How to Make a Team Total Bet at a Sportsbook
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Have you ever been in a scenario as a sports bettor where you see an over/under on a game but are hesitant to bet it because you are only confident in one of the teams to score enough points? This is where a team total bet can come in very handy. Instead of worrying about both teams to do their part and contribute to the total, one can place a bet on one team or the other.
In this article, we define what a team total bet is as well as explain the steps to make such a bet at a sportsbook.
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What is a Team Total Bet?
A team total bet is a variation of an over/under bet that focuses on the number of points one team will score. Most sportsbooks offer team totals in all the major sports. While “points†are the term used in basketball and football, team totals are available for the number of goals a hockey or soccer team will score or the number of runs a baseball team will score.
What are Examples of a Team Total Bet?
Here is an example of a hypothetical team total bet:
Dallas Cowboys Team Total (Over 24.5 -110, Under 24.5 -110)
In this scenario, the team total for how many points the Cowboys would score is 24.5 points. Thus, bettors who wager on the over are betting on the Cowboys to score 25 or more points for the game. If one took the under, they would be rooting for the Cowboys to score 24 or fewer points.
Team totals are full-game wagers, meaning they take overtime into account. Thus, whatever Dallas’s final score is at the game’s conclusion would dictate the winning side of the bet.
How Does Soccer Offer Different Team Total Bets?
Since scoring in soccer is at much more of a premium, sportsbooks get creative with how they offer odds on team totals.
The following is an example from FanDuel Sportsbook:
| Dinamo Brest to Score 1 or more goals in the match | -220 |
| Dinamo Brest to Score 2 or more goals in the match | +220 |
| Dinamo Brest to Score 3 or more goals in the match | +850 |
| Dinamo Brest to Score 4 or more goals in the match | +3100 |
| Shakhter Soligorsk to Score 1 or more goals in the match | -195 |
| Shakhter Soligorsk to Score 2 or more goals in the match | +250 |
| Shakhter Soligorsk to Score 3 or more goals in the match | +1000 |
| Shakhter Soligorsk to Score 4 or more goals in the match | +4000 |
As you can see, there is an opportunity for a big payout if either team were to erupt for four or more goals. Dinamo Brest to score four or more goals would payout odds of 31:1.
If you think either team may get shutout, similar team total bets are offered under the heading of “Number of Team Goals.†For example, one bet would read “Dinamo Brest to Score No Goals.†This bet had odds of +150 for this particular match.
How Can I Make a Team Total Bet?
On a mobile device or app, follow these steps:
- Log into your sportsbook account
- Find the league and game you wish to bet on
- Look for a heading that says “Team Props†or “More Wagersâ€
- Find the team you wish to wager on and review their team total
- Click on either the over or the under for their team total
- Type in the amount of your wager
- Review the odds, and click “place betâ€
Placing a team total bet in person at a sportsbook can be much less confusing. After approaching the cashier, say “I would like to place a team total wager.†Once you identify the team, the cashier will know exactly the prompts to follow to take you to those odds. He or she will show you the team total on their screen. Tell the cashier if you would prefer the over or the under. Just like on a mobile device, review the odds to make sure they are agreeable. The last step is handing the amount you want to wager in cash over to the cashier and hope for the best.
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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.