An over–under or over/under (O/U) bet is a wager in which a sportsbook will predict a number for a statistic in a given game(usually the combined score of the two teams), and bettors wager that the actual number in the game will be either higher or lower than that number. For example, in Super Bowl XXXIX, most Las Vegas casinos set the over–under for the score of the game at 46.0. A bettor could wager that the combined score of the two teams would be either more than or less than that number. Since the combined score of that game was 45, anyone who had bet on “under” won.
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).
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!
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 andindividual 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.