What is the over/under in sports betting?

Written by: Richard Janvrin

In sports betting, there are numerous ways you can engage in wagers involving your favorite teams, including over/under betting. With over and under betting, you’ll find other ways it’s implemented into bets, even beyond the standard over/under or totals betting market.
 
If you’re new to this topic, don’t worry—our USALegalBetting.com team has you covered. Below, we’ll cover all things over under betting, including tips, explanations, popular sports, and more.
 
If you’re looking for additional tips on topics such as point spread betting, we also have you covered with our guides.
 
Let’s dive in and explore the over/under meaning.

What is Over/Under In Betting?

In its simplest form, the over/under is a betting market known as totals betting. With this betting market, players will wager based on how many points they think both teams involved will score combined. For the wager, an “over/under line” or “totals line” will be provided that you’ll bet against. This could appear as a whole number, like 46 or 220 points, or have an added “0.5” at the end, like 46.5 or 220.5.

The bet you’ll make it simple: Over the number provided, or under.
If the line is 46 points, you’d wager under, and you think the teams will score 40 combined. If you think they’ll combine for 50, you’d bet over.

Without getting into too much detail, this over/under construct is also used in player props with the same concept.  

How Does The Over/Under Work?

As mentioned, the goal of the over/under bets is to choose whether you think the combined point total finishes with more or fewer points than designated.

Let’s use an NFL game as an example.  

Right now, heading into Week 15 of the 2023-24 season, the week’s first game is the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers. The over/under line is set at 33.5.

The over has a betting line of -108 (bet $108 to win $100) whereas the under is -112 (bet $112 to win $100).

Now, you’ll decide what you think the final score will be.

If you think the Raiders win 17-14, this is the final score of 31 points. Therefore, you’d wager the under. If you think the final score will be 27-24, this is 51 combined points, and you’d wager the over.

Typically, the betting odds for the over/under are -110 on each side, but there can be some variation depending on the sportsbook or if one side has seen more bets placed on it.

How To Bet On Over/Under?

Betting the over/under is the same in every sport, but each comes with some wrinkles. Below, we’ll provide an over/under bet example for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and Soccer.

Betting on the NFL

• Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Over 42
  Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Under 42

As a whole number, you could potentially end up with a tie if the score ends 22-20. In this instance, this is a “push,” and you’d receive your wager back. If you decide to engage with Superbowl betting, you’ll find that the totals betting markets as the same, too.

Betting on the NBA 

• Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 224
• Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Under 224

Like the NFL example above, if the game finishes with a score of 114-110, this would be a push. Otherwise, you’d wager over/under as with any other total bets.

Betting on the MLB

• Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians: Over 9.5
• Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians: Under 9.5

Baseball is a much lower-scoring game than the NBA or NFL, so you’ll see totals that are more representative of that sport.

Betting on the NHL

• Boston Bruins  vs. Arizona Cyotes: Over 6
• Boston Bruins vs. Arizona Cyotes: Under 6

The NHL is also a low-scoring league and sport and will have totals that are typically even less than that of baseball. Seeing a total beyond 6.5 does happen in hockey, but it’s not too common.

Betting on the Soccer

• Manchester United vs. Bayern Munchen Total Goals: Over 3.5 (+110)
• Manchester United vs. Bayern Munchen Total Goals: Under 3.5 (-135)

Typically, with over/under bets, you’ll find that the betting odds are at or around -110. However, with soccer, whether you’re betting on the MLS or another league, it can be radically different. Goals getting scored in soccer are rarer than points in any of the sports listed above, so betting on a game finishing with three instead of four goals could be a massive swing.

With a “+” betting line, you’ll receive that money with a successful $100 wager. For example, at +135, if you bet the under on 3.5 goals and win, you’ll receive $135.

How Are Over/Under Bets Paid Out?

In states where sports betting is legal, over/under bets are paid out based on the odds provided for each side of the bet.
 
As mentioned, the betting odds on totals for most sports are at or around -110.
 
