What is Over/Under in Sports Betting?

Over/Under Betting Meaning

Over/under betting, widely regarded as totals, means that you bet on the total number of points or goals that will be scored in a game. The sportsbook will provide a projected total combined score, and you should guess whether the two teams’ combined score will be over or under that number – which is where the name comes from.

For example, if the Knicks are playing against the Heat, the projected total number might be 191.5. So, if you bet on under, it means that both teams should score a combined point total of under 191 for you to win the bet.

Unlike moneyline betting, it doesn’t matter who wins the game, or by how much difference. So, if the final score is 101-88 for the Knicks, the total number of points scored is 189, which means that you’ve won the bet. Contrary, if you bet on over, the combined total score should be over 191.5 for you to win the bet.

In most cases, sportsbooks provide half-points betting markets to avoid a tie-in over/under bets. Depending on the game, the projected over/under number varies, as well as the odds. In the case of NBA betting totals, for example, the projected number can be anything from 180 O/U up to 260 O/U, depending on which teams play against each other. The average NBA total offered by sportsbooks is 220.5.

How the Over/Under Bet Works

There are three possible outcomes with every over/under bet: the score can go over, under, or end up as a push in accordance with the betting line set by the sportsbook. A push, or a tie, is only possible if the total is set as a whole number. However, this happens very rarely and is more common with alternate totals. The standard bet usually has a number that ends with .5 to avoid ties.

Operators usually offer over/under betting markets for many sports and most major leagues and competitions, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, college football, college basketball, and more.

The betting odds for most two way over/under bets are -110, which means that you need to wager $110 to win $100. The betting markets are usually displayed alongside the projected number. Let’s take an average NFL game for example. Imagine that the Chiefs are playing against the Patriots. The over/under betting lines will be displayed like this:

• New England – O 48.5 -110
• Kansas City – U 48.5 -110

This means that you can bet that the total points scored will be over or under 48.5, and the odds are -110 regardless if you choose to bet on over or under.

Over/Under Bet Examples

Many sports bettors choose to bet on over/under bets when they can’t predict who the winner in a given matchup will be.

Instead, the over/under bet doesn’t require an overall winner to be chosen, and it doesn’t matter which team will score the most points. It’s a popular betting type that’s available for many sports, and we’ll present you with some over/under bet examples to help you understand it better.

Over/Under Betting in Football

Over/under is the simplest way to place a wager on a football game. The sportsbook will put up a total score, and you’re betting on whether the total number of points scored by both sides will be lower or higher than that number. The average betting total for NFL games is 46.5, but it varies depending on the teams in the matchup. For example, this is what the over/under total for Super Bowl LVII looked like:

• Kansas City Chiefs O 50.5 at -115
• Philadelphia Eagles U 50.5 at -105
  Considering that the Chiefs won the game 38-35, the game exceeded the projected total score of 50.5.

Over/Under Betting in Soccer

Over/under betting on soccer is very similar to any other sport, with the only difference being that the numbers that sportsbooks post are much lower when compared to football or basketball, for example. A soccer game might have a total score of 2.5, which means that both teams should score under 2 goals combined for the bet to go under.

Sportsbooks typically offer multiple over/under bet options for big soccer games, and the odds differ depending on the betting line.

For example, in the Champions League matchup between Real Madrid and Manchester City, you can bet if the game will have over or under 0.5 goals, 1.5 goals, 2.5 goals, 3.5 goals, and so on. The odds depend on the likelihood of the outcome you’re predicting. This is what a typical total bet for a soccer game looks like:

Real Madrid vs Manchester City total goals:

• Over 0.5 -8000            Under 0.5 +1300
  Over 1.5 -500               Under 1.5 +330
• Over 2.5 -140               Under 2.5 +110
• Over 3.5 +180              Under 3.5 -240
• Over 4.5 +400              Under 4.5 -650

Tie in Over/Under Bets

A tie in total bets, or a pushed bet, is only possible if the projected number is a round number. However, that’s rarely the case, as most sportsbooks set half-point numbers to avoid such a situation.

Sometimes, however, operators set the total as a round number. If the over/under lands on the exact number, it’s a push, and bettors win a refund of their bet, regardless if they bet on over or under.

Do Sportsbooks Change Totals?

The total is not a fixed value that stays the same for all matches, but it varies depending on the teams or players that participate in the matchup. Sportsbook oddsmakers take many factors into consideration when making odds.

The main factors are:

• Both teams’ offensive and defensive efficiency
• Their season stats
• The lineups for the match
• Injuries in both teams
• The time of day when the match is played
• The weather

For example, if many key players are injured for an NBA match, the total might be lower.

