in a match.
For example, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka might face off, and the over/under for total games played is 20.5.
If you expect a closely contested match going at least three sets (e.g., 29 total games), bet over 20.5.
If you think one player will dominate in two quick sets (e.g., 15 total games), bet under 20.5.
Tennis offers versatile over/under betting options, adding excitement to the game.
Cricket
Betting on team totals in cricket involves predicting the total number of runs a specific cricket team will score in an innings or match.
For instance, you can bet on England’s total runs in a One Day International (ODI) cricket match against Australia.
The sportsbook sets a line, let’s say, at 290.5 runs. If you bet the “Over,” you win if England scores 291 or more runs during their innings; if you bet the “Under,” you win if England scores 290 runs or fewer.
It’s a way to focus on a team’s batting performance and can add excitement to the game, depending on your predictions and the final runs scored by the team in question.
The odds and payouts vary based on the sportsbook and specific match circumstances.
The examples I have provided here will give you an idea of how under-over-bet works to help you get started, but know that you don’t have to bet $100 on your bets, you can bet 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents or even $1.
What Are Some Good Over/Under Betting Tips and Strategies?
Analyze Recent Trends
Before placing total bets, conducting research is essential. Focus on studying recent scoring trends of each team involved and use sportsbooks to line shop and track line movements.
While trends can change, this research will give you more confidence in the teams’ recent performance.
Teams vary in offensive capabilities, with some consistently scoring well and others struggling.
To make successful total bets, you must understand how both teams perform in their specific matchup, to make more confident bets.
Consider Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can impact the totals in games played outside, especially in sports like football stadiums without a dome.
Inclement weather, such as rain, snow, or strong winds, can lead to lower-scoring games.
Games played in ideal conditions might score more points, making the “over” a more appealing choice.
Before placing a total bet, take weather forecasts into consideration, this will help you make more accurate betting decisions.
Assess Offensive and Defensive Performance
Successful bettors often use power ratings to quantify a team’s offensive and defensive capabilities.
Sportsbooks can also use these ratings to set initial totals. This makes it very important for every bettor to gauge how well both teams perform offensively and defensively before making a total bet.
Consider Team Pace and Coaching Styles
Assessing the pace of play and coaching tendencies is valuable.
Teams that play at an up-tempo pace generate more scoring opportunities, while those focusing on ball control and clock management likely have fewer scoring chances.
Becoming familiar with these tendencies and patterns comes with experience as you engage in more total betting.
How to find great over/under bets
Use Tools like OddsJam
I regularly use tools like OddsJam Sportsbook Screen to compare Over/Under lines and odds across multiple sportsbooks.
It’s good to see what books are offering the best odds and where they all agree on the same outcome.
Tools like OddsJam provide real-time data, allowing me to spot discrepancies and find the best value bets.
When I see a significant difference in the Over/Under lines between sportsbooks, it presents an opportunity to make a well-informed bet that I am most likely to win.
Analyze Team and Player Statistics
Take a look into team and player statistics, considering factors such as recent performance, offensive and defensive strengths, and historical trends.
For example, I look at how often a team goes over or under the set lines and whether there are key player injuries or lineup changes that might affect scoring.
In-game situations and Game Flow
Consider the in-game situations and game flow. For example, in basketball, I look at the pace of play, the teams’ offensive and defensive strategies, and whether a game is likely to be high-scoring or low-scoring.
Similarly, in football, you can evaluate whether teams are likely to play conservatively or aggressively.
Research Historical Head-to-Head Matchup
Review the historical head-to-head matchups between the teams.
Certain team combinations tend to result in high-scoring or low-scoring games, and this historical context can be valuable when making Over/Under bets.
If you notice a consistent pattern of high-scoring games, you might lean towards the “Over,” if it’s the opposite, you might consider the “Under.”