Complete over under total bet overview. Learn all about total betting, how to bet totals, and how game results determine a winning outcome. Watch our enjoyable total betting video below. Or, read the extensive text tutorial that follows. Our live total bet example explains possible outcomes for an upcoming matchup.
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What is an Over-Under Total Bet?
A total bet line combines the estimated final scores of each team including overtime. Sportsbooks may also offer total lines for a half, quarter, or period. You bet on whether the actual result will be Over or Under the sportsbook’s line. Odds for each side determine risk and win amounts.
Here’s another way to understand a total bet. Look at your favorite team’s most recent game result. Suppose they scored 25 points and their opponent scored 30. The game total would be the sum of both scores: 30 + 25 = 55 points.
How Does the Total Bet Win or Lose?
A bet on Over wins if the final total is greater than the sportsbook’s line. For example, consider a 45 point total line. If the actual game total is 50, over bettors win.
A bet on Under wins if the final total is les than the sportsbook’s line. Consider again a 45 point total line. If the actual game total is 40, under bettors win.
When Do Total Bets Tie or Push?
Total bets tie or “push” when the actual game total equals the sportsbook’s total line. For example, consider 60 point total line. If the actual game total is 60, all bets push. The sportsbook will refund your bet.
Half-point total lines like 42.5 or 110.5 cannot tie. The actual game total will determine whether the over or under wins. For example, if the total line is 50.5 and the actual result is 52, all over bettors win and all under bettors lose.
How to Place an Over-Under Total Bet
Time needed: 1 minute
How to Place an Over-Under Total Bet
- Review the total line
Review the total line for the matchup and time period, like game, half, quarter, or period.
- Pick over or under
Decide whether to bet over or under the sportsbook’s line. o is for over. u is for under.
- Odds indicate risk and win amounts
A – number indicates how much you risk to win $100. A + number indicates how much you win if you risk $100. Assume -110 odds when no number is given, risking $110 to win $100.
- Whole number total lines can push
Remember, the bet pushes or ties if the actual total equals the sportsbook’s line. This can only happen with whole number totals lines.
- Your bet wins if you picked the correct result
Over bettors win if the final total is greater than the sportsbook’s line. Under bettors win if the final total is less than the sportsbook’s line.
What Do Total Bet Odds Numbers Mean?
The odds next to the total line indicate each side’s risk and win amounts. The sportsbook wants to balance its action. It will frequently change the total line and odds values to encourage betting on one side more than the other.
Minus Odds Numbers
A minus number indicates how much you risk to win $100. -110 odds mean you risk $110 to win $100.
Plus Odds Numbers
A plus number indicates how you win if you risk $100. +120 odds mean you win $120 for risking $100.
+100 Odds
+100 odds means the sportsbook will pay even money on a winning bet. You win what you risk. A winning $100 bet with +100 odds pays $100.
More about Reading Betting Odds
SportsBetting3.com’s article “How to Read NFL Odds” discusses how to read betting odds in detail.
No MLB Game Market Live Example TBD: Check back soon!
How Do Sportsbooks Grade Total Bet?
The following explains how example total bets win, lose, or tie.
Denver 150.5 o -120
New York 150.5 u +100
The sportsbook’s total line for Denver vs. New York is 150.5. Risk $120 to win $100 on the over. Risk $100 to win $100 on the under. The half-point total means either the over or under will win. No tie or push is possible.
- The actual point total is 155.
- 155 is greater than 150.5. Over bettors win.
- The sportsbook pays Over bettors $100 for risking $120.
Tie Total Bet Example
The following explains what happens when a result ties the total line.
Dallas 52 o -110
Los Angeles 52 u -110
The sportsbook’s total line for Dallas vs. Los Angeles is 52. Risk $110 to win $100 on the over. Risk $110 to win $100 on the under. The whole number point total means the final result could be over, under, or push.
- The actual point total is 52. This result ties the sportsbook’s 52 point line.
- All bets push. Neither the over nor the under win.
- The sportsbook grades the result “no action” and refunds all bets.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Easy to learn. Only two outcomes are possible.
- Bet on game, half, quarter, or period total lines.
- Multiple total bets can be combined into parlays, if bets, and reverses.
Cons
- Initial sportsbook line subject to change. Oddsmakers want balanced action.
- Overtime counts when wagers are graded. Consider the probability of regulation ties into your handicapping.
- Carefully compare sportsbook juice to maximize profit. Values may vary across multiple sportsbooks.
Tips
Know common NFL totals
See our NFL Key Numbers Table below. Bet over games with low point totals <= 37. Bet under games with high point totals <= 51.
Caution: many other factors could warrant unusually high or low totals. See other sources for more NFL total data.
Total lines vary between sportsbooks
Lines will vary and change as each book is rebalancing its action. Find inconsistent total lines with point spread and total comparison calculation. See the reference section below. Shop sportsbooks for inconsistencies. Bet over a lower number and under a higher number.
Review each team’s scoring trends
Results from the last 3 football games or 5 basketball games are helpful when assessing a line. Do not rely on last week’s results or season averages. Averages can include atypical results. They do not reflect the likelihood a team will score a certain amount of points.
Shop sportsbook total lines
Identify opportunities as sportsbooks rebalance action. Compare juice on similar lines. Some sportsbooks will offer less juice on the same line.
Bets to Try
- Parlay Total Bets – Combine multiple totals into one parlay. Each prediction must be correct for the parlay to win.
