How to Bet Over/Under (Totals) in Sports Betting

Over/under betting—also called totals betting—is one of the most straightforward ways to bet on sports. Instead of picking a winner, you're betting on whether the combined score will be higher (over) or lower (under) than a number set by the sportsbook.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know: what totals are, how to place your first bet, simple beginner strategies, intermediate tactics for finding value, and responsible gambling practices. Whether you're betting your first NFL total or refining your NBA pace-based approach, this page gives you a clear, realistic foundation.

Last updated: January 2025

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What Is Over/Under Betting? (Basics and Definitions)

Over/under betting is a wager on the total combined score of both teams in a game. The sportsbook sets a line, and you bet whether the actual total will be over or under that number.

Simple Definition of Totals Betting

Over/under betting means predicting whether the combined points, runs, or goals scored by both teams will be higher (over) or lower (under) than the sportsbook's total line.

You're not picking a winner. You're betting on the amount of scoring, regardless of which team wins.

Basic Score Examples Across Sports

NFL Example:

• Total line: 44.5 points
• Final score: Patriots 27, Jets 17
• Combined total: 44 points
• Result: Under wins (44 is less than 44.5)

NBA Example:

• Total line: 218.5 points
• Final score: Warriors 115, Lakers 108
• Combined total: 223 points
• Result: Over wins (223 is more than 218.5)

MLB Example:

• Total line: 8.5 runs
• Final score: Yankees 6, Red Sox 3
• Combined total: 9 runs
• Result: Over wins (9 is more than 8.5)

Key takeaway: You don't care who wins—only whether the total score is over or under the line.

For more foundational details, see our Over Under Betting Complete Guide.

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How Over/Under Odds, Lines and Payouts Work

Understanding how totals odds are structured and how payouts are calculated is essential before placing any bet.

Reading Over/Under Lines and American Odds

Most totals are displayed like this:

• Over 45.5 (-110)
• Under 45.5 (-110)

The number (45.5) is the total line. The number in parentheses (-110) is the odds.

American odds:

• Negative (-110): Risk $110 to win $100 (or risk $11 to win $10)
• Positive (+105): Risk $100 to win $105

Standard totals are usually -110 on both sides, meaning the sportsbook takes a small commission (called vig or juice).

What Is a Push—and What Is the Hook?

A push occurs when the final total lands exactly on the line.

Example:

• Line: 44.0 points
• Final score: 27-17 (44 points total)
• Result: Push—your stake is refunded

To avoid pushes, sportsbooks typically use half-point lines (the hook):

• 44.5, 47.5, 215.5, etc.

With a half-point, there's always a winner and a loser.

Key numbers in NFL totals: While spreads have sharp key numbers (3, 7), totals cluster around common scores like 41, 44, 47, 50. Half-points near these numbers matter, but less dramatically than with spreads.

Does Overtime Count Towards Over/Under Bets?

Yes, in most major US sports:

• NFL: Overtime counts
• NBA: Overtime counts
• NHL: Overtime and shootouts count
• MLB: Extra innings count
• College sports: Overtime counts

Exception: Some soccer markets exclude extra time. Always check the sportsbook's house rules before betting.

For detailed odds breakdowns, see How to Read Over/Under Odds.

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Step-by-Step: How to Place an Over/Under Bet Online

Placing a totals bet online is simple. Here's the process from start to finish.

Step 1: Choose a Legal, Regulated Sportsbook

Only bet with licensed sportsbooks operating legally in your state. Examples include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and others.

Why it matters:

• Legal books protect your funds
• Winnings are paid out reliably
• You have recourse if disputes arise

Check your state's list of approved operators before signing up.

Step 2: Find the Totals Market for Your Game

Navigate to the sport and game you want to bet on:

1. Select the sport (NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.)
2. Find the game (e.g., Chiefs vs Bills)
3. Look for the Totals or Over/Under section

You'll see something like:

• Over 47.5 (-110)
• Under 47.5 (-110)

Step 3: Enter Your Stake, Double-Check, and Place the Bet

1. Click on Over 47.5 or Under 47.5
2. Enter your stake (e.g., $20)
3. Review:
   • Line: 47.5
   • Odds: -110
   • Potential payout (usually shown automatically)
4. Click Place Bet

Responsible gambling tip: Start with small stakes ($5-$20) until you understand how totals settle and how variance works.

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Over/Under Betting Calculator (Payout, Vig and EV)

Before placing a totals bet, use a calculator to see exactly what you're risking and what you stand to win.

