Explain Over Under Betting
Betting on the underdog will result in a much better payout, as the oddsmakers have deemed this team less likely to lose. As you take action on either the favorite or the underdog and select the moneyline, a ratio of $100 is used to represent the payouts. Seems pretty easy right?
Betting on the over/under point total of a game is quite popular when making a sports wager. Bettors tend to really like betting on over/under because they don't really have a rooting issue for one team or the other, but rather offense or defense. It is one of the main ways to make a wager for any given match up and the over/under point's total can be found along with other game lines including the points spread + the moneyline (payout for a straight up win).
In addition to the spread bet, a very common 'side bet' on an event is the total (commonly called the over/under or O/U) bet. This is a bet on the total number of points scored by both teams. Suppose team A is playing team B and the total is set at 44.5 points. When betting totals, you aren’t betting on just one team. You are wagering on the combined points scored in the game. For example, if the over/under in the Green Bay-Chicago game is 42.5 and you bet on the over, you need at least 43 points scored in the game to win. Conversely, if you bet the under, and the score exceeds 42 points, you lose.
Below we talk about the different sports and explain how how to read sports betting odds when it comes to dealing with the over/under total wager option.
How Does The Over/Under Betting Line Work?
When two teams are set to match up, oddsmakers will research both teams, their history, trends, previous meetings and a variety of other factors. After doing all their work an over/under point total will be released for the combined score of the game in questions. From that point, it is on the bettor to decide whether he/she thinks that score (total) will be 'over' or 'under' the oddsmakers' prediction. Simply pick the right side to get paid!
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Now, this can be points in football games, goals in hockey and soccer, runs in baseball... Ok you, get the idea, but you should know the concept of betting over or under comes into play when making team based prop wagers and individual player props. Instead of using points or score as the deciding number, prop-based over/unders will use all sorts of stats from the total number of turnovers in a given period of time, to the total number of rushing yards for a player.
When Can The Over/Under Be Wagered On?
The over/under total for a game is one of the staples over the game lines installed for every matchup. Bettors will have numerous chances to bet on the game total before the game, but even after game gets underway there will be other chances as well.
Game totals are installed with the point spread and moneyline, and typically there is plenty of time to check them out and get a bet in prior to the start of the game. But after the game starts, there can be different over/under totals installed for the game in increments. For example a football game with four quarters can have an over/under point total for each. Bettors could conceivably wagers on a total for every quarter or half in a matchup. That presents plenty of bets that can be made.
Live betting also comes into play. At different points in the game a live wager could reform a game total either higher or lower, with an adjusted payout. This is similar to an in-play betting line as well, with adjusted totals for in-progress matchups.
Betting On The Over/Under Totals For An Individual Team
Another type of over/under total bet is for the two teams involved in the game. This is considered to be a prop bet though and at most online sportsbooks will be in the team props, and not a part of the game lines. Those are reserved for the combined game total. Still, teams will be set with different over/under totals, which will closely relate to the game total on the game line plus the point spread. There are several variables that come into the formation of this betting line.
Understanding Payouts When Betting On The Over / Under
The payouts for an over/under total wager fluctuate but generally stay around even payouts for both sides of the bet. The times when the payout for an over/under will not be equal are usually when:
- One side of the wager is being bet on more than the other, however sportsbook operators will generally adjust the actual total to balance the wager instead of changing the payouts.
- The payouts typically tend to swing more when the total score cannot be changed because the wager is based on a low-scoring sport like NHL, MLB, soccer, etc... When this occurs there can be sizable differences in payout
Example: Over/Under Total Points For Game - Over # Points (-105) / Under # Points (-125)
The numbers inside the parentheses indicate the payout. -105 shows this side of the wager pays $.95 for every $1 wagered versus -125 which pays $.80 for every $1 wagered. This basically shows the percentage paid to the house when the bet is won which is also known as 'juice'. If there are no numbers shown in parentheses both sides pay equally; usually -110.
