Over/Under, along with moneyline and point spread bets, are among the three most popular ways to wager on sports events. But how do they work, and how can you make the best bets in this market? In this article we’ll cover everything you need to know about Over/Under, including what they are, how they work, multiple examples and some tips for making the most profitable bets.
Over/under bets, also known as totals bets, are based on the combined points or goals scored by both teams in a game. This makes them a great bet for those who aren’t comfortable placing bets on individual players or are just looking to make a quick bet that has a good chance of winning.
When setting Over/Under odds, oddsmakers take a lot of different factors into consideration. These include both teams’ offensive and defensive tendencies, as well as the weather (which can be a major factor in NFL and MLB games), lineups, injuries, coaching plans, home and away results, and more. They then balance all of these elements to find a fair line for the game.
In the rare case that a game ends exactly on the line set for it, it’s called a push and all bets are refunded. This can happen in baseball if, for example, both teams pitch well and don’t score many runs.
In addition to the standard Over/Under betting markets, many sportsbooks offer alternative lines in the form of prop bets. These range from player props that ask bettors to predict a particular statistical category to more exotic bets like how long it will take a singer to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.