Have you ever found yourself watching a game, not just cheering for your favorite team but also secretly hoping the score ticks just a bit higher or lower? Welcome to the world of totals betting. It’s like a secret mission where you’re rooting for points, not just points for one team, but the combined score.

Let’s break it down: an over/under bet is all about predicting whether the total number of points scored by both teams will soar above or dip below a certain number set by those clever oddsmakers. There are also team totals, where only the score of one side matters.

Imagine it’s game day. You’ve got the NFL on your screen and two powerhouse teams clashing on the field. The sportsbook sets a total (let’s say 48.5 points for this matchup). If you reckon these two offensive juggernauts will light up the scoreboard and surpass that number, you’d bet on the over. But if you suspect it’ll be more of a defensive slugfest with fewer points than expected, then under is your go-to choice.

Now let’s switch courts to an NBA game. The pace is fast, players are sinking baskets left and right, and again there’s a magic number – perhaps it’s 215.5 this time. Your job? Gauge how this high-octane clash will pan out in terms of total points. Will they shatter expectations or fall short? That’s where your keen insight comes into play.

Remember though, while unders have been hitting pay dirt in recent years, don’t get caught betting with blinders on; those bookies take their cut regardless. And yes, every point counts – even those nail-biting ones scored in overtime.

Totals may be parlayed or teased. Moneylines and point spreads may be put on the same ticket as total parlays. Teasers may be combined with point spreads and are only available in football and basketball. This increases the variance but allows for larger payouts.

Typical Totals by Sport

The total in a game varies greatly, depending on the sport. NFL games are usually in the 40s. College football games are usually a little higher than the NFL. Baseball totals are around 9 or 10, depending on the pitcher. A great pitching matchup can make it as low as 7. Poor pitching in Denver can bring the total into the mid-teens.

A hockey total is around 7 or 8. NBA totals are usually over 200, while college ones are in the 150 range as they play eight fewer minutes. A soccer total is often around 3.

Juice on Totals

In most cases, the juice, often called the vig, is -110 on both sides of a total. However, in baseball, hockey, and soccer, it varies more because of how low-scoring those sports are. In soccer, you may see a total of 2.5 over -140. This means the over is -140 and the under is +120. Moving the over/under a half a goal is substantial. The solution is to raise the cost of that bet in the hope of attracting action on the under.

You may see odds different than -110 on football and basketball totals. When that happens, it is usually still within the -120 range. For example, you may see a football game with a total of 41.5 over -115. That means under -105 is the price on the under.

Betting Overs Is More Fun, But Not Always Best

Bettors tend to want to watch an exciting game. This means cheering for scoring. This means most recreational bettors bet overs. However, consider that the market knows this. While betting unders may seem boring, it can be the proper play. One example is Thursday Night Football, preseason NFL, and semi-pro football leagues when offenses do not have enough time to prepare.