Over Under Betting

What is Over Under?

There are two main options when you’re betting on sports: betting the point spread or betting the Over Under – also known as “totals”. When you bet the Over Under, you don’t care who wins the game, as you are focused on the combined score of the two teams at the end of the game. Here is a quick guide to over under betting in different sports. If you would like to learn more, please email us at Info@BettingKings.com and we will connect you with one of our Sports Investment Consultants.

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Over Under in Baseball

When you’re betting on totals in baseball, you’ll likely see numbers anywhere between 7-12. If the number is around seven runs, that means you’re likely looking at two very good pitchers or one extremely good pitcher who rarely allows a hit. A number like 12 usually means there are two bad pitchers on the mound and/or two teams with very strong offenses.

With baseball totals, it is important to remember that the home team does not bat in the ninth inning if they’re holding a lead. The game ends midway through the ninth inning (after 8.5 innings are played). That becomes a factor in many cases as an under bettor might be happy for the home team to stay in the lead and not show up in the ninth whereas an over bettor might hope that the road team can tie it and force the home team to come to bat, so that they can get some extra runs on the board.

Over Under in Basketball

When you’re betting on totals in the NBA, expect to see numbers in the neighborhood of 200. A game that’s projected to be low-scoring might see a total of 180 whereas a high-scoring game could see a total of 230. In college, the numbers are much lower. You might see totals from 120-160. In college basketball, there is a longer shot clock and the games are shorter, so there is less scoring.

Over Under in Football

Totals in football focus on the combined score of the two teams. Usually, an NFL game that’s deemed to be low-scoring will see a total in the range of 30-35 points. A game that’s deemed to be a shootout will have a total in the range of 50-55 points. In some cases, the numbers could be higher. For example, in college football, the total for a high-scoring game would 70-80.

There are a number of factors to consider when betting the total: venue, weather and style of play. If it’s snowing and windy, you’d probably want to consider the under. If it’s a team that runs the hurry-up offense and is playing indoors in a dome on turf, then you might want to consider the over. Other factors to consider include injuries, what is on the line for the teams, and how rested a team is.

Over Under in UFC/Boxing

Totals in UFC and boxing are a little bit different than other sports because they hone in on the length of the fight. You’re still betting an over/under, but it’s not the combined score of the two sides. In UFC and Boxing, you will see a round set by the odds makers and you have to decide whether the fight will go over – or longer – than that set round or whether it will go under – or shorter – the set round. If you feel the fight will end quickly via a knockout, you’d bet the under. If you think it will go to the judge’s scorecards, you would bet the over.

Over Under in Hockey

If you’re examining totals in hockey, you’ll likely see the numbers 5 or 5.5 or 6. There are times when there’s a 4.5 or a 6.5, but those are rare instances. A line of five indicates that the game is expected to be low-scoring. One of the teams may have a very strong goalie. A line of six indicates that the game is expected to be high-scoring, where one or both teams may have average goalies or very strong offenses. The typicaly over under line in hockey is 5.5.

In hockey, if a game goes to overtime, you’re going to have at least one goal added to the total. Either a team will score in overtime or a team will win in the shootout, which means one goal will be given to the winning side. Each individual goal in the shootout does not count towards the total.

Overtime

Remember that overtime is included when it comes to totals. That can often throw things for a loop. For example, let’s say you handicapped an NBA game to go under. The set total was 200 and after four quarters, the two teams have only combined for 188 points, so you won, right? Not necessarily. If the score is 94-94, then the two teams will go to overtime to decide the game and whatever is scored in the extra frame or frames will be added to the total.