Totals betting is one of the easiest ways to bet on sports. Sportsbooks set a line on how many points will be scored in a game (by both teams combined), and you bet on whether the real total will fall over or under that line. That’s why totals bets are also commonly referred to as over/under bets.
Keep reading if you’re interested in the finer points and functions of over/under bets, including a clear definition of totals bets, how these bets work, and how you can place totals bets on the most popular sports in the country.
What is an over/under bet?
As we just said, over/under sports betting is straightforward and easy. Sportsbooks will post a line with the total number of points both teams in a game are projected to score. Then, you bet either the over or the under.
Bet the over and you win if the actual combined total of both teams total lands above the line. Bet the under and you win if the actual combined total of both teams lands below the line.
For the most part, these lines are set with even odds on both sides, with a small profit for the sportsbooks built into the odds. These odds and the line are subject to change, but you lock in both at the time you place a bet. Keep reading for some more sport-specific examples of totals bets.
How do over/under odds work?
Totals lines are set with even odds on both the over and under bets. The line is set trying to draw equal betting to both sides.
Totals odds are generally low risk and range from -105 to -120. This means there’s a small profit on the line the sportsbook will realize as long as the amount of money bet is even on both the over and under. You might also find the odds expressed in convertible decimal or fractional form.
American odds tell you how much you need to bet to win $100. At -105 you need to bet $105 to win $100. At -120 you need to bet $120 to win $100. Win, and you’ll also get your bet back.
Does the totals line move or change?
If there’s lopsided money bet on the over or the under, sportsbooks will change the odds to try to get that betting back to even. They may even move the line itself to accomplish the same thing.
Sportsbooks only realize the profit built into the odds if the amount of money bet is even on both the over and under. They’ll change these odds trying to draw betting to one side or the other in an effort to keep things even.
Totals betting outcomes
Three things can happen when you place a bet on the totals line.
| Over | Under | Push |
|---|---|---|
| Say the Panthers/Saints totals line is 43 points. A total of 44 points are scored in the game. All bets on the over pay according to the odds as posted when a bet was placed. | Say the Panthers/Saints totals line is 43 points. A total of 42 points are scored in the game. All bets on the under pay according to the odds as posted when a bet was placed. | Say the Panthers/Saints totals line is 43 points. A total of 43 points are scored in the game. All bets on the over and under push. All bets are returned. |
Totals win
For the sake of example, here’s a look at two winning totals bets.
| Over Wins | Under Wins |
|---|---|
| The Panthers/Saints totals line is O/U 43 (-110). You bet $110 on the over. A total of 44 points are scored in the game. You collect a total of $210. | The Panthers/Saints totals line is O/U 43 (-110). You bet $110 on the under. A total of 42 points are scored in the game. You collect a total of $210. |
Totals loss
Here’s a look at how totals bets can lose.
| Over Loses | Under Loses |
|---|---|
| The Panthers/Saints totals line is O/U 43 (-110). You bet $110 on the over. A total of 42 points are scored in the game. You lose that $110 bet. | The Panthers/Saints totals line is O/U 43 (-110). You bet $110 on the under. A total of 44 points are scored in the game. You lose that $110 bet. |
Push
While most NC sportsbooks use half points in the totals lines to avoid this, if you bet a totals line that’s a whole number you may push.
Let’s say the Panthers/Saints totals line is 43 points, and an exact total of 43 points is scored in the game. All bets on the over and under would push, and all bets would be returned.
| Push |
|---|
| The Panthers/Saints totals line is 43 points. A total of 43 points are scored in the game. All bets on the over and under push. All bets are returned. |
Totals betting by sport
Over/under lines might look a little different across sports. Let’s break down how totals might appear in football, basketball, and more.
Over/under bets in football
Whether it’s NFL betting or betting on college football, football totals are as straightforward as they come.
As an example, a Panthers/Falcons totals line might be O/U 45.5 (-110). Bets on the over win if the teams combine to score 46 or more total points. Bets on the under win if the total is 45 or fewer points. There can be no push because of the half-point in the line.
At the -110 odds posted here, winning bets on either the over or under pay $100 for every $110 bet.
Over/under bets in basketball
Whether it’s NBA betting or betting on college basketball, basketball totals are just as straightforward as football totals.
As an example, a Hornets/Heat totals line might be O/U 210.5 (-110). Bets on the over win if the teams combine to score 211 or more points. Bets on the under win if the total is 210 or fewer points. There can be no push because of the half-point in the line.
Once again, at the -110 odds posted here, winning bets on either the over or under pay $100 for every $110 bet.