- MLB Under Bet – Look for games with high run totals. Take the under. A keen eye for bad lines combined with basic handicapping skills are required.
- College Basketball 1st Half Correlated Parlay – Look for large spread to small total ratios. For example, a 25% Correlation means a 15 point spread to 60 point total (15/60 = 0.25). Bet 2 first half parlays: 1) Favorite and Over, 2) Underdog and Under.Caution: Many sportsbooks prohibit correlated parlay betting. Football Correlated Parlays are rare.
- Grand Salami – Baseball Prop bet on total runs scored in all games on a given day.
Over Under Bet History
The over under bet was likely invented in the United Kingdom during the 19th century. It became popular as sports suitable to total betting became common: soccer, football, basketball, baseball, hockey and cricket.
Other Names
- Over/Under Bet
- Totals Betting
- O/U Bet (Abbreviated)
Similar Bets
- Prop Bets
- Futures Bets
Tables and Reference
| Point Totals |
|---|
| 37 |
| 44 |
| 41 |
| 43 |
| 51 |
| 40 |
| 47 |
NFL Total Calculation Considerations
- Points Per Game each team, last 10-20 games.
- Previous meeting results and stats.
- Down Conversions.
- Field Goal Percentages.
- Rushing Yards.
- Completions and Interceptions.
Identifying Opportunities from Sportsbook Point Spread and Total
Use the following calculation. Example total is for Boston vs. New York:
Boston 205.5 -4
New York 205.5 +4
- Divide point spread by 2. 4/2 = 2
- Divide over-under by 2. 205.5/2 = 102.75
- Favorite Boston projected points = 102.75 + 2 = 104.75
- Underdog New York projected points = 102.75 – 2 = 100.75
- Figure projected total = 104.75 + 100.75 = 205.5
This total is consistent with the sportsbook’s spread. If projected total was under sportsbook’s total, bet under. If projected total was over sportsbook’s total, bet over.
Review other sportsbooks’ lines. For example, bet over if another sportsbook’s total is <205. These changes can be profitable betting opportunities. An over under bet is against the bookmaker not the game.
How to Calculate Opposite Line’s Odds
| Odds | Calculation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Odds -101 to -109 |
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| Odds -110 to -119 |
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| Odds -120 or more Less Common |
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FAQs on Over Under Total Betting
The sportsbook will set a line for the combined point total of both teams. Decide whether the actual total will be over or under this line.
The over wins if the final point total is greater than the sportsbook’s total line.
The under wins if the final point total is less than the sportsbook’s total line.
If the final point total equals the sportsbook’s line all bets will tie or push. The sportsbook will refund your wager.
A minus number indicates how much you risk to win $100. -110 means you risk $110 to win $100.
A plus number indicates how much you win if you risk $100. +120 means you win $120 if you risk $100.
The sportsbook will adjust the over-under line to balance action on both sides of the bet. Balanced betting markets help the sportsbook manage risk.
The sportsbook will adjust the over-under odds, or line price, to encourage bets on one side more than the other.
“o” abbreviates over. “u” abbreviates under. These letters will appear next to over-under total lines and the odds for each side of the bet.
Sports Betting Resources
- How to Read Sports Betting Odds – Our helpful tutorial explains what the numbers mean for point spread, moneyline, total, and Asian Handicap bets.
- Sports Betting Questions and Answers – Common sports betting questions and answers, a simple quick reference for beginners.
- Sports Betting vs Casino Gambling – Learn how sportsbooks and casinos make money, and the important differences between each business model.
- How to Read NFL Odds – Short and sweet guide to NFL point spreads, totals, and moneylines. We’ve got live example bets from upcoming NFL matchups.
- Point Spread Bet – Understanding the point spread is key to betting on football and basketball. Learn how the point spread bet works with our tutorial video and text.
- Over-Under Total Bet – Bet over or under the sportsbook’s line. We explain how to place this bet with easy examples, a video, and text explainer.
- Moneyline Bet – Whether it’s a 2-way or 3-way moneyline, we’ve got you covered. Moneylines are available for almost every major sport league, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, and combat sports.
- Teaser Bet – A teaser is a modified parlay that lets you buy points to shift point spread and total lines in your favor. Our fun tutorial video and detailed text article explain how to place this bet.
- If Bet Win-Only – Sequence multiple bets together in an if-then sequence. Your next bet only sees action if the previous one wins. Ideal for bettors with small bankrolls.
- Futures Bet – We explain what a futures bet is, how it works, and when to bet on a future sporting event. Common futures bets include the winners of the Super Bowl, Final Four, Stanley Cup, World Series, and NBA Finals.
- Parlay Bet – Combine multiple selections into one bet that returns a huge payout if all your selections were correct. We explain how parlay bets work and provide common parlay payout tables.
- Progressive Parlay Bet – Also known as a “Close Call Parlay”, this parlay variant can win even if one or more of selections lose. Our article describes this bet in detail.
- Parlay Card Betting – Parlay cards are issued by major sportsbooks midweek, allowing bettors to make multiple point spread, total, and prop bet selections that can return big payouts. Not to be confused with an “off the board” parlay!
- Prop Bets – We explain what a prop bet is, how to place a prop bet, and provide an expansive list of sports leagues with plenty of props to bet on right now.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over%E2%80%93under
http://www.gamblingconsultant.co.uk/articles/a-history-of-gambling-in-the-uk-until-1960