Use the Calculator to See Payouts and Implied Probability

Our Over/Under Calculator shows:

• Potential profit (what you win)
• Total payout (profit + stake)
• Implied probability (what the odds say about win likelihood)
• Break-even win rate (how often you need to win to break even)

Understanding Vig/Hold on Totals Bets

Vig (juice) is the sportsbook's commission. When both sides are -110:

• Over implied probability: 52.4%
• Under implied probability: 52.4%
• Total: 104.8% (the extra 4.8% is the vig)

Lower vig = better for you. Shopping for -105 instead of -115 can save you thousands of dollars over hundreds of bets.

Expected Value (EV) in Plain English

Expected Value (EV) tells you if a bet is profitable long-term.

• +EV: Your projection says the bet is profitable over many trials
• -EV: Your projection says the bet loses money over many trials

Formula:

• EV = (Win Probability × Profit) - (Loss Probability × Stake)

Example:

• Bet: Over 47.5 at -110, stake $100
• Your projection: Over hits 55%
• Profit if you win: $90.91
• EV = (0.55 × $90.91) - (0.45 × $100) = $50 - $45 = +$5

This is a +EV bet—profitable long-term, even though individual bets can still lose.

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Key Factors That Affect Totals Across Sports

Understanding what drives scoring helps you make smarter totals bets.

Pace, Tempo and Style of Play

Pace = possessions per game. More possessions = more scoring opportunities.

NFL:

• Run-heavy teams slow the game down (fewer possessions)
• Pass-heavy teams play faster

NBA:

• Fast-paced teams (Warriors, Pacers) push totals up
• Slow, methodical teams (Grizzlies historically) lower totals

College basketball:

• Shot clock differences (30 seconds in NCAAB vs 24 in NBA) affect pace

Takeaway: Check team pace stats before betting totals. High-pace matchups favor overs; low-pace games favor unders.

Weather, Venue and Surface

NFL:

• Wind: 15+ mph significantly lowers totals (affects passing)
• Rain: Makes ball slippery, lowers scoring
• Cold: Can numb hands, reduce offensive efficiency
• Dome games: Average 2-3 points higher than outdoor games

MLB:

• Wind blowing out: Fly balls carry farther (favors overs)
• Wind blowing in: Suppresses home runs (favors unders)
• Altitude: Coors Field (Denver) inflates totals due to thin air

NHL:

• Indoor sport, so weather doesn't apply

Takeaway: Always check weather forecasts for outdoor NFL and MLB games before betting totals.

Injuries, Lineups and Rest

Key injuries:

• NFL: Star QB out = lower total (often 3-6 points)
• NBA: Star scorer out = lower total; defensive anchor out = higher total
• MLB: Ace pitcher vs weak starter = drastically different totals

Rest and schedule:

• NBA back-to-backs: Teams playing the second night of back-to-backs often go under
• NFL short weeks: Thursday night games tend toward unders

Takeaway: Check injury reports and team schedules before betting. One injury can shift a total by 5+ points.

Market Movement and Public vs Sharp Money

Market movement tells you where the money is going.

Public money:

• Casual bettors often favor overs (people like rooting for scoring)
• Public over-bias can create value on unders

Sharp money:

• Professional bettors often move lines early in the week
• If sharp money hits the under and the line drops from 48 to 46.5, that's a signal

Closing Line Value (CLV):

• If you bet Under 48 and the line closes at 46.5, you beat the close by 1.5 points
• Consistently beating the closing line is a strong indicator of long-term profitability

Takeaway: Track line movement. If you're always on the wrong side of the close, adjust your approach.

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Simple Over/Under Strategy for Beginners

If you're new to totals betting, start here.

Start with One Sport and Standard Totals

Focus on one league:

• NFL if you follow football
• NBA if you follow basketball
• MLB if you follow baseball

Why? Each sport has unique factors. Mastering one before branching out helps you learn faster.

Stick to full-game totals:

• Avoid first-half, quarter, or inning totals until you're comfortable
• Avoid team totals (just one team's score) until you understand game totals

Basic Do's and Don'ts (Over/Under Betting Tips)

DO:

• Check weather and injury reports before betting
• Line shop across 3-5 sportsbooks to find the best price
• Bet 1-2% of your bankroll per wager
• Track every bet in a spreadsheet

DON'T:

• Bet the over "for fun" in every primetime game
• Chase losses with bigger bets
• Build random 6-leg Same Game Parlays with totals
• Ignore vig—shopping for -105 instead of -115 matters

Common Over/Under Betting Mistakes

Mistake 1: Overreacting to small samples

• "This team's last 5 games went over, so I'm hammering the over"
• Why it's wrong: Five games is a tiny sample; variance matters
• Fix: Look at full-season data and context

Mistake 2: Ignoring line shopping

• Always betting at -110 without checking other books
• Why it's wrong: Over hundreds of bets, -105 vs -115 costs you thousands
• Fix: Have accounts at multiple sportsbooks; always line shop

Mistake 3: Treating live betting as a way to chase losses

• You lose a pregame bet, so you frantically bet live totals to "get even"
• Why it's wrong: Emotional decisions and higher vig drain your bankroll
• Fix: Set a daily loss limit; if you hit it, walk away

For a complete breakdown, see Common Over/Under Betting Mistakes.

