There is a basic set of terms that every beginner bettor should know. For example, it’s essential to understand what the term “total” means in sports betting, as it represents one of the main markets featured in the betting lines for most sports. Total refers to any quantitative statistic on which a bet can be placed — predicting whether it will be exceeded (Over) or not reached (Under).
In this article, we’ll explain what Total Over (O) and Total Under (U) mean in sports betting.
In which sports can you bet on totals?
Having defined what a total means in betting, we see that it refers to literally any quantitative parameter of a sporting contest. This means the market applies across many sports and to numerous statistical indicators:
- in football – goals, fouls, corners, yellow cards, offsides, substitutions, shots on target or off target, etc.;
- in hockey – goals, faceoffs won, penalty minutes, and more;
- in basketball – points, three-pointers made, free throws scored;
- in tennis – games and sets, aces, break points;
- in volleyball – points, sets, aces.
The notation and interpretation of totals in betting include Over (O), Under (U), and, when necessary, the statistical parameter to which the bet refers. So, if it’s about football goals, it’s enough to indicate O or U; but if yellow cards are counted, the line must specify – O YC or U YC.
What types of totals exist?
The main division is by Over and Under. But totals are also classified by other criteria:
- Asian (quarter – 1.25, 1.75, 2.25, etc.) and European (half – 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and whole numbers – 1, 2, 3…);
- overall (for the match as a whole by combined stats of both opponents) and individual (for a specific club, team, or athlete);
- by time intervals – match, half, set, period, quarter, inning, etc.
Read more about what Asian and European over/under totals are, as well as other types of O and U, in the “Betting School” section on our Betting Rating portal. Below, we’ll focus only on the explanation and breakdown of the “over” and “under” bet types.
What is Over Total?
To show how an Over Total bet works and is calculated on bookmaker sites, let’s take an example from the English Premier League: Manchester United vs. Manchester City. The match took place on January 14, 2022, and ended 2–1.
Let’s consider three scenarios:
- A bet of $10 on Over 2.5 with odds of 1.68. The teams scored three goals – more than 2.5, so the bet wins. The payout is $10 × 1.68 = $16.80. Net profit – $6.80.
- $10 on Over 3 with odds of 2.12. Three goals were scored exactly, so the bookmaker settles it as a push – the stake of $10 is refunded.
- $10 on Over 3.5 at odds of 2.70. Fewer than 3.5 goals were scored, so the bet loses.
For successful Over bets, study pre-match statistics carefully. This market lends itself well to statistical analysis. Play at odds ranging from 1.70 to 2.20.
What is Under Total?
Now let’s look at an example to understand Under Total bets. Take an NBA game from January 14, 2022: Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks, which ended 111–113.
As we can see, the game turned out relatively low-scoring for the National Basketball Association. Before the match, it would have been logical to bet on Under 237.5 with odds of 2.00. The total score was 224 points – well below 237.5. Therefore, the bet is a winner. If the stake was $10, the payout is:
$10 × 2 = $20, net profit – $10.
Pros of Under bets is that bookmakers often offer odds slightly in favor of this outcome. The reason is psychological – most bettors prefer higher totals, expecting high-scoring, entertaining games. Therefore, bookmakers lower odds on Overs, which consequently raises them for Unders.
Pros and Cons of total bets
Having understood the basics of what over/under totals mean in sports betting, let’s summarize the key pros and cons of this bet type.
Key Pros include:
- availability in almost all bookmakers’ lines – it’s a fundamental market (for goals and points), though detailed statistical totals are often listed as well;
- moderate bookmaker margin, since this market is very popular and players bet on both Over and Under; simple usage and calculation principles, even for beginners;
- a good way to add excitement for fans – for example, bet on Over and enjoy a high-scoring game;
- wide availability of statistics for pre-match analysis.
The only drawback is that in such basic markets, bookmakers calculate probabilities very precisely. In other words, it’s difficult to find value odds here. To win more often on totals, learn how to work with statistics. You can find recommendations on how to do this and reach your goals on our website.
