No matter how much experience you have when it comes to sports betting, there are plenty of terms that are important to know before you begin or continue your sports betting journey. One of these terms is the over/under or total.
With that, the guide we have created below will give a complete and comprehensive overview of what the over/under or total is and how it works as it pertains to sports betting.
Over/Under, Totals Definition?
In simple terms, the over/under or total can be defined as the sports betting market that focuses on how many points will be scored in any given game or event.
What is an Over/Under, Totals in Betting?
An over/under is the number set by the Sportsbook that refers to the total amount of points, runs, or goals that are expected to be scored.
Betting a total can be done in many different ways, such as over a full game, through player props, as well as many more.
How Do Over/Under, Totals Work?
When examining how the over/under or total works, it ultimately comes down to two main outcomes. The first is when the total points in a game go over the set total. In this case, bets made on the over would win and be paid out.
The other outcome is the under, which means the points in any given game or event go under the posted total.
However, sometimes a third outcome can occur, which is simply referred to as a push. This means the total points in the game you are betting on lands exactly on the posted total. If this happens, the amount you bet will be returned to your account.
What Happens If the Over/Under, Totals Are Not Covered?
If the over/under or total is not covered in the game you are betting on, it simply means you lost your bet.
For example, if you bet on an over of 55.5 points in a college football game and the game ends with 52 points scored, it means the under won, and the amount you bet will be lost.
In the same example, if you bet on an under of 55.5 in a college football game and the game ends with 62 total points scored, the over won, and you will lose the amount you bet.
How to read an Over/Under, Totals
Knowing how to read any given over/under or total is straightforward. You simply take the posted total for the bet you are making, such as 213.5 points in an NBA game. If 214 total points or more are scored in the game, all over bets will win.
However, if 213 points or fewer are scored, all of the under bets will win and be paid out.
What Does -110 Mean Next to the Over/Under, Totals
Like every other type of bet, odds will be associated with both the over and the under. This would look like the following:
- Over: 150.5 (-110)
- Under: 150.5 (-110)
In the above example, the odds of both the over and under would be -110. These odds are used to help calculate how much you would need to bet to win the amount you are looking for.
The standard amount to bet would be $110, which would net you $100 in profit. Another example would be betting $55 for a profit of $50, or betting $11 to win $10.
Unlike a money line bet, where the odds can change drastically, the standard odds for an over/under or totals bet are -110. This is not to say the odds are always -110, as sometimes and depending on the traffic of the bets coming in, the over could have odds of -120 and the under could have odds of +100.
This would change the amount you would need to bet in order to win the same amount if the odds were the standard -110.
Is it better to bet on Favorites or Underdogs?
As with most bets, betting on a favorite or underdog can be seen as situational. Especially when it comes to over/under or total bets. This is because over/under or total bets do not generally have favorites or underdogs. As previously mentioned, sometimes we can see that with the over having odds of -120 and the under having odds of +100.
How Are Over/Under, Totals Calculated & Made?
Totals are created by the Sportsbook before a game is played, and they take several factors into consideration. This can include the weather, the location, and simply the teams involved in the game in terms of their strengths and weaknesses, such as their ability to score offensively or lack thereof, and their defensive abilities.
What Factors Influence the Over/Under, Totals?
Plenty of factors can influence the over /under, but this depends on which sport you are betting on.
One of the biggest influences is where a game is being played. Especially in a baseball game. In baseball, each park has its own dimensions, meaning some parks are known as “hitters’ parks” and some are known as “pitchers’ parks.”
Another factor for baseball games is the wind. If the wind is blowing out, the total is likely going to be higher, as more home runs are expected to be hit. Whereas, if the wind is blowing in, fewer runs will be expected and the total will be lower.
Of course, the starting pitchers also play a role. If both starting pitchers have a high earned run average, the total will likely be higher, and if both starters have a lower earned run average, the total will be lower.
Totals for football games can also be highly dependent on weather. Especially because they play in the rain and snow. Having these conditions would likely make the total lower because it will be harder to move the ball and thus, lead to less scoring.
For any sport, injuries can also play a role when determining the total. If a team’s best player, such as their quarterback, is out, the team is likely to suffer in terms of how much they are expected to score with a backup.
What Does Covering the Over/Under, Totals Mean?
The term “covering the over/under or total” is a quick way to say the outcome of a totals bet in any given game or event. For example, if you bet the over and it wins, you could say, “The game covered the over.”
The same principle would apply if you bet the under, as you could say, “The game covered the under.”
What are Team Totals?
A team total in many ways works the same as any standard over/under bet. The only difference is that you would be isolating one specific team. In this case, each team in the game would have its own total that you could bet on.
For example, Team A could have a team total of 109.5. Using this number of 109.5, you could bet on the over or under. Betting over means that Team A must score 110 points or more, while betting on the under means Team A must score 109 points or fewer.
What is Alternative Over/Under, Totals Betting?
Another one of the ways to bet on a total is through a market called “Alternative Totals.” These bets work much like normal total bets, with one clear distinction, that being you can change the total you are betting.
For example, if the posted total in a football game is 43.5 at odds of -110, the alternative total could be something like 44.5 or anywhere up to say 54.5 or as low as say 34.5. You can then bet on the over or under for whichever total you choose. However, for each number you increase or decrease the original total by, the odds will be much different.
The original total of 43.5 might have odds of -110 for both the over and the under. But, if you bet an alternative total of 45.5, the under could have odds of something like -160, while the over would have odds of +150.
The same goes for if you were to bet on an alternative total of 41.5. The over in this case might have odds of something like -155, while the under could have odds of +145.
How Over/Under, Totals Work in Different Sports
Betting on the over/under or total generally works the same for every sport; however, there are a few differences depending on which sport you are betting on, which we have explained below.
Over/Under, Totals Betting in Baseball
Betting an over/under in baseball is all about the total number of runs scored in a game. These bets can be made over a full 9-inning game or using the 5-inning line, so about half the game.
The one important note about over/under bets in baseball is that the home team will not bat in the bottom of the 9th if they are winning. While this would be good news if betting on an under, it could be the reason you lose if betting on an over.
Over/Under, Totals Betting in Hockey
For hockey over/under bets, the total number of goals is what is being graded. These bets can be made over a full game or in each individual period.
Note that in hockey, empty net goals can directly affect the total and can essentially ruin your bet or be the reason why you win.
Over/Under, Totals Betting in Soccer
Soccer also takes the total number of goals into account for grading over/under bets. These can be made over the full 90-minute game or for each half, which each consists of 45 minutes.
Final Word: Is Over/Under, Totals Betting for You?
Determining whether or not total bets are for you should be a decision made based on your own experience.
Unlike other bets, total bets allow you to watch the game without rooting for one team or the other (unless you are betting a team total). You can simply cheer for points to be scored or for a defensive struggle.
The best advice is to try different types of total bets for yourself to get a sense of how they work and then determine if betting on totals is something you want to continue doing.
Quick Glossary
Predicted Total
This is another term for the Over/Under, which is the number set by the Sportsbooks prior to any given game or event.
Over
The term for betting on a game to score more than the posted total.
Under
The term for betting on a game to score fewer than the posted total.
Push
The outcome for when the total lands exactly on the posted total. With this outcome, all bets will be refunded.
Vig
Also known as the “Juice”, the Vig is the amount you are taxed by the Sportsbook to place your bet. For bets with minus “-” odds, this means you will always be paying more in order to win less. It is also important to note that the Sportsbooks only collect the vig if your bet ends up losing.