When it comes to sports betting, one of the most popular types of bets is the over/under bet or total bet. This is a simple bet to understand and make, but it can be tricky to win if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making an over/under bet.
What is Over/Under Betting? Total Betting
Over/under betting or simply Betting on totals is when you wager on how many total points (goals scored, corner kicks submitted, etc) you think will be scored during the game. Before any game that you have chosen to place your bets on the oddsmaker sets a line and you decide if the final outcome of the game will be over or under the line set by the sportsbook.
Sports fans typically support one team, whether it be in American football, basketball, hockey, tennis or football. Fans occasionally support both teams, though, when they are also interested in earning money while watching their favorite sport. This is as a result of their selection of an over/under wager. In the world of betting, a “push” occurs when a wager ends up on the line and the bettor receives their money back with neither a win nor a loss.
Pushes mostly are used in sports such as Basketball and Football, but sometimes can be used in Ice Hockey and Baseball in over/under betting. Imagine an NBA game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat, and a player has to bet that both teams will score more than 5 goals in total. The pushes will work if precisely 5 goals are scored at the end of the game. If the bet was placed and exactly 5 goals were scored, the bet will work, and the bettor will receive 100% of his stake back.
Over-Under Betting in Football
Total in soccer is the number of goals scored, corners taken, fouls, and penalties. When to bet on the total less? The game is played by grassroots teams that act closed and defensively; there are no defensive members losses: goalkeepers, defenders, or midfielders; adverse weather conditions are predicted (heavy rain, snowfall, strong wind, heat), the difference in the level of teams is insignificant (there should not be a clear favorite and an obvious outsider).
The most well-known – under 2.5 goals betting market is the method involving playing the matches of the most popular clubs in the world, and they have millions of fans, many of whom bet on their favorite team. Bookmakers can put a total of 2.5 approximately equal values, but the players’ stakes, for example, on the option “over”, will increase the odds of the outcome “under.” It is necessary to find such teams and bet on the total 2.5. Imagine, we look at Liverpool’s 15 previous matches; 8 of them have ended with a total “under.” The probability is not high, but the odds were stably higher than 2.00, and sometimes they reached 3.00.
Over/Under Betting in Basketball
Total in basketball is a bet on teams’ performance in a match/half/quarter. The most common variant of this event is the total, which counts the number of points scored by two teams. To win, you have to score over/under what the line offers to win. Example: a bet on the NBA meeting between “Detroit” and “Cleveland.” Let’s choose the total points under (213.5) for odds of 1.90 and make a bet for $1000. If the teams score 213 points or less – we will get a net win of $900 (1000 * 1.90 = 1900). In case the score e is at 214 or more, the bet will lose.
Over/Under Betting in Hockey
Total in hockey is an event in the betting line-up, which means the number of goals scored. As usual, there are two main types of market – total under and total over. There is also another classification of these markets in hockey – classical (total), by periods, individual, statistical, and others. The total match total – the performance of the two teams for the game.
Classic total under/over can also be used in betting on periods. Example: Bet at face value of $1000 on total under in hockey in the NHL match Boston – “Colorado”: choose the event “total (5.5) under” at odds 2.10. To win, we need the teams to score at most 5 goals for the game – then we will earn $2,100 (1,000 * 2.10 = $2,100). If the team scores 6 goals or more – the bet will lose.
Over/Under Betting in Tennis
Total bet in tennis is a wager with a bookmaker, under the terms of which the bettor predicts the number of games, sets, and other outcomes that may occur in the match. Total more is considered in games where a hard fight is predicted, and every athlete has a chance of winning. Bookmakers understand that in tennis players with a great serve, there will be few breaks and many games.
If the match is a five-set match, the total will be 42.5. The outcome means that the athletes will play at least four games. Total under is for matches in which one side is significantly more robust. Almost always, the lower total implies a minimum number of sets: 2 or 3.
How Does Over/Under Betting Work? How to Calculate it?
Over/Under betting is one of the easiest bets and one of the most profitable ones as well. The bet is available in any sport you may want to place your bets on and that’s why if you are new to the betting world, this might be an interesting way to start your journey in betting. So how does this all work? Before setting a line, bookies calculate how they think each team will perform in the game and then they combine it into one total point.
If a bettor thinks that the outcome of the game will be more than the line set by the oddsmaker, they place their bet on it. You should select under if you believe the final score will be lower. When the bet is the same as the oddsmaker’s line, it is called “push” in the other words “a tie”, so the bettor gets their money back with no winnings or losing.
