What is Over/Under Betting? How to Bet the Over/Under
The primary focus of sports betting typically falls on point spreads and moneyline wagers, but in recent years action on Over/Under betting has carved out its own relevant niche. This guide will help explain Over/Under betting, teach you how to bet the Over/Under and share some betting tips when researching and handicapping point totals.
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Over / Under Sports Betting Explained
Over / Under betting is not complicated and does not take long to learn. The best part about Over/Unders, also referred to as “totals” betting, is that the wagers can be anything from the total score of an NFL game, how many points LeBron James scores against the Clippers or an exoctic prop bet like how many times will the president say the word “normalcy” during the next debate.
Oddsmakers simply set an Over/Under betting total and then you, the bettor, simply places a bet on whether the actual result (sum) will be higher or lower than that number.
For example, if the Over/Under total of Game 7 of the NBA Finals is 205.5 points and the Lakers and Nets final score is 103-102, the total of 205 means the UNDER bet cashes and the OVER ticket loses.
Over / Under Bet Outcomes
Over
There are three possible Over / Under betting outcomes.
The first is the OVER hits, when the total points, runs, goals, etc is higher than the wagered on point total.
For example, if the O/U is 44 and two teams combine for 45 points, the OVER has hit.
Under
The second possible O/U outcome is the UNDER. This is when the total points, runs, goals, etc is lower than the wagered on total.
For example, if the O/U total is 50.5 and the two teams combine for 47, the UNDER has hit.
Push
There are times when O/U totals are half-numbers like O/U 50.5, whereas other times they are whole numbers like O/U 50. If the O/U is a whole number, like 50, and the two teams combine for 50 points exactly, the wager is a push and the online sportsbook returns your bet.
Over / Under Betting Tips
One of the most common questions we hear from new sports bettors is, “Should I bet the OVER or the UNDER?” The answer to that question depends on who you ask. There are those who believe that life’s too short to bet the under. Others want you to consider several factors before placing an Over/Under total bet. Here are some of the most important Over/Under betting tips.
Injuries & Suspensions
Nothing impacts a point total more than the loss of a starting quarterback to injury. The point spread swings, moneylines flip and Over/Under betting point totals typically dip. Be sure you’re paying attention to injury reports, especially Friday afternoon and Sunday mornings. Early kickoff inactive reports are released at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Weather Forecast
With the challenges NFL kickers have endured over the past 5+ seasons, don’t think for a second a slick field or stiff winds won’t impact the final tally. Remember, the windy night game between the Bills and Patriots when Mac Jones attempted only three passes? Though an extreme example, be sure to pay attention to weather forecasts for wind, rain, and – to a less degree – snow.
Present Offensive & Defensive Quality
Try not to get too caught up with Over/Under betting trends. Focus your research and handicapping on the current state of both offenses and defenses. Just because the two teams combined for 60 points in Week 3 doesn’t mean they’ll light up the scoreboard come Week 14. Injuries, coaching adjustments, and team progress and regression throughout the season can have an effect. Teams’ Over/Under histories shouldn’t weigh heavily on your decision. It’s just one data point.
Keep an Eye on the Bets
The amount of money bet on the over or the under can move the total. If more money is being bet on the over, sportsbooks might increase the total to entice people to bet on the under. If more money is being bet on the under, sportsbooks might decrease the over/under total to encourage betting the other way.
Live Betting Point Totals
The best online sportsbooks offer Over / Under live betting while the event is taking place. Sometimes you won’t have a good feeling about the Over / Under total before the game starts and fade (avoid) a wager. However, if the Over / Under was set at 54.5 before kickoff and both teams fail to score a point during the first quarter, perhaps you’re ready to hammer the UNDER on the updated lower total because you don’t think the two teams will mount more offense in the next three quarters.
You can wager on over/under live totals on your mobile device.
How to Bet the Over/Under
Sport-specific considerations affect totals bets. When betting on a sport, it is important to understand the specifics of that sport. The tips below will only cover the basics of the most popular betting sports.
Soccer
In soccer, the totals bets for goals scored in the game are usually set at over or under 2.5 goals. You will be seeing different payout odds for over and under in soccer.
Soccer bettors have the option of betting at multiple different lines. Bookmakers will have over/under 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 on some games. If you think there will be crazy amounts of goals scored in one game, you can get paid a much higher rate, the more precise you are with your prediction.
Hockey
Like soccer, hockey betting lines have a default level — in this case 6.5. Sites adjust this goal total for certain games — but more often than not, they just adjust the payout instead. Don’t automatically assume that you are getting paid out at -110 on both sides.
Football
The point averages for NFL total bets are around the low to mid-40s but can slide in each direction significantly. Pay close attention to details such as weather conditions and team defenses while making predictions.
A lot of additional prop style bets exist in NFL football. This is an opportunity to make money if you are knowledgeable about individual players. You can bet on almost anything from how many sacks a player will get, how many field goals will be scored, and how many touchdowns a player will get.
How to Bet Guides
What Is Sports Betting?
Great guide for new bettors to learn about sports betting basics.
What Is A Point Spread Bet?
Learn what it means to bet against the spread.
What Is A Moneyline Bet?
Learn what it means to bet the moneyline.
Over / Under Betting FAQs
What is an over/under in betting?
The most common over/under bet is the total amount of points, runs, or goals scored in a specific match. The bettor simply wagers on whether or not they think the total will go OVER or UNDER. For example, let’s say the over/under for the Super Bowl was 50.5 points, it would look something like this at an online sportsbook: If the two Super Bowl teams combine to score 50-or-fewer points, the UNDER bet wins. If the two squads score 51-or-more points, the OVER cashes. The -105 is the vig or juice on the bet, which means risk $105 to win $100 as opposed to risk $100 to win $100 – which would be an EVEN rather than -105.
What the difference between an over / under bet and point total bet?
There is no difference between an over/under and point total bet. Some online sportsbooks might refer odds as an Over/Under, while others may reference the “total,” but the point of the bet is the same – to select whether the total will go Over or Under the listed number.
Should I bet the over or the under?
Several factors should be considered prior to betting the over or under. Think about the quality of the both teams’ offenses, defenses, whether key players are out due to suspension or injury, what are the weather conditions, and take all that data and make an informed betting decision.
What is the payout on an Over/Under bet?
The majority of over/under bets are paid out at -110 on both over and under. This is also called the flat rate. What this means is that for every $100 you want to win, you must bet $110, or a payout of 91 cents for every $1 bet. Sometimes sportsbook will adjust this vig to entice people to bet on one side or the other. If the amount of money bet on over is significantly more than under, the sportsbook may change the vig on the over to -115 and under to -105. This will give under bets a better payout than over (95 cents for every $1 bet on under rather than 87 cents for every $1 bet on over), balancing the money bet on both sides and guaranteeing a profit for the sportsbook, regardless of the outcome.
How does overtime impact over/under bets?
All points, runs, goals, etc scored in overtime are counted towards the Over/Under total unless otherwise noted by the online sportsbook.
What happens if the point total hits the exact over/under number?
While many O/U totals feature half points, i.e. O/U 50.5, it’s not uncommon to wager on an Over/Under whole number like O/U 49. If the final score winds up 25-24 and the O/U point total lands right on 49, the bet is a push and original wager is returned.
