Over under betting, also referred to as a totals bet, involves a wager made on the combined score of two teams in a game.
A sportsbook, such as BetMGM Sports, will give a prediction about the combined score in a game and bettors will wager whether they think the actual total will be higher or lower.
We have decided to break down the fundamentals of betting on over or under and explain to you how it works.
Famously, in Super Bowl 39, a lot of Vegas casinos predicted the combined score to be 46. Since the actual total was 45, anyone who made a wager on “under” won.
Generally, over under betting is paid out at -110. If you don’t recognize this number, learn about moneylines to understand. This payout is the same whether you bet over or under. Here’s a more complex example. In a recent game between the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns, the final scores were as follows:
What Is an Over-Under Bet?
An Over Under bet is a bet placed on points rather than an outcome of a match. When placing a 1X2 bet, for instance, you are betting on the eventual winner of the game.
When it comes to over/under bets, the winner is not important; you just need to guess if the overall score, both teams included, is above or below the number.
One of the advantages of over under bets is that it is not tied to a single sport.
Almost all types of sports allow you to place over under bets. It is much easier when you bet on high-scoring sports, like basketball or football, but it works for soccer, volleyball, baseball, MMA, etc.
Over-Under Bet Examples
As we mentioned, there are tons of sports that you can place over-under bets. We are even certain that there is a possibility of betting on steeple chase over unders or truck pulling as well. But it is better to concentrate on some more popular sports first before we get into some odd examples. So let’s start with a simple one: basketball.
If the Dallas Mavericks are playing the New York Knicks this evening, you might see a points total line of 220.5. Your job is to correctly determine in which direction the game will go.
- If you bet under, both teams need to score less than 220 points,
- If you bet the over, the two teams need to score at least 221 points.
The same thing applies to other sports as well. But in the score, you might see lines like 2.5 Over/Under, as less goals are scored. But in fighting sports, like MMA, we don’t count punches, but it would be interesting if we do, we try and guess the Over/Under on rounds.
Let’s see another example.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | 105 |
| Phoenix Suns | 96 |
Now let’s say a sportsbook set the over under at 185.5 the odds would look like this:
| Over 185.5 | -110 |
| Under 185.5 | -110 |
Let’s also say you predicted over and bet $100 on that prediction. 105 + 96 = 201 which is greater than 185.5 so you would win. You would be paid out at -110 yielding you a $90.91 profit. In this style and example, if you bet under and the score was under, your profit would be the same.
However, some sportsbooks present the odds differently. In some more low-scoring sports like soccer or hockey, where the over/under line doesn’t change often, there is a common set over/under amount. It might look something like this.
| Over 2.5 | -110 |
| Under 2.5 | +200 |
How to Identify a Good Over Under Bet
An important part of over under betting is determining what the logical totals number would be. As demonstrated above, this number varies greatly from sport to sport. However, generally, there are some universal things to consider when deciding how to bet. Here are some variables to consider when identifying a good over under bet.
- Weather – inclement weather can often lead to low scoring.
- Injuries – player injuries can limit a team’s offense or defense.
- Generalized public opinion – the public can have unrealistic expectations based on favor.
- How the teams match up – a bad offense versus a good defense will often yield a low total score.
- Scoring trends and team history – do these teams have high or low scoring histories?
Additionally, an important consideration is finding the best line for your bet. This means looking at several sportsbooks to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Here’s an example. Let’s say Sportsbook A has the over under for a game listed at 39.5. Sportsbook B has the over under on the same game listed at 40. Even though there’s just a half-point difference, if the game total is 40 points, it could greatly impact your bet.
What Is a Push?
You’ve probably noticed the difference between the totals that oddsmakers offer depending on the sport. In football, you might see fractions like 45.5, while it is more customary to see whole numbers in baseball, like 8 runs, for instance.
The difference here is that when fractions are introduced, it helps to avoid the inconvenience of the result turning out as a draw. So if the total points are set at 49 and the result turns out to be 28-21, it is neither an over nor an under; it is a tie.
In such an instance, a push allows for the event to be canceled and the bettor to be refunded the stake they put into the match.
Which Games Offer Over Under Betting?