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Intermediate Strategy: Finding an Edge on Totals

Once you understand the basics, these tactics can help you find value.

Understanding Vig and Fair Odds (Totals Betting Strategy)

Vig is the sportsbook's edge. At -110, you need to win 52.4% of bets to break even.

Odds	Implied Probability	Break-Even Win Rate
-110 (standard)	52.4%	52.4%
-105 (reduced vig)	51.2%	51.2%
-115 (high vig)	53.5%	53.5%

Key insight: Betting at -105 instead of -115 lowers your break-even win rate by 2.3%. Over 100 bets at $100 each, that's a difference of $230.

Action item: Always line shop. Getting -105 on one book instead of -110 on another is worth the extra 30 seconds.

Line Shopping and Key Numbers (Overview)

Line shopping means comparing lines across multiple sportsbooks before betting.

Example:

• Book A: Over 47.5 (-110)
• Book B: Over 47.5 (-105)
• Book C: Over 47 (-110)

Best option depends on your projection:

• If you're betting the over and expect 50+ points, Book C at 47 (-110) is best
• If you expect 48-49 points, Book B at 47.5 (-105) offers lower vig

NFL key numbers for totals:

• Common totals cluster around 41, 44, 47, 50
• Getting 47 vs 47.5 can matter, but less dramatically than spread key numbers (3, 7)

Takeaway: Line shop every bet. Half a point or 5 cents of vig adds up fast.

Simple Projection Approach for Casual Bettors

You don't need a PhD in statistics to project totals. Here's a lightweight framework:

Step 1: Start with the market total

• Sportsbook sets the line at 47.5
• This is the baseline—sharp bettors have already moved it toward the "true" number

Step 2: Adjust for pace, injuries, and weather

• Fast-paced teams playing each other? Add 2-3 points
• Star QB out? Subtract 3-5 points
• 20 mph wind forecast? Subtract 2-4 points

Step 3: Compare your adjusted total to the current line

• Your projection: 44 points
• Line: 47.5
• Decision: Under might have value

Step 4: Check if it's +EV using the calculator

• Enter your projection and see if EV is positive

Disclaimer: This is not a professional model. It's a systematic way to think about totals, not a guaranteed edge.

Betting the Under Strategy (Public Bias)

Public over-bias: Casual bettors often prefer overs (people like rooting for scoring).

Why this creates value:

• Sportsbooks shade lines slightly higher to balance action
• Unders can offer better prices, especially in primetime games

Example:

• Sunday Night Football: Cowboys vs Eagles
• Public loves primetime overs
• Sharp bettors hit the under early, moving the line down
• By Sunday, the under might be undervalued

Takeaway: Unders aren't always better, but public over-bias can create opportunities. Track your results to see if you win more often on unders in certain situations.

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Over/Under in Same Game Parlays and Player Props

Totals can be combined with other bets, but these strategies carry higher risk.

How Totals Fit Into SGPs (Same Game Parlay Over Under)

Same Game Parlays (SGPs) let you combine multiple bets from one game:

• Over 47.5 + Chiefs -3.5 + Mahomes over 1.5 TD passes

Correlation:

• Over + favorite often correlates (high-scoring game favors the better team)
• Under + underdog can correlate (low-scoring defensive slugfest)

Why SGPs are risky:

• Sportsbooks adjust odds heavily for correlation
• Vig on SGPs is often 15-25%, much higher than single bets
• They're designed for entertainment, not profit

Recommendation: Keep SGPs to 2-3 legs max. Use small stakes ($5-$10). Treat them as fun, not core strategy.

Over/Under Prop Betting Strategy

Player prop totals:

• Patrick Mahomes over 1.5 TD passes
• LeBron James over 27.5 points
• Aaron Judge over 0.5 home runs

Why unders often have more value:

• Public loves betting overs on star players
• Injuries, rotations, and coach usage can suppress stats

Correlation with game totals:

• If you bet Over on the game total, consider overs on offensive player props
• If you bet Under on the game total, consider unders on scoring props

State restrictions: Some states prohibit college player props. Check local laws.

Responsible SGP Guidance

SGPs are high-variance, high-vig bets.

Best practices:

• Limit stakes to $5-$20 per SGP
• Never bet more than 1-2% of your bankroll on a parlay
• Don't build SGPs to chase losses

For more on parlays, see our Parlay Betting Strategy Guide.