Over/under bets in baseball
MLB totals are just as straightforward as any other; it’s just that they’re generally smaller.
As an example, a Braves/Mets totals line might be O/U 8.5 (-110). Bets on the over win if the teams combine to score nine runs or more. Bets on the under win if the total is 8 runs or fewer. There can be no push because of the half-point in the line.
Once again, at -110 odds, winning bets on either the over or under pay $100 for every $110 bet.
Over/under bets in hockey
NHL totals are almost as straightforward as any other; it’s just that they’re even smaller due to the low-scoring nature of the sport.
As an example, a Hurricanes/Rangers totals line might be O/U 4.5 (-110). Bets on the over win if the teams combine to score five goals or more. Bets on the under win if the total is four goals or fewer. There can be no push because of the half-point in the line.
Again, at -110 odds, winning bets on either the over or under pay $100 for every $110 bet.
Over/under bets in soccer
Like hockey, soccer is a low-scoring game, meaning the totals lines for MLS and other games are rather small.
As an example, a Charlotte FC/Atlanta United totals line might be O/U 2.5 (-110). Bets on the over win if the teams combine to score three goals or more. Bets on the under win if the total is two goals or fewer. There can be no push because of the half-point in the line.
At -110 odds, winning bets on both the over and under pay $100 for every $110 bet.
Over/under bets in MMA/UFC
Totals betting in MMA competitions like the UFC is less straightforward than most team sports, but it’s still easy enough to figure out. Here, you’re betting on the total rounds a fight will go. That usually means a line of 1.5 rounds in three-round fights and 2.5 rounds for five-round fights. The half-digit here means halfway through the round.
As an example, a five-round Jon Jones/Stipe Miocic fight totals line might be O/U 2.5 (-110). Bets on the over win if the fight lasts more than 2.5 rounds. Bets on the under win if the fight is ended by submission, knockout or otherwise before the halfway mark in the second round. All bets push if the fight ends at exactly the 2:30 mark in the second round.
At -110 odds, winning bets on both the over and under pay $100 for every $110 bet.
Over/under bets in tennis
Totals betting in tennis matches is less straightforward than for most team sports because it deviates a bit from the standard scoring system. Here you’re betting on the total number of games in a match. Tighter matchups mean more games played. Blowouts have fewer games.
As an example, a best-of-three-set Novak Djokovic/Rafael Nadal totals line might be O/U 22.5 (-110). Bets on the over win if the match includes more than 23 games. Bets on the under win if the match features 22 games or fewer. There can be no push because of the half-point in the line.
In tennis, it takes six or seven game wins to win a set and two set wins to win a best-of-three match. Let’s say this Djokovic/Nadal match ends up 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 for Djokovic. That would mean a total of 29 games played and the over coming in. However, if the match went 6-2, 6-2 Djokovic, that would mean 14 games played and the under coming in.
At -110 odds, winning bets on both the over and under pay $100 for every $110 bet.
Over/under bets in golf
Golf totals betting is generally round totals. Here, you bet on the final score a particular golfer will post in a single round. A line is set projecting the golfer’s score for that round, and you bet on whether the player will finish with a score that’s over or under that line.
As an example, the line on Tiger Woods‘ first round at The Masters might be O/U 69.5 (-110). Golf bets on the over win if Woods posts a 70 or higher. Bets on the under win if Tiger shoots a 69 or lower.
There can be no push because of the half-point in the line. At -110 odds, winning bets on both the over and the under pay $100 for every $110 bet.
Totals betting FAQ
Best Over/Uder Betting Sites
Sportsbooks post a line with the total number of points both teams in a game are projected to score. You bet on the actual total landing either over or under that line.
Overtime counts for most sports when it comes to betting the over/under. Just check the sports-specific rules for totals betting at any sportsbook to make sure it counts for your bet.
If there’s more money bet on the over or the under, sportsbooks may move the line to get that betting back to even. They may even change the odds to accomplish the same thing. Sportsbooks realize a profit on totals bets only if the amount of money bet is even on both the over and under. They’ll move a line to make sure that happens.
No bet is better than the other here. Generally, if you think a game will be high-scoring, the over is the play. But if you predict a low-scoring affair, the under is your bet. However, smart over/under betting requires a close examination of the line itself and the teams involved.
The Panthers/Saints totals line might read: O/U 43.5 (-110). This tells you the line is 43.5 points, and the over and under both pay the odds in the brackets, which in this case is -110. If the odds aren’t the same on the over and under, the line might read Over 43.5 (-110), Under 43.5 (-105). In this case, the line stays the same, but you can see the odds are different and pay according to the number in brackets listed beside the line.
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