In addition to moneyline and spread betting, over/under betting, which is also known as total betting, is one of the main ways to bet on sports. Betting on the total, or the over/under, is simply betting on the combined score of both teams at the end of the game.
If you are new to betting on sports, you may be looking to learn more about over/under betting. Look no further than this guide, which will introduce you to the basics of over/under betting and provide some helpful examples to enhance your understanding of how to bet on totals at top sports betting sites like BetOnline.
Where Can You Place Over/Under Bets?
All reputable sports betting sites feature over/under odds in some form.
Here are some of the top online sportsbooks where you can wager on a wide variety of over/under odds:
If you are unfamiliar with any of these sportsbooks, check out our sportsbook reviews for each of them to learn more.
What Does Betting on the Total Mean?
What is an over/under bet? It is a prediction on whether the total score of both teams in a game will be above or below a certain number.
The sportsbook establishes a specific total, and bettors have the option to bet on the combined score being greater (over) or less (under) than that predetermined total.
This type of bet is frequently used in many sports. That includes baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer. This bet can cover many aspects of a game or the entire game itself.
For example, you can bet individual halves or quarters to go over or under their total, as well as taking a specific team’s score, by betting on over or under their team total.
How Do Over/Under Bets Work?
In an over/under bet, a sportsbook sets a specific total for the combined score or total of something in an event. For most over/under bets, many people will think of bets on how many points, goals, or runs two teams may score in a game.
With these bets, bettors wager on whether the actual total score will be over or under that predetermined number.
If the final score matches the set total, it is a push. If a push occurs, sportsbooks return the customer’s wager as if it never happened.
When you see over/under odds at a sportsbook like BetOnline or Bovada, they usually have the listed total and the odds for over and under.
Here is an example using an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
- Over 54.5 (-110)
- Under 54.5 (-110)
In this example, the Cowboys and Eagles must score 55 or more points for the over to hit and 54 or fewer points for the under to hit.
Do you want to learn more about how to read sports betting odds? Check out our “How to Read Sports Betting Odds” guide.
More Over/Under Betting Examples
To further aid your understanding of over/under betting, here are a few more examples using MLB and NBA games.
MLB Over/Under Bet Examples
In this example, the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are meeting in an MLB matchup.
In this example, oddsmakers set the total for the game to 8.5 runs. If the Braves defeat the Phillies 6-3, the over wins because the two teams combined for more runs than the listed total. However, if the Braves defeat the Phillies 6-2, the under wins because the two teams combined for fewer runs than the listed total.
NBA Over/Under Bet Examples
In this example, the Golden State Warriors are facing the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA action.
In this example, oddsmakers have set the total at 226.5 points. If the Lakers defeat the Warriors 117-110, the over wins because the number of points scored exceeded the listed total.
However, if the Lakers defeat the Warriors 115-111, the under wins because the result fell short of the listed total.
Super Bowl Over/Under Betting
The Super Bowl is one of the most bet on sporting events every single year, and Super Bowl over/under betting is one of the most popular ways to bet on the big game every year.
Typically, the Super Bowl takes place in either a domed stadium, or somewhere with nice weather. This sometimes results in higher totals for these games. However, that is not always what happens.
The over/under has gone 29-29 all time in the Super Bowl, with no total being posted for Super Bowl I. The lowest total result in the Super Bowl was in 2019, when New England beat Los Angeles 13-3. The two teams combined for only 16 points after the total closed at 56 points before kickoff. The highest scoring Super Bowl to date was Super Bowl XXIX in 1995, when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26 to win their most recent championship.
Throughout history, we have had 14 Super Bowl totals close in the fifties, with just 5 of them going over their total. Two Super Bowls tie for the highest posted closing total, with Super Bowl XLIV and Super Bowl LI both closing at 57. New Orleans and Indianapolis (SB XLIV) went under, while the Patriots and Falcons (SB LI) went over in OT.
We have had four totals all close at 33, including three consecutive times in 1973, 1974, and 1975. All of those games stayed under the total. However, in 2001, Baltimore and New York had the same over/under, with the Ravens scoring 34 points all on their own.
What Is the Value of an Over/Under Bet?
Whether you are betting on NFL odds, NBA game odds, MLB game odds, or even how many games there will be in a Wimbledon tennis match, the majority of over/under bets have odds of -110 for both outcomes. However, in situations like this, the probability of the total going over is higher than it staying under.
One method for a sportsbook to keep the odds balanced while also increasing the player’s risk is by including additional juice.
Books may alter the total based on the number of bets placed on each side and other variables, such as player injuries. This is known as line movement, and it is something that bettors must pay close attention to with all bets, including over/under bets.
Other Types of Over/Under Bets
Along with being able to bet on game totals, sportsbooks also offer other types of over/under bets for many matchups.
Other types of over/under bets can include the over/under numbers for different parts of the game (periods, halves, quarters, etc.). This is great for someone who has a feeling about an early part of a game but not necessarily the outcome of the entire contest.
What if you notice a team plays well in the first quarter or the first half of a game? In that case, you might look for their first quarter or first half point total and bet the OVER.
Also, many sportsbooks offer over/under odds on many of the individuals competing in a particular game. Those types of over/under bets are prop bets. For example, many NBA player props are over/under bets. Also, many MLB strikeout props and other MLB prop bets are shown as over/under bets.
The Grand Salami: The Mother of All Total Bets
There is a popular over/under bet that many players love to make in baseball and NHL betting. This bet is known as the Grand Salami. The Grand Salami is the total number of goals or runs scored in the entire day of games.
Grand Salami betting is exciting and engaging because it keeps all the games in play right until the end. You can bet the over or under for this bet just as you would for each individual game.
Not all online sportsbooks offer this bet, however. So, if you are interested, shop around until you find the right book and right odds.
Other Sports Betting Information
Did you find our over/under betting guide useful? We have many other sports betting guides that break down the basics of sports betting, from how to bet on certain sports and events, types of bets, betting strategies, and more.
Here are some of the other guides we offer:
- NFL Betting Guide
- NBA Betting Guide
- MLB Betting Guide
- NHL Betting Guide
- College Football Betting Guide
- College Basketball Betting Guide
- WNBA Betting Guide
- NASCAR Betting Guide
- What Is Line Shopping in Sports Betting?
- When Should You Hedge Your Bets?
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