There was a time not so long ago when professional sports leagues forbid their network TV partners from referencing sports betting. It was a rule that legendary broadcaster Al Michaels would bend with regularity, usually after a late fourth-quarter touchdown: “Well, that score definitely was overwhelming for some …”
Michaels was making a not-so-subtle reference to the game’s Over/Under. That is, the number of combined total points scored by both teams—a number set by Las Vegas bookmakers.
In recent years, Over/Under wagers have become as popular as “side” bets (i.e., which team/player will win the game/match). A big reason for this popularity? Over/Under (or “totals”) bets are simple to understand.
What is an Over/Under Bet?
Here’s what we mean by simple: When you bet a total in any event—be it a football game, soccer match, or hot dog consumption contest—you’re wagering whether that event will go “Over” or “Under” a specific number established by oddsmakers.
The beauty of Over/Under betting is it can be applied to almost anything: number of receptions for a wide receiver; number of strikeouts by a pitcher; number of laps led by a driver in a NASCAR race; the winning time in a marathon; how long it takes your spouse to make a round-trip grocery store run.
If somebody is willing to set an Over/Under line, somebody, somewhere, will be glad to bet on it.
What is a Push?
Oddsmakers post two kinds of totals: those with whole numbers (8 runs in baseball, 49 points in football) and those with fractions (5.5 goals in hockey, 212.5 points in basketball).
If an Over/Under wager has a fraction, there will be a definitive result (assuming the event is completed—more on that below). However, if the total is a whole number, it’s possible the result can be a tie.
Take, for example, the 49-point Over/Under in a football game. If the game ends 28-21, the wager is graded as a “push.” In this situation, the bettor’s money is refunded.
Over/Under wagers also can push (and be refunded) if a game/event is canceled/postponed or doesn’t finish. Online sportsbooks have different policies regarding what qualifies as a “completed” event for every sport. They also have policies pertaining to whether a bet remains “live” if it’s rescheduled to a future date.
For instance, a baseball game that’s rained out and rescheduled for another day almost always results in wagers being refunded. However, if you bet on a boxing match that gets postponed for a couple of months, your ticket might remain active.
Therefore, it’s important to always check the “house rules” before making any wager.
How to Bet Totals
There are numerous ways to bet totals, with the options varying from sport to sport—and even varying within each sport. Here’s a breakdown:
Over/Under Betting in Baseball
Like all team sports, baseball offers Over/Under betting opportunities before the season even begins. You can wager on a team to go Over or Under a predetermined season win total; on a batter to go Over or Under a home run total; and on a pitcher to go Over or Under a victory total (to name just a few).
Also, as noted above, most sportsbooks offer prop bets involving individual player performance outcomes (Over/Under strikeouts; Over/Under total bases), as well as team outcomes (runs scored for one team; combined runs; hits and errors for both teams).
That said, the most popular way to bet Over/Unders in baseball involves total combined runs scored by both teams in a single game. These totals can range from a low of 6.5 runs (if, say, two All-Star-caliber pitchers are matched up against two weak offenses) to well into double digits (if two mediocre pitchers are facing powerful offenses in a hitter-friendly ballpark).
As an example, let’s use a Yankees-Red Sox game with a total of 10.5 and odds (or “juice”) of -120 to the Over and +100 to the Under.
If you place a $100 bet on Over 10.5, you stand to collect $183.33 (original $100 bet, plus $83.33 in winnings). If you wager $100 on Under 10.5 and win, you’ll get back $200 (original $100 bet, plus $100 in winnings).
Why the discrepancy in payouts? Because of those -120/+100 odds. If, in the above scenario, you want to win $100 on Over 10.5 runs at -120 odds, you have to risk (wager) $120.
Over/Under Betting in Football
Total points scored by both teams in the first quarter, first half, and full game. Total points scored by one specific team. Total receiving yards gained, rushing attempts, passing touchdowns, sacks accumulated, turnovers committed. Over/Under betting options in football are endless.
And, like baseball (and other team sports), bookmakers attach odds to all of their Over/Under offerings.
Here are two examples:
- Patrick Mahomes Over/Under 1.5 TD passes vs. Chargers (Over -165/Under +145): If you believe Mahomes will throw at least two touchdown passes and you want to win $100, you must risk $165 (total return if the wager wins: $265). If you think he struggles and only throws one or zero touchdown passes, you can wager $100 to win $145 (total return: $245).
- 49ers-Rams Over/Under 23.5 combined first-half points (Over -110/Under -110): Confident that the Rams and 49ers will light up the scoreboard in the first two quarters? In this example, wager $110 to win $100 on Over 23.5 first-half points. Think the defenses will dominate early on? Wager $110 to win $100 on Under 23.5 first-half points.
Over/Under Betting in Basketball
Unlike baseball, football and hockey, Over/Under betting numbers for basketball games soar well into triple digits. In the modern NBA, you rarely see full-game totals south of 200.
However, Over/Under numbers in college basketball—which has two 20-minute halves versus the NBA’s four 12-minute quarters, as well as a longer shot clock—are significantly less. Still, the concept remains the same: You’re betting whether two teams will exceed or fall short of the oddsmakers’ posted total.