This “-” line odds, you have to bet that amount to win $100. With “+” bets, you’ll win that amount with a successful $100 wager.
 
So, if you bet $110 the over on a game with odds of -110 and win, you’ll receive $100.  

How To Do Bookies Come Up With Over/Under Lines?

As with any line in sports betting, bookies create them according to the implied probability that’s sourced using various algorithmic models they possess. However, after the initial lines are posted, sportsbooks adjust them based on the money received on each side of the wager.

While we can never guarantee wins on sports betting, there are numerous tips and strategies you can deploy when betting on the total.
 
Let’s explore some below.

Monitor Over/Under Line Changes

We mentioned that totals betting odds are at or around -110 betting odds, but there are times when you’ll see that change.
 
Regarding our Raiders and Chargers example, the over was -108, and the under was -112. As the odds go -111 or beyond, this could be the start of the line potentially changing. In that example, the line shift from 33.5 points to 33, making it a bit more difficult to lean under that particular game's total points line.

Over and Under Betting Sportsbook Rules

The rules for over/under betting are fairly straightforward at online sportsbooks. One rule to be aware of is when there’s a tie or a “push.” All online sportsbooks will give you your original wager back. However, the one rule you need to look for is how that interacts with parlays.
 
Some parlays could void that portion of the parlay and carry on with the rest, whereas some could potentially cause the parlay to fail.

Evaluate the Projected Total For Each Team

When looking at the over/under, you can determine the implied, projected total for each team by evaluating the point spread.

Let’s use the Steelers and Colts example from earlier.

• Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Over 42
• Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Under 42

The over/under here is 42, and the Colts are 2.5-point favorites. 
To determine their team total, you’d halve the total and add 1.25 points. For the Steelers, you halve the total and subtract 1.25 points.

Thus, the Colts have an implied team total of 22.25 points, and the Steelers have 19.75. From here, 22.25 - 19.75 equals 2.5, which is the spread. That’s a quick thing you can do to see if the math is correct.  
The point of doing this is to evaluate each team individually and then account for how much the other team needs to “make up for.”

For example, the Steelers implied total is 19.75. Still, if you think they only score 14 points, you need to evaluate if the Colts will score their implied total of 22.25, but with an additional 5.75 tacked onto it.

Monitor Sportsbook Promotions

Sportsbook promotions at the betting sites you’re playing at are something you should always pay attention to. Whether you play on a desktop or betting apps, you should monitor the promotions page to see if one becomes available to you that makes sense for you financially and can also be used for over/under betting.

One example that can be used for over/under total betting is parlay boosts. You can use over/under bets to add to parlays and receive boosts. That’s just one of many examples to look for.

• NFL: Besides betting on the game's final score, there are ample player props to choose from. You could wager on the passing yards for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The line for this could be something like 274.5 passing yards. Like the final score, you’ll wager whether that goes over or under. Unlike the final score, these odds won’t always be at or around -110.
• NHL: There are numerous player props in the NHL, too. One of the most popular prop bets in hockey is shots on goal. Many players are at or around a line of 2.5-3.5, and you have to decide whether they’ll finish with more or less of them.   
• NBA: Next to the NFL, there are a plethora of player props with an over/under betting dynamic available, including points, rebounds, assists, three-point shots made, and more.
• MLB: Picking the over/under could be a bit volatile in the MLB, so player props are always an exciting market to research and wager. It is one of the most popular over/under props for the MLB in total bases.  
• College Football: Player props are also available for college football, many of which are the same for the NFL. As for the game's final score, you’ll find that the over/under in college football tends to be higher than in the NFL, with some games approaching 70 points.
• College Basketball: The NBA has four quarters, and college basketball has two halves. Thus, the final scores are lower in college basketball than in the NBA, creating a new dynamic for over/under betting.

Betting on the total in a game is one of the three standard wagers for online sports betting, alongside point spread betting and the moneyline.
 
After leaving this page, we hope you better understand the over/under meaning, also known as totals betting. 
 
Before diving into betting total points, refer back to our guide here and consider our tips and strategies.