You’ve probably heard it before: what’s the Over/Under on that? Chances are in passing, and many people misuse the phrase. In sports betting, Over/Under is a popular type of wager that doesn’t rely on a single team to win. Instead, Over/Unders (also called totals bets) are wagers placed on two teams to combine for “Over” or “Under” a set amount of points determined by the sportsbook.
On this page, we’ll provide all the essential information about Over/Under betting, including how the odds work, key examples, and additional resources.
Read on to explore our Over/Under betting guide.
What Is Over/Under Betting?
An Over/Under (or totals) bet is typically a wager on two teams to combine for a certain number of points. The threshold for totals bets is called a “line,” and teams can combine for more points than the line or fewer, which is where the bet type gets its name.
For example, you might see a line of 48.5 in football betting. If the two competing teams end up with a score of 35-30, they combine for 65 points, which is “Over” the 48.5. The Under works in the opposite way, so with a line of 48.5 and a final score of 20-14, the “Under” is successful. We will provide an actual example of an Over/Under bet further down on this page.
The lines of Over/Under bets vary depending on the sport, teams playing, and other factors, such as weather, injuries, and roster changes.
Finally, Over/Under language can also be applied to prop bets. For example, you might see a bet for Steph Curry to score Over/Under 13.5 three-pointers.
How to Bet on the Total (Over/Under)
Ready to give over/under bets a go? Here’s how to bet on totals at our top recommended sportsbooks.
Log into your sportsbook of choice
We recommend the best sportsbooks at Gaming Today. Choose one and use our links to head to the desktop site or download the app.
Navigate to your game of choice
Find the game you’d like to bet on. Sportsbooks have many ways to do this including a search bar, top games, upcoming match-ups, and more. It should be easy to find your desired game within a few seconds.
Select the total bet of your choice
Choose your bet and select whether you want to wager on the over or under. Click your choice to add it to your bet slip.
Make Deposit (if necessary)
Deposit money into your account so you can place the wager. If you’ve already done this before finding your preferred bet
Place Wager
With money in your account and the bet in your slip, all that remains is to click “Place Bet.” Wait for the sportsbook to process the bet and you’re all set.
Pros & Cons of Over/Under Betting
Pros
Over/under is one of the most common bet types, so there are options available on pretty much any game or sport Player props and individual game props provide many other over/under options Over/unders are relatively easy to understand, so they’re good for new players They’re also full of complexity, making them ideal options for stats junkies Over/unders pare great opportunities for bets when you aren’t a huge fan of either team
Cons
Over/under bets often don’t have massive payouts because the lines are set make each side relatively even Some sports don’t have formats conducive to over.unders, so they’re not universal (golf, for example, doesn’t have many totals) Totals aren’[t great for live betting because the line will move as teams score points
Betting the Over: Strategies and Tips
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “life’s too short to bet the under” uttered by your betting friends. It’s meant to invoke a feeling of adrenaline and anticipation for a high-scoring match. Sure, it can be a ton of fun to bet the over, but you should always make informed betting decisions. Here are a few of our top tips.
For outdoor sports like football, soccer, or tennis, check the weather conditions. Inclement weather can stymie even the best team’s performance. Bad weather is one reason to steer clear of an over bet, while good weather could be a sign to pounce.
Is one team’s defense particularly monstrous? Does the offense have an arsenal of offensive weapons with a QB cannon behind center? Those may be football examples, but the idea carries over into other sports. Know as much as you can about the two teams involved when placing an over bet.
Sportsbooks are competing for your business, and you can use that to your advantage. IF you have accounts with multiple sportsbooks, you can shop for better odds or lines as there are many reasons why odds can change. For example, if you want to bet the over on a football game and one sportsbook offers a line of 40.5 while another offers 39.5, the latter might be a better bet. Alternatively, the odds may offer different payouts at separate sportsbooks. Don’t be afraid to shop around before making your decision.
Betting the Under: Strategies and Tips
Betting the under arguably requires more research than betting the over.
A star player with an injury can stifle a team’s ability to score points. Conversely, it can open the door for the opponent to score more. Tracking injuries is never an exact science with regard to under betting, but being in the know about player conditions can benefit you. Generally, more injuries will mean lower under lines at sportsbooks.
Look at the data to see how these teams have historically performed against one another. Are their games low-scoring or blowouts? Does one team’s defense put the kibosh on the opponent’s otherwise capable offense? Know as much as you can ahead of time so you can place a smart under bet.
A rainy day ball game is likely to have fewer runs than a sunny one. Same with windy conditions. Or in football, winter games can make for a slog of a game. These factors can impact the outcome of a game.
Example Total (Over/Under) Wager
The total column in the middle gives us all the information a bettor might need to place the bet. Note that despite the options being in rows corresponding to each team, all that truly matters is the over and under line and the odds.
The line for this game is 46.5. An over bet is successful if the Ravens and Chiefs combine for 47 points or more, while the under wins if they combine for 46 or fewer points.
It doesn’t matter which team scores the points. The combined total is all that matters.
The odds tell us which side the sportsbook thinks is more likely, even if the difference is slight. A $108 bet on the over would pay $100 if successful, while a $112 bet on the under would win $100. This means the under is favored by a thin margin.
More Resources For Over/Under Betting
We have various tools for calculating odds and payouts that might apply to over/under betting. Here are some helpful resources:
Over/Under Betting FAQ
An example of over/under betting might look like so:
- Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
- Over 46.5 (-108)
This means the teams are expected to combine for about 46 points, and you can bet whether you think the total will be over or under that number. The odds are in parentheses after the bet, telling you how much you’d need to bet to win $100.
Well, it’s better to be whichever one wins. People may say “life’s too short to bet the under,” but we recommend doing research to make an informed decision as to whether the over or under is the right move.
Over/under bets usually have close-to-even odds. We say “close-to-even” because sportsbooks have a built-in house edge called the vig. A typical over/under bet will pay about $92 for each $100 bet, but there is a lot of room for variance there.
Over/under odds are often in the -110 zone. This means a $110 bet would pay $100 (plus the original wager amount) if you win. Expect to see small changes to the odds based on the sportsbook’s calculations. It’s common to see odds of -112 or even -115 while the other side has -105 or similar. You can use these small differences to shop around for the best odds on a given over/under bet.
Under bets are wagers on two opposing sides to combine for a total beneath a set line. For example an under bet on the Ravens-Chiefs game with a line of 46.5 would need the teams to score fewer than 46 combined points to pay out.
Over bets are the opposite of under bets (gasp). Using the same example from above, the Ravens-Chiefs line is 46.5 IF the teams combine for 47 points or more, a bet on the over will be successful. A final score of Ravens 30 Chiefs 35 would see all over bettors win.
Yes. Most states allow betting the over/under for college sports. Some states prohibit bets on in-state schools, but they will still offer wagers on other colleges or universities. Check your local regulations or our state betting pages for more information.
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