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Over-Under Total Bet
Bet Type: Standard
In Brief: An Over-Under Total Bet is a competitive wager that pits the player against the sportsbook. The sportsbook oddsmakers pick a combined game point total, and then the player decides whether or not the final result will be over (greater than) or under (less than) what the sportsbook predicted.
An Over Under Total bet is a simple alternative to risky exotic wagers. This bet is a "competitive wager", meaning the player has to beat the sportsbook's linesmakers in order to win. The concept is relatively easy to understand: given a combined point total from the sportsbook, will the true final score be over or under the sportsbook's prediction? It's generally an either-or type of bet that doesn't get muddied with a lot of technical bookmaking procedures.
Example: The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing the Seattle Seahawks.
Step 1 - Get the Sportsbook's Point Total Prediction - The sportsbook's point total prediction is found under the "totals" wagering section of your sportsbook. Make note of what your bookie predicts will be the combined total of points scored by BOTH the Steelers and Seahawks.
Step 2 - Sportsbook Predicts 56 combined points will be scored.
Step 3 - Decide If the Final Score will be OVER or UNDER 56 - This is the easy part. It's sort of like flipping a coin, although in truth your odds are probably better if you make an informed total bet wager. Select OVER or UNDER 56 and the amount of money you want to wager, and then send your ticket in. That's it!
Muck like spread betting, sportsbooks attempt to create a balanced market ("balanced action") with total bets. They don't want too many people betting "OVER" because that might indicate a bad point total prediction by the sportsbook. Likewise, a slew of people choosing the "UNDER" option also means the sportsbook's point prediction may have been off. Instead, an equal number of bettors choosing either OVER or UNDER works in the sportsbook's favor, since they will make money on the "juice" charged to each player making the wager. Point totals are subject to change as the start of a matchup draws near, so always check your sportsbook's lines/odds carefully before placing a bet.
Total bets are typically offered for all sports where two teams are matched up. If a total prediction by a sportsbook has a half point (0.5) increment, it means they don't want to TIE any TOTAL bettors, since scoring 0.5 points is impossible in most all major USA sports. A point total with a half point increment forces either an over or under decision: therefore, your bet will either win or lose.
Advanced gamblers can bet multiple Over/Under Total bets in a parlay. Total bets are also part of any Teaser wager. All in all, this bet is great for novice gamblers just getting into sports betting, or long-time/"sharp" bettors who see that the sportsbook may have predicted an inaccurate point total.
You decide: will the sum of each team's points scored in today's big game be over or under what the sportsbook predicts? That's the crux of the over/under total bet.
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