Examples Of Total Wagers
NFL Over/Under
- Dallas Cowboys vs. NY Giants: 44.5 o/u
Here in this example we have the Cowboys taking on the Giants. Oddsmakers have set the over/under point total for the two teams combined at 44.5 points. There are two options to take on this line. The over total, and the under total. For the over total to win this line, both teams would need to combine for at least 45 points. For the under total, 44 points or less scored and that side of the line wins. Get an explanation of NFL betting odds here.
College Football Over/Under + Total Wagers
What Does Over Under Mean When Betting
- Georgia Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers : 46.5 o/u
This Southeastern Conference showdown between Georgia and Tennessee has been installed with a game total of 46.5 points. This the total total number of points installed for the combined score in the game. The wager is made on the actual total going above or below this mark. For the over to win here, 47 points or more is needed between the Bulldogs and Volunteers. For the under to win, it's 46 points or fewer. Learn how to read college football betting odds here.
NBA Total Wagers + Over/Under Betting Lines
- Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks : 202.5 o/u
Flipping the total to be accurate for betting on NBA lines, the mark for this over/under total example has been set at 202.5 points. This is the combined point total for both teams in the matchup. The wager is made on the actual total from the game going over or under the installed line. Here, 203 points or more is needed for the over to win. On the flip side, 202 points or fewer and the under wins. There is no chance for a push with the half point in play.
Bovada Sportsbook - Best Sports Betting Site For Betting On The Over / Under
Betting Odds Explained
This is where Bovada shows its cards as the best site for many players to choose from. The Over/Under here on this site are clearly the best ones out there for players to pick. The scores are so close that when players do a little research, it is very easy to pick either the over or the under to bet on Bovada.
With different games and high scoring games in different sports, the over/under on Bovada is based on the success of the teams earlier in the season. This means that this over/under can change often so placing over/under bets on Bovada can be the most profitable especially when it comes to parlaying bets!
SportsBetting's Sportsbook - Lots Of Betting Odds When Betting The Over / Under
Here is where betting odds on the over/under are just in favor of all players with an account with SportsBetting. This sportsbook is here for the players so that means that the odds that you will find are there for players to want to wager on. The better the over/under is, the more players will continue to sign up for Sportsbetting.ag accounts.
When you have an Over/Under set so high with two teams known for high scoring offenses, this means this that betting over could be very easy to do. In fact, when knowing that two teams like the Baltimore Ravens and The Kansas City Chiefs who are known for their high-powered offenses play each other, there is no doubt that the game will explode with points and SportsBetting has the Over/Under set up for players to win.
BetOnline Sportsbook - Best Sportsbook Bonuses And Promotions
BetOnline is just the site that has the best over/under totals and there is no doubt about it. These totals are favored for players to profit when picking these bets at the right time. Picking the Over/Under on a lot of games can be challenging if players don’t do any extra research on these teams. Here on BetOnline from past results, there are plenty players that cash big betting on the Over/Under total.
When it comes to creating the over/under total, these points are based on how a team has recently played and also the availability of the the best players on their team. The reason that you will get the best Over/Under total from Betonline is because as soon as any news comes out regarding a team, the Over/Under total is updated. Accuracy of the total is very much to winning huge and BetOnline makes sure to be as accurate as possible.
MyBookie Sportsbook - Players Often Play Over/Under Bets On MyBookie
There is no reason for players to not want to bet on the Over/Under totals here on MyBookie. The totals are always set up based on the teams that are playing no matter if one team is a lot better than the other. This means that even if a team is very good at scoring and the other one isn’t, there is a good chance this Over/Under will be based on the high scoring team.
How Does Over Under Betting Work
The way that this is great for MyBookie player is very simple. This Over/Under total could really be affected when teams are going back and forth. The points scored can really increase if Team A , who is not known for scoring a lot, is trying to stick around and possibly pull off the upset. Paying close attention to both teams is important when placing Over/Under bets and once you have done your research, cashing on MyBookie shouldn’t be an issue at all!