What is a Total (Over/Under) Bet?
So, you are the “Sports stats guy,” and gambling has been winking at you! Ok, you already have an essential component: sports knowledge. However, you still have to study wagering mechanics. There are different types of bets, and to place them correctly and increase your winning chances, it is a must to understand the math behind every wager. Today, we will explain to you what a Total (over/under) is. By the end of this article, you will have the necessary knowledge to decide if this is the type of bet you want to choose for your first gambling time.
Total (Over/Under) Bet explained
A total (Over/under) bet is a popular kind of wager in sports betting that focuses on the combined score, or total points scored by both teams in a game, instead of which team wins or loses. This type allows you to predict whether the final score will be over or under a certain number set by the sportsbook.
Over/under, also known as totals, ranks as one of the top choices for sports wagering, alongside point spread and moneyline bets. This type is available in nearly all major sports, including the NFL, college football, NBA, MLB, and NCAA basketball.
Generally speaking, the O/U works like this: the sportsbook sets the total before a game. Then, people can wager. If you think the combined score of both teams will be higher than this number set by the sportsbook, you will select on the “Over.” If you think the combined score will be lower, you select on the “Under.”
Understanding Total Bet Odds
How does the O/U look like when posted by a sportsbook? How do you understand the odds and translate them into real money? Let’s dive into it!
This could be an NFL Total (Over/under) offered by a sportsbook:
San Francisco vs. Kansas City:
The Total Bet
This NFL Over/under shows that before the game takes place, the sportsbook predicted 48.5 as the total combined points both teams will score. Using half points is a common sports book practice to avoid the final score matching the predicted combined scoredirectly and producing a “push.”
The Vigorish in an Over/Under Bet
Then, the -110 is the “vigorish” (shortly, “vig.”) or “juice.” It indicates how much you have to wager to win $100. Standard odds are typically set around -110. However, odds can vary slightly based on the sportsbook and the specific game.
Following our example, the “vig.” has been set at -110 on each side for the San Francisco vs. Kansas City game. So, if you want to win $100 wagering on the “Over” or the “Under,” you need to bet $110.
You can use the following formulas for negative odds, to calculate potential profits:
In this case, wagering $110 would give you a $100 profit if your prediction wins. If you win, you will get $210 ($110 wager + $100 profit). For $5, the potential profit is $4.55 (4.545), for $10 is $9.09, and for $50 is $45.45.
What is a “Push” scenario in a Total wager?
A “push” can happen if the total is defined through a whole number, for instance, 48, rather than the 48.5 we have in our example.
The combined score of both teams could end up equal to the set amount. For instance, consider that the O/U is 48 points, and the game’s final score adds up to exactly 48 points. In this scenario, neither the “Over” nor the “Under” wins, resulting in a “Push.” In this case, all wagers are refunded.
Sportsbooks ensure that the result will either go over or under the set number, with no possibility of an exact match, by using half points (48.5, for instance). If you wager on the “Over,” you should be predicting 49 points or more. If you wager the “Under,” your prediction should be 47 or less.
Total (Over/Under) Bet Example. How to win?
How to win using this betting type? Let’s follow our NFL game example:
San Francisco vs. Kansas City:
You already learned how to read and understand it. It’s time for you to get into the game. Are you going to wager “Over” or “Under”? Consider that:
Betting Over the Total
If you think the combined score of both teams will be higher than 48.5, you will select the “Over.” Suppose the final score is 27-24. The combined score is 51 points. Congrats! It means you win because the combined score is over 48.5.Betting Under the Total
If you think the combined score will be lower than 48.5, you will select the “under.” Let’s imagine that the final score was 20-17 (a combined score of 37 points). Then, the “under” wins, as the final score is below 48.5.
Why Choose an Over/Under Bet?
It is a very popular choice among sports enthusiasts, especially beginners, who prefer focusing on the overall game flow rather than picking a specific winner (moneyline) or point spread.
This type of wager can be your option if you think both teams are evenly matched or if the outcome feels really unpredictable. Then, you can choose to gamble on the combined score without worrying about which team wins or loses and by how many points. You will focus on the game’s pace and team tendencies to “read” the possible outcome. For example, a game with strong offensive teams might suggest a higher combined score, while defensive matchups might favor the Under.
For many bettors, totals are more straightforward than other types, but no rules apply here. The final decision is yours based on your gambling style and preferences.
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Other Things to Remember
The following are crucial things to remember if you are a beginner.
- Many factors affect the odds.Oddsmakers consider different factors to set your wager: offensive and defensive statistics of the teams, weather, home and away results, coaching plans, injuries, lineups, etc. Such factors can significantly impact the teams’ performance and scoring.
- Study each game.Understanding the mechanics of a Total bet is essential, but it is only a part of the equation. You also must study the teams’ performance. Like the oddsmakers, you should be a “Stats guy” and know about teams’ offense, defense, home/away records, injuries, recent outcomes, weather forecasts, and more. That is not hard if you are really a sports fan.
- Defense vs offense.Teams that are strong offensively and weak defensively often contribute to higher-scoring games, making an “Over” wager more appealing. Defensive matchups, however, may favor the “Under.”
- Being informed of injury reports is vital for deciding your gambling options.Critical injuries, especially to offensive players, can significantly lower a team’s scoring potential, which might favor an “Under” wager.
- The weather is a factor, too.It and venue are factors to consider every time you prepare to gamble. The outcome of outdoor sports, like NFL or MLB matches, can be dramatically affected (lower scoring) by wind, snow, or rain. Indoor games usually have more consistent conditions, affecting the scoring less.
- Over/under bets are present in different sports.Their mechanics are the same, but you must understand the game’s pace of every specific sport and team. For example, basketball is a much faster game than baseball, so teams will definitely score more points. Understanding the sport’s game pace and the teams’ scoring statistics gives you an edge when deciding between the options.
- Some matchups consistently produce high or low scores.Looking at past games can provide clues.
Quick Recap
A Total bet focuses on the total points scored by both teams in a game.
- If you consider that it is easier to predict whether a game will be high or low-scoring based on team statistics, weather conditions, etc., rather than predicting which team will win, a Total can be your choice.
- Totals have a “vig.”. It indicates how much to bet based on the money you want to win. Example: a “vig.” of -110 means you must wager $110 for every $100 you wish to win.
- Sometimes, gambling sites adjust the “vig.” to balance the bets. For instance, if a sportsbook already has too many wagers on the “Over” 48.5 -110 and only a few on the “Under” 48.5 -110, it could modify the “vig.” to “Over” 48.5 -115/”Under” 48.5 -105.
- Most sportsbooks set the total using half numbers (48.5) rather than whole numbers (48). It avoids the chance of the final score landing exactly on that number, resulting in a push. In this scenario, you would get your money back.
- Injuries, weather changes, or an unusual gameplay pace can significantly impact the final score, leading to unexpected outcomes.
- Most O/U consider overtime but confirm it on the specific rules of the sportsbook you gamble at.
- These wagers (O/U) have a fairly even probability (usually close to 50/50), so the payout is lower compared to riskier bets like parlays or high-odds props, which can yield higher returns.
Total (over/under) bets are a solid option for a “Sports stats guy” and bettors who want to focus on the game’s pace and scoring rather than specific outcomes. Their mechanics are more straightforward, making them very appealing to beginners. However, they are not immune to unexpected factors, which is an exciting part of the game.