Over/Under

by Betrics Co. Author Sal Cacciatore

What is the “Over/Under”?

"Total" and "over/under" are used interchangeably to mean the same common sports wager on the total points scored in the game between the teams or players in the matchup,

While it is most common to envision a sports bet as a wager on which team will defeat its opponent or cover a given spread, these kinds of bets are far from the only way to play.

Another common sports wager is a bet on the total or the over/under.

In these instances, a bettor is simply wagering on whether or not both teams in the contest will combine to score more or less than the given total.

For example, consider a bet where the total is 50, and someone takes the over.

If Team A defeats Team B by the score of 30-21, they will have combined to score 51 points, and the player will have won his or her bet. If the score was 30-19 instead, he loses (if the two teams landed exactly on 50, the bet is a “push," and the bettor gets his or her money back).

As you may be able to guess, a high over/under total suggests the oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring game, while a low total is a sign they are anticipating a low-scoring affair.