Over/Under Betting Guide

Massively popular in sports like football and basketball, over/under betting gives you the chance to predict various match statistics. From the thrill of watching the scoreboard creep up, to your chosen player delivering a stellar performance, over/under betting is an exciting alternative to simply betting on a game’s outcome. 

In this comprehensive guide to over/under betting, we’ll run you through all you need to know before wagering on totals markets. And once you’re ready to go, you can compare the best US betting sites here at BettingOdds. Let’s get started!

What is an Over/Under Bet?

If you’ve ever placed a bet on American sports, you’ve likely come across the three main markets — moneyline, point spread, and total. The latter of these is the same thing as an over/under bet, and put simply, you’re betting on the combined score of both teams at the end of the game. 

Here’s an example to walk you through the basics. Say the Kansas City Chiefs are playing the Jacksonville Jaguars and you see the following odds at your sportsbook:

• Over 51.5 -105
• Under 51.5 -115

Imagine you bet on over and the final score is 34–28. Add these together and the total score is 34 + 28 = 62. That’s over the points threshold of 51.5, so your bet succeeds. Remember, it doesn’t matter which team wins the game — just that you correctly predict whether the final combined score is above or below the line. 

If the final score was 22–16, the total would be 38 instead. In that case, betting on over would lose and betting on under would win. 

To calculate the potential payout in totals betting, you need to understand American odds. These are represented with positive and negative numbers. For positive numbers, this is the return on a winning $100 bet. For negative numbers, it’s the amount you need to bet to win $100. So, using the same example above, you’d need to bet $105 on over to win $100, or $115 on under to win $100. Consequently, the bookmaker thinks there’s a slightly higher chance of the total score being under 51.5 points. 

The Pros and Cons of Over/Under Betting

Is over/under betting right for you? Here’s a quick summary to help you decide.

Once your bet has been placed, all that’s left to do is cross your fingers and wait for the outcome. If you want to check up on your current or previous bets, this can be done via the ‘My Bets’ area of your account. 

Over/Under Prop Bets 

While points totals are the most popular over/under bets, you can also make this type of wager on a range of props. The offering depends on your chosen sport — here’s a look at some additional over/under markets you’re likely to find at the best US sportsbooks. 

NFL

In addition to betting on quarter, half, or final score, there’s a host of over/under betting possibilities when it comes to the NFL. Team stats like score or total time of possession are popular, or you can drill down to a specific player’s passing yards, rushing yards, etc. Total touchdowns, sacks, and interceptions are a few more examples of totals you can bet on. 

NBA

As with NFL, over/under bets on the quarter, half, or full time score are popular choices for NBA, as are markets like total turnovers, steals and blocks, free throws, and three-pointers. Margin of victory is another option. At the player level, you can over/under bet on the number of points, rebounds, and assists.

MLB

Major League Baseball has a substantial selection of over/under bets across the entire game — total runs, total hits, total home runs, total strikeouts, total walks, total errors, and total innings. Some top sportsbooks offer over/under props on individual players too. 

NHL

In addition to total goals at full time or in a given period, NHL fans can bet on a myriad of hockey stats including shots on goal, power play goals, penalty minutes, faceoffs won, and even total hits. You’ll find props at the player level too, like the number of successful saves by a particular goaltender.

Soccer

Alongside total and team goals, soccer has its fair share of over/under props. Bettors can wager on the minutiae of each match, with options like total corners, shots on target, or throw-ins. Think it’s going to be a dirty game? You can bet on total red and yellow cards as well.

Golf

Over/under betting is less common in golf than sports like basketball and football. Nonetheless, you’ll still find options at top bookmakers, mostly focused on individual player performance like golfer’s total score, round score, or winning margin. Number of birdies, eagles, and hole-in-ones are options at both player and tournament level. Another market you might see is whether the cut line will be set at a score over or under a set number. 

Boxing/MMA

You won’t typically find many over/under props for combat sports like boxing or MMA. Number of rounds or fight time in minutes are common options, where you’re betting on how long you think the fight will last. You might also be able to bet on the accuracy of a particular fighter with the total number of punches landed.

Tennis

Over/under betting on tennis typically involves betting on elements tied to the score, like total number of games or sets in the match, or the number won by a specific player. You may also find markets on statistics like number of aces, double faults, or tiebreaks.

How are Over/Under Odds Calculated?

When it comes to setting their prices, bookmakers have a team of experts behind the scenes weighing up a number of factors to determine where to set the over/under line. They look at every possible angle that could affect the outcome of the game — and these are the things you should also be considering as a bettor. 

The main thing to consider is each team and their style of play. Fast-paced, aggressive teams may be more likely to put up plenty of points, which could signal a good opportunity to bet on the over. Likewise, you might take the under if one of the contesting teams has a particularly strong defense. 

You’ll likely want to think about the team’s recent form and whether its players have sustained any injuries of late, especially if you’re looking to place an over/under prop on a specific individual. Weather conditions can also play a role, as can home advantage. 

Of course, there’s never a sure thing when you bet on sports. Take Giants vs Cowboys in September 2023 — Cowboys ran away with the game, securing a 40–0 victory. Despite this massive shutout, the Giants’ lack of points meant the game total failed to pass the 45-point line at most sportsbooks. 

Compare Sportsbooks, Sign Up, and Place Your Over/Under Bet

Now you’re clued up on over/under betting, you’re ready to give it a try for yourself — and we’ve selected a fantastic range of betting sites to help you find your next site. As a new customer, you’ll get to take advantage of a welcome offer. Simply take a look at our rankings and click through to sign up!

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