Sports betting on the over under is simple since all you have to do is guess how many total points will be scored in a game. Exactly as it sounds, a betting total is the total of some aspect of a sporting event, most frequently the number of points scored. Take the most recent Super Bowl, for instance.
The Bengals vs. Rams game’s over/under, or total, was 48.5 points. In order to win their wagers, those who placed wagers on the Over at 48.5 needed 49 total points scored or more. Under bettors would have won on any outcome with 48 points or less. If the final score was exactly 48 points (28-20, for example) with an over under of 48 points, the wager would be a “push.”
What a sports betting over under is?
Spread betting or moneyline wagering come to mind when most people think about sports betting. The over under is however a different common wagering option. Over/unders, often known as “totals” in the betting world, are simple to understand but significantly different from the aforementioned bets in that they don’t focus on comparing the performances of the two teams.
Additionally, totals play a big role in betting. They can relate to everything from a game’s ultimate score to how frequently Joe Burrow throws a touchdown pass to how long a vocalist takes to sing the National Anthem before the Super Bowl, and they are popular with gamblers and spectators alike.
Totals bets have increased in popularity, just like other sports betting alternatives. A total wager is now accessible for in-game wagers as well. Individual teams, partial games (quarters or periods), live betting, and totals may all be available.
Another illustration is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl over/under from the previous year. 54.5 was the final score when the game began. In other words, the market anticipated the clubs to score around 55 points overall.
Both teams’ passing offenses were led by productive, high-volume quarterbacks. In addition, the Chiefs had a passable defense and had won the first encounter between the clubs with relative ease, scoring 27 points and ending the game kneeling in Tampa Bay territory.
All things considered, the oddsmakers anticipated a game with a considerable amount of scoring, which is why they set the over/under at 54.5.
Of course, the game ended up going very differently since Tampa Bay’s defense was successful in making Patrick Mahomes’ day miserable. Only 9 points were scored by the Chiefs. Despite Tampa Bay scoring 31, the final 40 points were far less than the total. That implies those who placed bets on under 54.5 won their tickets.
Line shop to improve total profit
Imagine you wanted to wager on the Super Bowl with the under 54.5. Someone interrupted you and gave you under 55.5 just as you were about to click to place your wager. You’d be a fool to persist with your initial wager, assuming same price, wouldn’t you?
That is how line shopping operates, and if you want to have the best chance of winning over/under bets, it is a valuable tool at your disposal. The idea is as simple as looking at the lines at all of the sportsbooks you have access to and placing your bets at the one that offers you the best line.
It can be challenging to uncover numbers that are off market because totals so regularly converge around the numbers at the sharpest books. Checking the alternate lines is one approach to improve your odds.
Alternate lines, which are offered by several bookies, allow bettors to wager on over unders at numerous alternative numbers. In the Super Bowl, you might have been able to get under 50.5 (+130) rather than under 54.5. Compared to the typical -110/-110 markets, alternate lines diverge slightly more frequently, so search for strong numbers to boost your profit.
Live betting and over/unders
In recent years, live betting has grown in popularity and accessibility. Bettor preference for in-play betting has increased thanks to enhanced bookmaking technology’s capacity to offer these markets. A dynamic environment that tests both the bookmaker and the bettor is created by a fast pace and quickly shifting odds.
An over/under line is frequently included by bookmakers that provide live betting in their releases, which typically appear during commercial breaks.
Live over/unders provide the bettor a fantastic opportunity to consider what they see critically. In a few of minutes, the line can occasionally vary significantly. For instance, the total may drop from 54 to 49.5 after just a few futile attempts if the Chiefs defense dominates the Packers early in the aforementioned Week 9 matchup.
As a live bettor, it is your responsibility to assess how predictive these possessions are for the remainder of the contest. Jump on it if you believe the Chiefs’ success is unsustainable. Your selection outperformed the pregame markets by 4.5 points.
How do totals after an extra time game change?
In general, you may cheer for overtime and additional innings/periods if you bet the over because they’re extremely wonderful news for you. Under bettors despise such things because they just add extra time to the game so that more points can be scored.
These extra time periods frequently count as if the game had simply continued. They typically also apply to wagers placed on the second or third periods.
Three-way markets—those offering win, loss, and draw options—are an exception. These typically only relate to regulations.
Why was my totals bet canceled?
Only a handful of situations cause cancelation in an over/under bet.
The bookmaker posts an obviously erroneous line. Often known as “palps,” books often cancel them if the game hasn’t started. Worse, if you bet at illegal offshore sportsbooks, they might freeroll you and only grade the bet if it loses.
Starting pitcher changes in MLB. If you booked a bet with “pitchers listed” on the total, then a late pitching change will void your bet.
The game or match doesn’t occur on the scheduled day. Even if they reconvene the next day and play, books often cancel bets and produce a new market.
The game or match ends early. Sometimes, this can happen due to inclement weather in various sports or a tennis injury.
Check your sportsbook’s rules to see how they grade these situations and more.
Note that a push can also occur if the total market features an even number – 54 instead of 54.5, for instance. If the game lands on 54, all over/under wagers get returned as if the bet never happened.
