Over/Under Betting Guide: What Does Over/Under Mean In Betting?

Over/Under betting, or totals betting, has rapidly gained popularity in recent years among new and experienced sports bettors.

It only matters that the two teams generate the excitement and score points!

Offered by all the best bookmakers, Over/Under betting lets you wager on whether the total points, goals, or runs scored in a game will go over or under a predetermined number.

Totals are available to bet on in every primary sports betting market, including NFL odds, NBA odds, MLB odds, and NHL odds.

Advantages and disadvantages of Over/Under totals betting

Let’s start our comprehensive Over/Under betting guide with some pros and cons to consider when making Over/Under totals bets.

Over/Under betting guide: at a glance

• Focus on Total Score, Not the Winner – Over/Under (or Totals) betting involves wagering on whether the combined total score of both teams in a game will be higher (Over) or lower (Under) than the number set by the sportsbook.
• Strategy and Considerations: Success involves researching factors like team offensive/defensive trends, head-to-head history, injuries, weather, and comparing odds.
• Over/Under betting is available on almost all major sports – from all the best sportsbooks.

What is Over/Under betting?

With Over/Under betting, you can bet on the total points, goals, or runs scored in a game.

Available in-game line wagering on every major sport, including NFL football, NBA basketball, MLB baseball, and NHL hockey, Over/Under betting differs from other popular game line bet types like point spreads and puck lines, which focus on which team will win and by how great a margin.

When you bet on the Over/Under, which means how many or how few points will be scored in the game, you can bet on whether the total will be over or under the number set on the betting line.

How to place a Over/Under bet

Totals betting is available for wagering on various sports, including the NFL, NBA, and college basketball. Here are a few Over/Under bet examples to help get you started.

The DraftKings app is being used for these Over/Under bet examples.

Open the app and tap “NBA” to review the game line odds for all upcoming games. Then tap on the game of your choice.

1. The above example illustrates game line odds for a matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers.

	Point Spread	Moneyline	Over/Under
Hornets	+13 (-110)	+550	O 223.5 (-110)
Lakers	-13 (-110)	-800	U 223.5 (-110)

In this example, the total (or Over/Under) is 223.5. That means if the Cavaliers and Hawks combine to score 224 or more points, the Over will cash in, while a game total of 223 or less will produce winnings for Under bettors.

2. Let’s say you want to bet on the Over. Tap on O223.5 in the Totals column on the betting line, and you can create a bet slip.

3. Tap on the link to open the bet slip. Enter the size of your stake. In this example, the odds of the total going Over 223.5 are set at -110.

That means a bet of $110 will win you $100 for a total payout of $210.

Once you are ready, tap the “Make Bet” or “Place Bet” button.

If your bet wins, you will receive a notification on your sports betting app, and your winnings will be automatically added to your account once your bet settles.

Six of the many factors influencing Over/Under totals

Several factors can determine how oddsmakers at the best sportsbooks determine the totals.

1. Weather conditions can dramatically impact the Over/Under in NFL and MLB games, with rain or freezing conditions contributing to a drop in the total at your favorite sportsbook.
2. Whether or not the game is being played inside a domed stadium
3. Who the starters are expected to be, who the starting goalies are in NHL games
4. The playing surface (natural or artificial turf) can play a role with some teams performing better on grass than turf.
5. Team defensive and offensive strategies and injuries to key players are also factors.
6. The betting decisions of sports bettors are also crucial. For example, if the public is betting heavily on the Over, the point total may increase before game time, or the odds attached to the Over will get shorter, limiting the size of your potential payout.

Strategies for successful Over/Under betting

It is important to have a betting strategy and to do your homework to give yourself more chances of winning in Over/Under betting.

Most importantly, whether you are a new or experienced sports bettor, you must do homework on the teams and players involved in the games you are considering betting on.

That includes researching recent game results and head-to-head matchups between the two teams.

Do the teams have a history of high-scoring or low-scoring games? Do the teams’ biggest stars perform well against this opponent? Is fatigue caused by travel or a heavy schedule a concern?