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Live and Micro-Betting Over/Under

Live totals adjust in real-time as the game unfolds. This creates opportunities—and risks.

How Live Totals Are Set and Adjusted

Live totals shift based on:

• Current score
• Time remaining
• Pace of the game
• Key events (injuries, turnovers, momentum)

Example:

• Pregame total: 47.5
• Halftime score: 28-21 (49 points already scored)
• Live second-half total: 24.5 (sportsbook expects lower-scoring second half)

You can bet on the remainder of the game using the live total.

Opportunities and Risks in Live Betting Over Under

Opportunities:

• Sharp bettors can exploit slow line adjustments after key injuries or momentum swings
• You can fade overreactions (e.g., one big quarter doesn't mean the trend continues)

Risks:

• Decisions must be made in seconds
• Emotional betting and chasing losses are common
• Vig is often higher on live markets (e.g., -115 or -120 standard)

Example:

• NFL game goes over in the first quarter
• Casual bettors hammer the live over
• Sharp bettors take the under at inflated odds, expecting regression

Extra Safeguards for Fast Markets

Live betting can be addictive. Use these safeguards:

• Set deposit limits in your sportsbook account
• Use time-out features (take a 24-hour or 7-day break if needed)
• Set per-bet limits (e.g., max $20 per live bet)
• Walk away if you're emotional or chasing losses

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Responsible Totals Betting and State Rules

Sports betting involves real financial risk. No strategy, calculator, or system guarantees profit.

Bankroll Management and Unit Sizing

Simple framework:

• Bet 1-2% of your bankroll per wager
• Never bet more than 5% on any single totals bet
• Track every bet in a spreadsheet

Example:

• Bankroll: $1,000
• Standard bet size: $10-$20 (1-2%)
• Max bet: $50 (5%)

Why it matters: Proper bankroll management prevents you from going broke during inevitable losing streaks.

No strategy removes risk. Even the best bettors lose 45-48% of their bets. Variance is real.

State-by-State Restrictions and Availability

Availability of online sports betting varies by state:

• As of 2025, 30+ states have legal online sportsbooks
• Some states restrict college props and team totals (e.g., certain markets in NY, IL)
• Age requirement: 21+ in most states

Always verify:

• Your sportsbook is licensed in your state
• The specific totals market you want to bet is legal where you live
• Check operator terms and conditions

For state-specific details, consult your state's gaming commission website.

Where to Get Help If Betting Stops Being Fun

Warning signs:

• Betting more than you can afford
• Chasing losses with bigger bets
• Hiding your betting from loved ones
• Feeling anxious or depressed about betting

Where to get help:

• National Council on Problem Gambling: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
• State-specific helplines: Available in most regulated states
• Self-exclusion programs: Block yourself from all legal sportsbooks for months or years

For more resources, visit our Problem Gambling Help Guide.

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FAQs About Over/Under Betting

What does over/under mean in betting?

Over/under means betting on whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a line set by the sportsbook. You're not picking a winner—just whether the game will be high-scoring or low-scoring.

How do you bet over/under on a game?

1. Choose a legal sportsbook
2. Find the game and navigate to the Totals section
3. Select Over or Under
4. Enter your stake
5. Review and place the bet

What happens if the final score hits the exact total?

The bet pushes, and your stake is refunded. Most sportsbooks use half-point lines (.5) to avoid pushes.

Does overtime count on over/under bets?

Yes, in most major sports (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB). Some soccer markets exclude extra time—always check house rules.

Is betting the over or under better?

Neither is inherently better. Public bettors often favor overs, which can create value on unders in certain situations. The "better" bet depends on your analysis of pace, weather, injuries, and line value.

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Summary

Over/under betting is simple: you're betting on total scoring, not winners. Start by understanding how totals work, how to read odds, and how to place a bet. Use our calculator to check payouts and expected value before every wager.

Focus on factors that drive scoring—pace, weather, injuries, and matchups. Line shop across multiple sportsbooks to get the best price. Manage your bankroll with discipline: bet 1-2% per wager, avoid emotional chasing, and track your results.

Whether you're betting NFL totals, NBA pace plays, or MLB park factors, the fundamentals stay the same: find value, respect the vig, and bet responsibly.

Next steps:

• Use the Over/Under Calculator before your next bet
• Read the Over Under Betting Complete Guide for deeper fundamentals
• Compare Over/Under vs Spread to decide which bet type fits your style
• Review Common Over/Under Mistakes to avoid costly errors

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. OddsIndex does not provide gambling, financial, or legal advice. Always gamble responsibly and within your means. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.