Over/Under betting guide: Everything to know about the over/under and how to wager

The total, or over/under, is one of the three primary bet options you'll see on any given sporting event at the top sports betting apps, and it's one of the easiest bet types to understand. Below, we'll discuss how over/under betting works and how and when to place a bet on the over/under.

Betting on the total of a game is betting on whether the combined score of both teams will exceed or fall short of the set over/under line. It doesn't matter who wins the game, only what the score is.

If an NFL or college football game total is set at 45.5 points, the two teams must combine for more than 45.5 points for the Over to hit. If they combine for fewer than 45.5 points, the Under would hit.

In addition to game totals, you can also bet on the total for a half, a quarter, or the total of a single team rather than both teams combined.

Totals are generally set with odds of -110 on either side, though you may find totals where the Over will be -115 and the Under -105 or similar. Sportsbooks try to set a line that would draw similar amounts of action on either side. If they see a large amount of sharp action being bet on one side, they may adjust the line accordingly, or tweak the odds slightly.

On every total, the Over and the Under will be given accompanying odds or prices. In most cases, you'll find odds of -110 on both sides, much like the spread. However, you may find odds between -105 and -120 on a given total. If a price is -110, that means you would need to bet $110 to win a $100 profit, $55 to win a $50 profit, etc. 

Over/under betting is similar across the major US sports. One key difference is the nature of the scoring in each sport. In the NBA, teams are scoring 100+ points in every game, whereas in the NHL, teams average a few goals per game at best.

In NFL betting, the total normally falls between 35 and 55 points. In college football betting, totals can be considerably higher.

Here's an example of an over/under bet for an NFL game. Let's say that in a matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, the betting total is set at 52.5 points. The teams must combine for at least 53 points for the Over to win. For the Under to hit, a total of 52 points or fewer must be scored.

NBA betting and college basketball betting on totals is the same as other leagues. Most of the time, NBA totals are set at more than 200 points, while college basketball games commonly are in the 120-150 point range.

If a game between the New Orleans Pelicans and New York Knicks has a betting total of 206.5 points, the teams must combine for 207 or more points for the Over to win. Should they score a total of 206 points or fewer, the Under would hit.

MLB games are drastically different than those in football and basketball in terms of scoring. The average amount of total runs scored in MLB contests has been below 10 every year since 2000, when it was 10.28. Therefore, totals usually are within the range of 8-10 runs in MLB betting.

For example, if a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays has a betting total of 8, the teams must combine for at least nine runs for the Over to win. The Under would hit if a combined total of seven runs or fewer were scored in the contest. If the final total is eight runs, the bet results in a push. When that happens, no one wins and your bet is refunded.

The NHL tends to have games that are even lower-scoring than MLB. The total in NHL betting is commonly listed between 5.5-7 goals and often is set at 6.5. 

Using that number as an example, if a total of seven or more goals are scored in a matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning, the Over would win. Should the teams combine for fewer than seven goals, the Under hits.

When betting on the over/under, a number of strategies can be used to boost your chances of profiting. Because many sporting events ultimately wind up being close to the total, that means oddsmakers are quite good at setting these numbers. However, there are some factors bettors can consider when making wagers.

Weather conditions can influence the total, especially in football. A game played in rain or snow is more likely to be sloppier than a game played in clear conditions. Oddsmakers could also use this line of thinking when setting totals but looking at weather forecasts could help bettors make a more educated decision on a game total.

The best strategy to use when betting totals is looking at team trends and analytics. If two high-scoring teams are playing each other, bettors might look at the Over. If two top defensive teams face off, the Under could be a stronger consideration. Oddsmakers also take these data points into account when setting lines but bettors can gain an edge here. These analytics are particularly helpful in basketball, since the same group of players are on both offense and defense. There are plenty of offensive and defensive team stats which could help bettors forecast the total on any contest. In baseball, the pitching matchup matters relative to an opponent's hitting record. If a top pitcher is facing a struggling batting lineup, bettors might lean towards the Under. If two struggling pitchers are playing in the same game, the Over could be more likely to hit.

In the short run, over/under betting isn't the most profitable. But it still is a good bet, as the odds on totals usually are -110, meaning it's basically considered to be a 50/50 proposition.

When comparing it to a money-line bet, the probability of winning an over/under wager is lower than betting on a favorite but higher than putting your money on an underdog.

Over/under bets are very common types of wagers in standard parlay betting and same-game parlays. A parlay is a wager that combines multiple bets, with each additional bet increasing the potential payout.

Even though the likelihood of winning parlays is lower than individual wagers, including over/under bets could increase your potential profit more than certain money line bets. However, it's important to remember that the chances of winning a parlay decrease with each additional leg. And if just one leg of your parlay does not hit, the entire bet is considered a loss.

How are over/under odds determined?

Millions of simulations are used by sportsbooks to determine totals, and oddsmakers utilize billions of data points before setting the number for bettors. Because the odds aren't the same at every sportsbook, be sure to shop around before placing your wager.

While one sportsbook may have the total for an NBA game at 214, another could set it at 214.5 for the same contest. While the difference is minimal, it could determine whether or not you win your wager. If you bet the Under at the first sportsbook and the game total finished at 214 points, a push would occur. But if you placed the same bet at the other sportsbook, you would be a winner.

How and when does the total move?

There are a number of reasons a total can move. For instance, the over/under for a football game would become lower if inclement weather such as rain or snow is expected.

How do sportsbooks make money on over/under bets?

The odds for over/under bets at sportsbooks are commonly -110 instead of even because of the "juice" attached. With every -110 wager you make, you pay a fee just under 10% to the sportsbook. Since that adds up from all of the wagers made by sports bettors, online sports betting sites make an exorbitant amount of money on parlays.

What is a push?

When a game ends at the exact total that is offered to bettors, it is considered a push and all over/under bets are refunded. Obviously, a push cannot occur when a total includes a half-point.

Scott Erskine

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