Injuries, weather, and intangibles such as recent coaching changes and other off-the-field factors must also be considered.

Don’t forget to shop around for the best betting lines. Sports bettors have never had more online sportsbooks to choose from, so sign up and monitor all the country’s top sports betting apps to find out which offers the most competitive Over/Under totals for MLB, college football, and NHL.

The most important thing to remember is to manage your bankroll responsibly. Always keep track of how much you are wagering on every game, and never make a spur-of-the-moment bet based on emotion, a gut feeling, or if you have had a few drinks.

Common mistakes to avoid in Over/Under betting

Even the most experienced sports bettors make mistakes, but if you follow these few simple steps, you can avoid these common mistakes when making your next over/under totals bet.

1. Just like the stock market, past performance does not guarantee future results. So, avoid overvaluing the recent performances of individual teams and players.Instead, take a longer view of past results to determine trends that can give you an edge.
2. Ignoring the weather report and injury report can be perilous.Always do your homework until the last minute to ensure you have the most current and accurate information on which to base your betting decisions.
3. Always bet with your head instead of your heart. Everyone loves betting on their favorite teams, but ignoring the factors you would consider if you weren’t wagering on your favorite team or player is very risky.

Over/Under betting examples

Oddsmakers at the best sportsbooks enjoy an impressive record of success in predicting totals, but nobody is perfect.

It is rare for a game to end with the exact total as the Over/Under line, particularly in high-scoring sports like NFL football and NBA basketball.

A prime example of a team that was hard to nail down on the total during the 2024 NFL season was the New Orleans Saints, who looked like a powerhouse while averaging 45.5 points per game in their first two games of the season but then averaged just 16.6 points per game during a subsequent seven-game losing streak.

Those uneven performances made the Saints a risky bet, with the OVER going 5-2 in their first seven games and just 3-7 in their final 10 games.

Things tend to be more predictable in NHL hockey, where the Over/Under is affectionately known as the puck line.

Typically, the puck line in an NHL game is set in the 5.0 to 6.5 range, and that limited range worked well for the high-scoring Toronto Maple Leafs, who opened the 2023/2024 by filling the net at home, generating winners for Over bettors in 12 of their first 16 home games.

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Over/Under betting guide FAQS

What does Over/Under mean in betting?

Over/Under betting refers to the betting line published by sportsbooks that predicts the total number of points, goals, or runs that will be scored in a game.

Growing in popularity among NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college sports bettors, the Over/Under is among the most popular game line bet types, along with point spreads and moneyline odds.

Over/Under betting is offered by all the nation’s best sportsbooks.

How does Over/Under betting work?

Over/Under betting has become very popular in sports betting.

The Over/Under lets you bet on whether the total goals or points scored in a game will be Over or Under, the number published by the sportsbook.

Over/Under is popular in all major sports betting markets, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.

What does Over/Under 1.5 mean in betting?

Over/Under 1.5 means that the predicted total number of goals that will be scored in a game is 1.5, and you can bet on whether the actual total goals will be Over or Under 1.5.

In high-scoring sports like the NFL and NBA, the Over/Under will be dramatically higher, while the Over/Under in lower-scoring sports like MLB and NHL typically ranges between 5 and 10.

What is a push in betting Over/Under?

A push in Over/Under means that the total points scored in a game are precisely the same as the total predicted by the sportsbook.

For example, the total in an NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles is set at 45, and the game ends with a 24-21 score. Most top sportsbooks will refund your stake on such Over/Under bets.

What does alternate total points mean?

Alternate total points are alternate betting lines that allow you to bet on totals that are higher or lower than the established game line. Alternate totals feature modified odds that can result in higher or lower payouts.

For example, a lower alternate total in a game between two high-scoring teams will likely have a lower payout since your chances of winning are likely higher.

What does ‘Total’ mean in betting?

Total is another word for Over/Under in sports betting. When you bet on the total, you are betting on whether the total number of goals, runs, or points in a specific game will be Over or Under, the number set by the sportsbook.

Totals betting is prevalent in all major sports, including NFL and NBA, MLB run lines and NHL puck lines.