We already mentioned that the over under meaning works differently for each type of sport. The rules of the very sport dictate the difference in the types of bets. Scoring in basketball is not the same as in baseball, so you have to understand what are the over/unders that you are betting on. Here are some of the differences.
- Basketball – total number of points.
- Baseball – total number of runs.
- Hockey – total number of goals.
- Football – total number of points.
- Soccer – total number of gaols.
- MMA – total number of rounds.
In some cases, you can bet on the over/unders in a specific period of a game. You can bet on the goals scored in a half in football or the points scored within a quarter of basketball.
Soccer over unders
Usually, this is a sport where the over under betting is set at 2.5 (like in our previous example). This also means you’ll see varied payout odds for the over under.
Hockey over unders
Like soccer, the over under betting lines are usually set around 6.5. For particular games, this total might change. However, more often they will adjust the payout odds. Be aware of this so you are not surprised by potential smaller payouts.
Football over unders
In football, the point totals are usually set much higher. Generally, they average in the low to mid-40s, but that number can fluctuate quite a bit in this sport. When making over under predictions about football, be sure to consider weather conditions and offense/defense strengths.
Basketball over unders
Basketball is quite a high-scoring sport when compared to the others. It’s not uncommon to see over under basketball odds into the 200s, for example, when you have two competitive, offensive powerhouse NBA teams playing.
In college ball or during March Madness betting, it’s more likely to have over unders somewhere around the 120 range, depending on the teams, of course.
When Betting Over:
What’s great about over under betting is that it’s incredibly straightforward. There are only two ways you could bet. Rather than limitless options on teams and points, over under betting is limited to over and under. Simple as that.
If you are betting over, you don’t have to stick to full game totals. You can also bet on the totals for the first half of the game and the second. Additionally, you can also bet over on individual stats for a player in a game or season.
This could be how many home runs a player gets or how many yards a quarterback throws for. You can also bet over on season win totals. This represents the number of games a team is predicted to win throughout the season.
There are plenty of opportunities for betting over in sports and there are plenty of things to consider when making your bets so be sure to consult with multiple sportsbooks to make sure you’re making the best bet possible.
When Betting Under:
Like betting over, betting under is not limited to just game totals. You can also bet under on total wins throughout the season, the number of yards a player will rush or touchdowns made. Though it is straightforward, there is still a variety of over under betting ways to experiment with.
A common mistake some bettors make when betting under, is thinking of the total independently from the teams. Meaning, bettors will see that the weather is bad or that an offensive player is injured and assume that means the game will be under.
This is understandable, but it is important to remember that the linemakers do adjust the lines based on these same considerations.
It is important to consider whether and individual team strengths when over under betting. However, it is also important to adjust your mind to the posted totals and set your expectations accordingly. Over under betting can be a great way for beginners or bettors without team preferences to have some fun. It is grounded in logic and predictable outcomes.
Over Under Betting Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t get ahead of yourself. Over-under betting is fun to try, but there are certain practices that you have to avoid. Here are some prime over under betting tips that you can take into account.
- Placing Too Many Bets – You do increase the chance of winning by placing more bets, but you also increase your chances of losing. Never bet too much, and then you are ready to lose.
- Betting with Emotions – The biggest mistake in any type of betting is betting with emotions and not with your head. Placing a wager on a team that you like is one of the biggest mistakes that you can make.
- Overreacting to Recent Trends – Chasing a streak is one of the strategies that a lot of players use. However, each streak has its end. Never get caught up in chasing them, as you might end up on the losing end of one.
- Falling for the Gambler’s Fallacy – Never fall into the belief that a time is due for something to happen. The Bambino Curse saw the Red Sox going 86 years without a title. So, hoping that something will happen is not a good approach to any type of betting.
- Ignoring Sharp Action and Market Movements – Those with more experience know how to follow patterns and the way the odds shift. If you overlook those, you might end up more on the losing side.
FAQs
Betting on the Over means that you are betting that the game ends up with more than the given line of points. On the other hand, betting on the Under involves betting on the lesser amount of points scored in a game.
In the case of a draw, or an exact number of pints, a push takes effect. In that case, a player does not win or lose, but they are able to get their stake back.
