NEWSLETTER
New sports bettors will hear the team total or over/under when it comes to wagering on sports. What is a total bet? It’s a wager on the total number of points scored in a game. You bet either over or under a number set by the sportsbook. Let’s dive in to learn more about these wagers as you start sports betting.
What is a Total Bet?
As we said, a total bet is also called an over/under. A sportsbook sets a number for a game’s score and you are betting whether you believe the points, runs, goals, etc. will be over or under that number.
Betting the Over/Under
Let’s look at an example. Take an NFL matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals. The total at a sportsbook is 43.5.
| Matchup | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|
| Chiefs at Bengals | O 43.5 (-110) | U 43.5 (-110) |
If you think there will be 44 or more points scored in the game, you would bet the over. If you think it will be 43 or less, you bet the under. The total score from the game is what you are betting on. So both teams’ points. If the game ends 35-14 and you bet the over, you win because that’s 49 points.
Odds for Total Bets
What about the odds for over/under bets? How do they work? Let’s look at that same example.
| Matchup | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|
| Chiefs at Bengals | O 43.5 (-110) | U 43.5 (-110) |
Similar to spread bets, the odds for a total are usually around -110. This means a $110 bet would win $100. Now, sometimes, the odds can vary so that’s why it’s important to compare odds at different sportsbooks. You might see a sportsbook have odds of -115 for the over while another is -110. The -110 is a better value bet.
What Happens When You Land on the Total?
Sometimes the over/under will fall on a whole number. For example, the NBA over/under for the Lakers vs Nuggets might be 218. If you make a wager on this total and the game ends with 218 points it’s called a push. You get your money back and there is no harm no foul.
What About Sports Like Tennis?
In sports like baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer the over/under is pretty straightforward. You are betting over/under on points, goals, and runs. What about sports like tennis? Let’s look at an example.
| Matchup | Sets O | Sets U |
|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner vs Lorenzo Sonego | O 2.5 (+320) | U 2.5 (-600) |
For this example, you can bet on the total number of sets played between Sinner and Sonego. If you bet the over, you are wager that there will be 3 or more sets played in the match. Take notice of the odds. You can see some huge variations when betting on the sets. The over is +320 meaning a $100 bet wins $320. For the under, it takes a $600 bet to win $100.
Also, you can bet on the total number of games too.
| Matchup | Games O | Games U |
|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner vs Lorenzo Sonego | O 21.5 (-120) | U 21.5 (-115) |
In this case, you are betting on the total number of games played. If you bet the over, you need at least 22 games played in the match. Remember to always check the odds as well to understand your payout.
Why Do Totals Change?
Why does the over/under change? Like other types of bets, the odds change based on how many people are wagering on a particular side, injuries, weather, etc. Let’s say the public is heavily betting on the over in the Chiefs vs Ravens game which is 44.5. A sportsbook might shift the over to 45.5 or they will change the odds from -110 to -120.
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