Over/Under Betting Explained | Meanings, Explanations & More!
Written by: Daniel Collins
Last Updated: Tue Apr 08, 2025, 10:25 AM
Read Time: 8 minutes
In addition to moneyline and spread betting, over/under betting, which is also known as total betting, is one of the main ways to bet on sports. Betting on the total, or the over/under, is simply betting on the combined score of both teams at the end of the game.
If you are new to betting on sports, you may be looking to learn more about over/under betting. Look no further than this guide, which will introduce you to the basics of over/under betting and provide some helpful examples to enhance your understanding of how to bet on totals at sports betting sites like BetOnline.
What Does Betting on the Over/Under Mean?
What is an over/under bet? It is a prediction on whether the total score of both teams in a game will be above or below a certain number. The sportsbook establishes a specific total, and bettors have the option to bet on the combined score being greater (over) or less (under) than that predetermined total.
This type of bet is frequently used in many sports, including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer. This bet can cover many aspects of a game or the entire game itself. For example, you can bet individual halves or quarters to go over or under their total, as well as taking a specific team’s score, by betting on over or under their team total.
How Do Over/Under Bets Work?
In an over/under bet, a sportsbook sets a specific total for the combined score of both teams in a game. Bettors then wager on whether the actual total score will be over or under that predetermined number. If the final score matches the set total, it’s a push. If a push occurs, sportsbooks return the customer’s wager as if it never happened.
When you see over/under odds at a sportsbook like BetOnline or MyBookie, they are displayed with the total and the odds for over and under.
Here is an example using an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
- Over 54.5 (-110)
- Under 54.5 (-110)
In this example, the Cowboys and Eagles must combine for 55 or more points for the over to hit. They would have to combine for 54 or fewer points for the under to hit.
If you want to learn more about reading sports betting odds, check out our “How to Read Sports Betting Odds” guide.
Super Bowl Over/Under Betting
Obviously the Super Bowl is one of the most bet on sporting events every single year. Plenty of people get involved betting on the total of the game. Typically, the Super Bowl is played in either a domed stadium, or somewhere with nice weather. This sometimes results in higher totals for these games. However that’s not always what happens.
The over/under has gone 30-28 all time in the Super Bowl, with no total being posted for Super Bowl I. The past three Super Bowls, all involving Patrick Mahomes have gone over their total. However prior to that, we had four straight years of unders hitting in the big game.
The lowest total result in the Super Bowl was in 2019, when New England beat Los Angeles 13-3. Only 16 total points were scored, after the total closed at 56 points before kickoff. In 2023, we actually had the highest combined total result, as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a 38-35 shootout, soaring over the 51.5 point total.
Throughout history, we have had 14 Super Bowl totals close in the fifties, with just 5 of them going over their total. Two Super Bowls tie for the highest posted total at close, with Super Bowl XLIV and Super Bowl LI both posting and over/under of 57. New Orleans and Indianapolis (SB XLIV) went under, while the Patriots and Falcons (SB LI) went over in OT.
We have had four totals all close at 33, three consecutive times in the 1973, 1974, and 1975, all of which stayed under the total. However, in 2001, Baltimore and New York had the same over/under, with the Ravens scoring 33 all on their own.
More Over/Under Betting Examples
To further aid your understanding of over/under betting, here are a few more examples using MLB and NBA games.
MLB Over/Under Bet Examples
In this example, the Atlanta Braves are facing the Philadelphia Phillies in an MLB matchup.
In this example, oddsmakers set the total for the Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies game to 8.5 runs. If the Braves defeat the Phillies 6-3, the over wins because more than 8.5 runs were scored.
However, if the Braves defeat the Phillies 6-2, the under wins because fewer than 8.5 runs were scored.
NBA Over/Under Bet Examples
In this example, the Golden State Warriors are facing the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA matchup.
In this example, oddsmakers have set the total at 226.5 points. If the Lakers defeat the Warriors 117-110, the over wins because more than 226.5 points were scored.
However, if the Lakers defeat the Warriors 115-111, the under wins because fewer than 226.5 points were scored.
Where Can You Place Over/Under Bets?
Over/under betting is one of the most popular types of bets out there, so over/under odds can be found in some form at almost any sports betting sites.
Here are some of the best sportsbooks where you can wager on a wide variety of over/under odds:
If you are unfamiliar with any of these sportsbooks, check out our sportsbook reviews for each of them to learn more.
What is the Value of an Over/Under Bet?
Whether you are betting on an NFL game total, an NBA game total, or an MLB game total, or even how many games there will be in a Wimbledon tennis match, the majority of over/under bets have odds of -110 for both outcomes. However, in situations like this, the probability of the total going over is higher than it staying under.
One method for a sportsbook to keep the odds balanced while also increasing the player’s risk is by including additional juice. The over/under total is altered based on the number of bets placed on each side and other variables, such as player injuries.
Other Types of Over/Under Bets
Along with being able to bet on game totals, sportsbooks also offer other types of over/under bets for many matchups. They can include the over/under numbers for different parts of the game (periods, halves, quarters, etc.), as well as betting on over/under a a certain player’s prop in a variety of categories. This is great for someone who has a feeling about an early part of a game but not necessarily the outcome of the entire contest.
For example, if you notice a team always does really well in the first quarter or the first half of a game, you might look for their first quarter or first half point total and bet the OVER. You will also find over/under odds on many of the individuals competing in a particular game. Those types of over/under bets are prop bets. For example, many NBA player props are over/under bets.
The Grand Salami: The Mother of All Over/Under Bets
There is a popular over/under bet that many players love to make in baseball and NHL betting, known as the Grand Salami. The Grand Salami is the total number of goals or runs scored in the entire day’s worth of action.
The Grand Salami is a lot of fun to play because it keeps all the games in play right until the end. You can bet on the over or the under for this bet just as you would for each individual game. Not all online sportsbooks offer this bet, however. So, if you are interested, shop around until you find the right book.
Other Sports Betting Information
Did you find our over/under betting guide useful? We have many other sports betting guides that break down the basics of sports betting, from how to bet on certain sports and events, types of bets, betting strategies, and more.
Here are some of the other guides we offer:
- NFL Betting Guide
- NBA Betting Guide
- MLB Betting Guide
- NHL Betting Guide
- College Football Betting Guide
- College Basketball Betting Guide
- WNBA Betting Guide
- NASCAR Betting Guide
- Super Bowl Betting Guide
- When Should You Hedge Your Bets?
To keep up with the insights, tips, and tricks that we provide on a daily basis, bookmark Betting News.
Over/Under Betting FAQ
Free Betting Picks
WPG
CAR
NYM
TOR
BOS
BAL
LAA
HOU
NYK
WSH
VAN
CIN
TEX
PIT
TB
ATL
MIA
DAL
LAK
UNAM
PHI
BOS
POR
PAC
IND
TBL
COL
CLE
MEM
HOUApr 2810:00 PM ET
GSW
See 10 expert picks for HOU vs GSW »
OTT
PSG
MIN
LAC
MINApr 3010:00 PM ET
LAL
See 2 expert picks for MIN vs LAL »
BRE
WOL
FUL
IPS
SOU
BOU
NSH
NE
PHI
CLT
NY
ORL
RSL
HOU