Like football, these totals are correlated to teams’ offensive and defensive capabilities. Games that feature strong defenses and/or weak offenses will have lower Over/Under numbers. Conversely, games involving two teams with prolific offenses and/or weak defenses will have higher totals.
Also, like football, Over/Under betting in basketball is offered for the first quarter (NBA and women’s basketball only), first half, second half and full game. Example:
- Lakers vs. Warriors, Over/Under 110.5 first-half points (Over -115/Under -105): Bettors who anticipate a fast-paced opening 24 minutes will bet Over 110.5 points, laying $115 to win $100. Bettors who expect a sluggish start and missed shots would lay $105 to win $100 on the Under.
Basketball—particularly the NBA —is yet another sport in which Over/Under prop bet opportunities are plentiful (and increasingly popular). Everything from LeBron James’ total points scored to Steph Curry’s made 3-pointers to Joel Embiid’s total rebounds to Devin Booker’s total points, rebounds and assists combined. (Not available to wager, unfortunately: Over/Under the number of times Kevin Durant and James Harden request a trade.)
Over/Under Betting in Hockey
Betting hockey totals—whether it’s the full game, first period or an individual skater’s points and/or goals prop—mostly comes down to one factor: your assessment of each team’s goaltender. (Goalies are to hockey what pitchers are to baseball when it comes to betting Over/Unders.)
If one or both netminders are top-tier talents, the goal total will be low (often 5 or 5.5). When lesser goalies are between the pipes — especially those facing opponents with offensive firepower — the Over/Under usually will be 6 or 6.5 (and sometimes as high as 7).
Let’s use an Over/Under of 6.5 as an example. If you think the two teams will tally six goals or fewer, wager on the Under. If you forecast a shootout that will yield at least seven combined goals, bet the Over.
The same juice/odds element applies to hockey. If your objective is to win $100, and Over 6.5 is -135 while Under 6.5 is +115, you’ll need to bet $135 on the former (total return: $235) and $86.96 on the latter (total return: $186.96).
Over/Under Betting in Tennis
Want to get involved with Over/Under betting in tennis? You basically have two options: Bet on the number of games played in a given match or the number of matches a player will win in a given tournament.
Regarding the latter option, let’s say Carlos Alcaraz is playing in Wimbledon. Before the tournament starts, bookmakers post an Over/Under on the total number of matches Alcaraz will win in the event. Let’s make that number 5.5.
Since a player must win seven matches to claim the U.S. Open title, bettors who wager Over 5.5 believe Alcaraz will reach at least the semifinals (winning a minimum of six matches). Bettors who wager Under 5.5 are banking on Alcaraz getting ousted in the quarterfinals or sooner.
As a tournament progresses, you also can make over/under wagers on the number of games it will take to complete a particular match.
Let’s say Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek are squaring off. Since women’s matches are best-of-3 sets and players must win six games to capture a set, the Over/Under for total games played might be 20.5.
If you predict this match will be tightly contested and go at least three sets (with scores of, say, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 for a total of 29 games), you’ll bet Over 20.5. If you think Gauff or Swiatek will wipe out the other in two quick sets (say, 6-2, 6-1 for a total of 15 games), you’ll bet Under 20.5.
Over/Under Betting in Soccer
Betting totals in soccer are very similar to hockey, with one exception: The numbers oddsmakers post are at least half that of hockey. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that goals in soccer are difficult to come by. As such, totals in high-level professional soccer matches are almost always 1.5, 2 or 2.5.
Once again, you’re wagering if both teams will combine to score more goals or fewer goals than the oddsmakers’ posted total. And once again, that wager comes down to both teams’ offensive and defensive/goaltending abilities.
If, for instance, you’re betting Real Madrid-Liverpool Over 2.5 goals, you need the teams to tally at least three goals to cash your ticket. If you side with the Under, you’re hoping for a 0-0, 1-0 or 1-1 final score.
Over/Under Betting in Boxing/UFC
When it comes to combat sports, Over/Under betting is all about the number of rounds you expect a fight to last.
In boxing, championship bouts are slated for 12 three-minute rounds, while UFC title fights are five rounds of five minutes each. Non-title/undercard fights are usually 10 rounds or fewer in boxing and three rounds in UFC.
When one or both fighters are known knockout artists (in either sport), the Over/Under number established by oddsmakers will be lower. Conversely, two fighters who don’t pack a big punch and frequently make it to the final bell will have a higher Over/Under number.
So when Mike Tyson fought in his prime and was scheduled for a 12-round fight, the total number of rounds posted at sportsbooks often was low (especially if Iron Mike’s opponent had a glass chin). However, when Floyd Mayweather fought Manny Pacquiao in 2015, the Over/Under for the 12-round bout was 11.5 rounds (and the bout went the distance).
Betting totals in UFC and boxing boils down to one question: Do you believe a fight will reach the later rounds (if not go the distance)? If the answer is yes, bet the Over. If the answer is no, take the Under.
One thing to keep in mind: As with the other sports referenced in this tutorial, plus-minus odds come into play with Over/Under betting in both boxing and the UFC. So always understand what you’re risking and the potential payout—and always shop around for the best price.