Quick Instruction On O/U Betting
So far we learned what is over/under betting and how it actually works. It’s now time to understand the strategy of it and as a bettor what you should do before considering choosing bets. Before placing your bets, you should do your research about the teams you are planning on making money. Whatever sport you decide to play, whether it be football, basketball, tennis or American football, you must first thoroughly research each team. In this case, our sports reviews might help you. Then you need to see how both sides perform against each other. Additionally, it’s crucial to dig as far into your research as you can because the more information you uncover, the easier it will be to put the puzzle pieces together.
Step-By-Step Instruction
- First, you need to find a sportsbook that offers over/under betting.
- Once you’ve found a sportsbook, create an account and deposit some money into it. After you get an account, you can start placing bets.
- To make an over/under bet, simply select this option on the bet slip. This will bring up a list of options for you to choose from. Select the event you want to bet on and then enter the amount of money you want to bet.
- The next step is to choose whether you think the final score will be over or under the total. If you think the final score will be over, you would select the “over” option. But, if you understand that the final score will be under, you would select the “under” option.
- Once you’ve made your selection, simply click on the “Place Bet” button and your bet will be placed.
If you’re new to sports betting, then making an over/under bet is a great way to start. It’s a simple bet to make and understand, but it can be tricky to win if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Moreover, you have a great chance to advance on upcoming sports events, claiming an extra bonus of 10 EUR on free bets on Cybet.bet! 
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Over/Under Betting?
Since it is the simplest and one of the most lucrative bets—as we’ve already mentioned—beginners can choose the over/under wager as their entry point into the world of gambling. As anything in life, O/U betting has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
- O/U market gives bettors a good alternative to betting on the money line and spread points; (or you can combine over/under bets with other forms of betting and use them in a variety of formats, be it Long Term, Asian Handicap, or Live)
- Both teams are working for your success;
- Over/under betting is the most popular type of bets among bettors because of high chance to win;
- It is a simpler type of bet to understand than some others.
Disadvantages
Even though doing research will help you place your bets more wisely, it is still impossible for that research to be 100% accurate because the statistics do not always work out the way they did in the past.
- Over/Under betting can be difficult to predict, especially if the odds are close;
- There is a higher chance of losing your bet if you do not accurately predict the outcome;
- You can’t combine both outcomes of one single event with each other.
When you are first beginning your journey into the world of betting, the Over/Under Betting will be an excellent first step for you to take in order to become acquainted with the world of gambling. You just need to decide which sport you want to bet on, and then which specific game within that sport you want to wager on. After that, you should do some research, and then you will be ready to start gambling.
FAQ
- How do you place an over under bet?
The bettor places a stake that the total points scored in the game will be higher or lower than a set value (usually called “over or under” for that game). If they are correct, they will win.
- How do you play over and under?
An “over” bet means that you believe that the two teams combined will score more goals, points, games, or sets than the totals listed. On the other hand, an “under” bet means that you believe the total amount will be less than what is stated. In case you bet more and the total is below the total, your bet is lost.
- How do you calculate over under?
For example, if the sportsbook line is a Totals bet of 5.5, a bet on the Over will win if both teams score six or more points. The bet on the Under will win if they score a combined five points or fewer.
- What does 4.5 over under mean?
Total under 4.5 means a bet on the fact that in a match or game segment will happen no more than four events from those on which you bet: goals, corners, penalties.
When a player chooses to bet on more than two and a half goals, he will be satisfied with all cases when teams score 3 or more goals. It doesn’t matter how many times one or the other side hits the target, and it is only necessary that there are at least three goals in total.
- Is it better to bet the over or under?
The bettor concerned with placing a “‘over/under” bet must guess whether the team’s total will be over 46.5 points or under. If you think the game will be less scoring, bet on “less”. If you think the game will be more productive, bet on “over”.
- What does over 1.5 mean in betting?
A total Over 1.5 means that in a given segment of the match (or in the whole game), there will be two or more goals, penalties, points, fouls, or other statistical facts.
- What does +150 mean in betting?
It is generally accepted that +150 odds indicate that a $100 bet can return $150 for every $100 wagered plus the original $100 bet.
- What’s the over-under Example?
Consider the variant of calculating the bet “total under” on the example of the UEFA Champions League “Chelsea” – “Valencia”. Let’s assume that you have bet $1000 on a total under 2.5 goals at odds of 3.45. If no goals are scored in the match or only one or two goals are scored, the payout will be $3450: 1000 x 3.45 = 3450. The net profit will be $2450 (3450 – 1000). The bet will lose if three or more goals are scored in the match. In this case, the player will lose all the money.
- Do over or unders hit more?
The total Over looks more profitable because the bet can play long before the end of the event. But the deal for a total Under is considered only after the end of the match.
- Who wins if the over/under is exact?
The result, not including a draw. Bets are accepted on the win of the 1st or 2nd team; an appeal is not offered. If the match ends in a draw, bets on the game are returned.
- Do Over/Under bets include overtime?
Points scored in overtime count towards the over/under bet.
