{"id":382537,"date":"2025-02-18T11:27:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T11:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?post_type=definition&p=382537"},"modified":"2025-02-19T13:36:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T13:36:13","slug":"totals-betting","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/totals-betting","title":{"rendered":"Totals Betting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Betting on the total, also referred to as the over\/under, is one of the most popular types of betting. Totals bets are right up there with point spreads and moneylines, and it is common to parlay them together with other wagers as a means of upping the ante.<\/p>\n

A totals bet is straightforward, perhaps the most basic type of bet<\/a> in all of gambling. Instead of wagering on one or the other team to win or cover a spread, you simply bet on the over\/under on how many points will score in the game overall.<\/p>\n

\"Markets<\/p>\n

How Does Totals Betting Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

When betting on the total, also known as the over\/under<\/a>, you will see a number to tell you where the total is set. For a common example, let’s take an NFL game where the total is 48.5. Here you would need at least 49 total points to score for the over to win, while 48 or fewer means the game goes under, and an under bet prevails.<\/p>\n

It is largely that simple, although you will sometimes see a total with no decimal, like 48. In this case, it would be possible for exactly 48 points to score. Were that to happen, bets on both the under and over “push<\/a>,” meaning you receive your money back on either bet.<\/p>\n

It is essential to remember that it does not matter which team scores the points, it is the overall points scored in the game. In the above example, say it is the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders can score 27 while the Broncos score 20, and the game goes under. If the Raiders score 34 and the Broncos score 21, the game goes over.<\/p>\n

The same would be true if the scores were the opposite and the Broncos win the game. All that matters is the total points by whichever team they may be scored. This makes total points betting straightforward and not reliant on who wins or loses, just the overall scoring that occurs.<\/p>\n

How Are Totals Betting Odds Calculated?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Of course, as with all betting, the best online sportsbooks<\/a> must set odds on totals bets to make a profit. In principle, the total should initially be set close to what the sportsbook believes is the most likely final score of the game. If even money was offered on your wager (bet $100, win $100), the sportsbook would not make a profit if both sides win approximately half the time.<\/p>\n

For this reason, you will generally see totals with odds set close to -110, although some sports have more differing odds. This means that you must bet $110 to win $100. Yet, you will sometimes see odds that are slightly lower or higher, particularly in live betting<\/a> markets.<\/p>\n

This is how the sportsbook guarantees profit since it sets odds with the goal of garnering 50\/50 action on both sides of the total. Assuming the bets come in close to this, a profit will be made regardless of the outcome.<\/p>\n

While often the betting odds<\/a> will be set close to -110 on either side (with some variations based on the sport), it is helpful to keep an eye on totals with differing odds from side to side. This can be a means of finding some value when betting on totals.<\/p>\n

Placing a Totals Bet<\/span><\/h2>\n

When you want to wager on totals, you might wonder exactly how to place your bet at a leading offshore online sportsbook<\/a> properly. See below for a step-by-step guide to placing a totals bet.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. First, register (if you haven’t already) and sign in to your sportsbook of choice.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"BetOnline<\/p>\n

    2. Navigate to a sport you would like to place a wager on and assess the totals options available.<\/p>\n

    3. Select a totals wager you would like to place.<\/p>\n

    \"Placing<\/p>\n

    4. The selection will show up on the bet slip of the sportsbook. Enter an amount you would like to wager and submit your bet.<\/p>\n

    \"Betslip<\/p>\n

    Totals Bet Examples<\/span><\/h2>\n

    It may help to examine a few specific examples of totals bets and how they look at a leading online sportsbook. This way, you will be prepared to make your wagers with confidence and an understanding of how to place a totals bet in practice.<\/p>\n

    NBA Totals Bet Example<\/h3>\n

    \"NBA<\/p>\n

    In the above NBA example, the Brooklyn Nets are playing the Detroit Pistons, and the total is set at 227.5. The odds on both sides are -110, as you will generally see in pre-game NBA betting on basketball<\/a>, making this a simple example.<\/p>\n

    You need 227 or fewer points to score in the game to hit the under, while 228 or more must score to win on the over. The odds are -110 on both the over and under, meaning that a $110 wager will win you $100 on either side.<\/p>\n

    Let’s also take a look at an MLB example that will give us a somewhat different scenario.<\/p>\n

    MLB Totals Bet Example<\/h3>\n

    \"MLB<\/p>\n

    Here, the total is 8. MLB totals on baseball games will be much lower than you will see in basketball and football due to the nature of scoring in the sport. A the total that is in between numbers (7.5, not 7 or 8), a push is impossible, and either the over or under will win in every instance.<\/p>\n

    Here we have more disparate odds that are further from -110. This is more common in baseball than in basketball. The over is -115, while the under is -105.<\/p>\n

    It could be confusing to understand this since you will see both sides of the total indicated on one or the other team’s side of the betting lines\/odds. The way to comprehend it is that you will see, in this case, “O 7.5” with the odds (-118) represented under it, and “O” stands for the over. In contrast, the under is represented as “U 7.5” with the odds (-104) listed under it.<\/p>\n

    You may wonder why the odds are so different here depending on whether you bet the over or under, as the total should be set close to what the sportsbook believes is efficient. The answer is that:<\/p>\n