The weather also plays a role when determining the total, especially for outdoor sports such as soccer or baseball. For example, if the wind is blowing at Yankee Stadium, the total will be lower.

Sportsbooks also often change the total based on the number of bets on over or under. For example, if the majority of bets are over, it means that bettors are expecting a high-scoring game, and the oddsmaker might increase the total to entice betting on under. Furthermore, sportsbooks often offer alternate total points odds that offer better payouts.

Over/Under Overtime Betting Rules

Unless the sportsbook has specified otherwise, most over/under bets include overtime. This is the case for most US sportsbooks and betting lines on leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, etc. Consecutively, if the game goes into overtime, it’s most likely that bettors who wagered on over will come out as winners.

When it comes to soccer, however, the rules differ. While the stoppage time often does count into the bet, in the case of an overtime or a shootout, any goal scored after the 90 minutes and the stoppage time has passed won’t count into the total.

DraftKings

Widely regarded as the operator that started the shift in the US, DraftKings has a wide betting market portfolio with thousands of betting lines. At DraftKings, bettors can place wagers on all the major leagues, such as NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, and more – and has odds for over/under betting for every match.

The odds for most over/under bets at DraftKings range around -110, and users can make the best out of their DraftKings welcome bonus that offers a 20% deposit match of up to $1,000.

FanDuel

Besides being one of the most popular DFS platforms, FanDuel offers an impressive sportsbook that’s available in more than 20 states. The betting variety is excellent, and all the major and many minor competitions and leagues are covered, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, and more.

Users can place over/under bets on almost all the matchups that are available at FanDuel, and the odds are usually on par with other popular US sports betting sites. Moreover, newly registered bettors are eligible for a FanDuel no-sweat first bet of up to $1,000.

Caesars

Caesars is one of the biggest names in the US gambling community, and it now offers its online sports betting services in 21 states. The betting variety covers the most popular sports and major leagues and tournaments, and there are plenty of betting types available at Caesars – including over/under. The odds for most over/under bets at Caesars are usually around -110, with a wide variety of alternate and prop totals being available for big games.

The app is fully mobile compatible and available for iOS and Android users, and newcomers can take advantage of the Caesars welcome package that includes up to $1,250 first bet on Caesars, 1000 Caesars Rewards Tier Credits, and 1000 Reward Credits® when using the bonus code GUSAFUL.

Bet365

Bet365 is one of the oldest and most famous online sportsbooks worldwide, and it’s notoriously famous for its exceptional soccer betting variety. There are thousands of betting markets for hundreds of soccer matches daily, with multiple over/under betting options – including alternate totals.

The sportsbook covers many other popular sports as well, and it’s considered the largest sportsbook in terms of betting market variety. With a bet of just $1, newly registered users at Bet365 can get their hands on a Bet365 bonus of $200 in bonus bets, which they can use to place bets via desktop or mobile.

Betway

Betway is another international brand that acquired licenses in multiple US states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Virginia. Besides the large betting market portfolio, Betway is famous for its competitive odds and regular odds boosts – especially when a big game is on the line.

The total betting coverage includes most matches that Betway has markets for, including all the major professional leagues, as well as college leagues, and international competitions. The list of available sports to bet on includes more than 30 sports, and new users can take advantage of it by claiming $250 as a Betway welcome bonus bet.

Is Over/Under a Good Bet?

Over/under is generally considered as one of the best bets for beginners or for derby matches. It’s easy to understand and execute, and you don’t have to predict the winner of the game – which is why it’s preferred by beginner bettors.

The odds are usually close to even money, which makes this bet a preferable option for many recreational bettors who want to enjoy the game without worrying about who will win the game.

Best Sports for Over/Under Betting

Due to the nature of the bet, there are no real ‘winners’ or ‘losers’ when choosing a sport to place an over/under bet. College football often comes on top, with a return on investment of over 90% for most betting types – including over/under. However, considering that it’s an almost even money bet, there are no real advantages or disadvantages with any sport – be it football, basketball, ice hockey, tennis, soccer, or others.

Over/Under Betting Strategies & Tips

Unlike moneyline and point spreads, where the bettor has to determine which team will win, total bettors shouldn’t focus on who the winner in the matchup will be. Instead, total bettors should pay attention to the teams’ scoring trends. If two teams with strong offense and subpar defense are playing each other, you can expect a high-scoring game with more points.

Another aspect that you should pay attention to is the starting lineups and injury lists. If a key player is absent from the lineup or is injured, the team might consider a different strategy and might score or concede more points than usual.