Over / Under Betting Guide for Beginners How To Bet on Totals
One of the most popular ways to bet on sports is over/under betting, otherwise known as totals. Instead of betting on the game’s outcome, as you would with moneylines, totals focus on the total number of points scored.
There are many variations for totals betting, from game totals to player props to even season-long futures total for teams and players. Read on as we cover everything you need to know about how to bet on totals in your favorite sport this season.
What Are Totals (Over/Under) Bets?
If you’re considering what are totals in sports betting, we’ve got you covered. Totals betting takes predicting the winner out of the equation. Instead, it involves wagering on the combined total score from both teams. The “over/under” refers to whether you think the final point total will go over or under a total set by oddsmakers. You can also do this in futures markets when betting on something like win totals.
Over/Under Bet Example
Let’s break down a basic totals bet using the odds of an NFL matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills from BetUS.
| Matchup | Over/Under |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | O: 51.5 (-110) U: 51.5 (-110) |
| Buffalo Bills |
In this example, the game’s total points are 51.5. If you bet on the over, the game must finish with 52 points or more for you to win. Meanwhile, betting on the under needs 51 points or fewer.
How To Read Over/Under Betting Lines for Every Sport
Sportsbooks set their predicted totals for a game based on several key factors, such as each team’s average points-per-game (PPG). In the above example, 51.5 is higher than expected for a typical NFL game. Still, this total makes sense since both teams entered this specific game with PPG ranging from 30.3–30.9.
Learning how totals differ between sports and leagues is crucial to identifying betting value. Let’s look at the most common totals for some of the most popular major sports leagues.
| Sport | Most Common Total (2003 – Present) |
|---|---|
| NBA | 195.0 |
| NCAAB | 135.0 |
| NFL | 43.0 |
| NCAAF | 54.0 |
As you can see, 51.5 is high for the NFL but lower than college football’s average of 54 PPG. Because the NCAAF has hundreds of teams, the variance in how much they score is much larger. Subtle rule changes also make college football a higher-scoring game.
Meanwhile, college basketball has a much lower PPG than the NBA. The difference here is that NBA games are longer, with four 12-minute quarters, compared to NCAAB’s two 20-minute halves.
Each sport and league have different expected totals like this. As you gain experience with sports betting over/unders, you’ll learn to identify averages and trends better. A game’s total line can grant insight into both teams’ expected performance. A line that looks off to you could create an excellent betting opportunity.
Different Types of Totals Bets
If you’re wondering what does the over under mean in betting, that depends on what sport you’re betting on and when. Totals bets are available for full games, parts of games, player props, and season-long futures bets.
Half/Quarter/Period Totals
Over/under bets can be split up and simplified to include certain parts of the game. A team may start fast or slow, which makes betting the total in the first half more advantageous.
Alternative Totals
Today’s top betting sites offer various betting markets, including alternate total lines. Some let you adjust the total to get better odds but worse payout, or vice versa.
Team Totals
If you only feel confident about one team in a matchup, you can choose to focus on betting on the points totals for just that team.
Futures (Totals)
Futures totals are available for team win totals, points totals, and season-long player prop totals. This bet type narrows your focus to a specific player or team for season-long excitement.
Over/Under Betting Strategies
Looking for more betting tips and strategies covering what is the over/under in betting? Read on for our top three sports betting over/under strategies.
Live Betting Totals
When live betting on totals, consider watching a bit of the game to get a feel for its flow. This strategy allows you to gather information on the game and place your bet when you feel there is the most value.
Tracking Line Movement
Totals lines adjust during the week leading up to the game based on public and sharp action, injuries, and weather. Betting early lets you lock in on the closing line value, while betting later allows you to shop around for the best lines.
Follow Team Trends
Researching each team you follow can reveal trends in their performance, which can give you an advantage over the bookmakers. The better you know a team or player, the better you can predict how high or low they score.
Responsible Gambling
We encourage all players to gamble responsibly. Remember that online betting is a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits. Budget your bankroll ahead of time to avoid losing more than you can afford to. Keeping these tips in mind will help you have fun and remain a responsible gambler.
If you are over-preoccupied with thoughts about gambling or exceed your budget regularly, you might benefit from some help. Consider the resources below if you recognize the warning signs and symptoms in yourself or a loved one:
- National Council on Problem Gambling: (202) 547-9204 or NCPGambling.org
- AGA Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct (as supported by the NBA)
- Gamble Responsibly America App (downloadable)
- Gambler’s Anonymous: gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
- Responsible Gambling Council: http://www.responsiblegambling.org/
Key Takeaways for Totals Betting — Should You Bet on Overs and Unders?
Over/under betting takes the match winner out of the equation, instead focusing on the total score of both teams. Within that simple framework are plenty of variations, with each sport and league offering higher or lower average totals.
Our main advice for successful totals betting is to do proper research. Understanding the scores and how different teams perform are crucial for identifying value. Tracking line movement or live betting can also present unique opportunities.
With our betting tips and strategies, you’re now ready to start consistently predicting more accurate totals.
