How to Make a Totals Bet Online

by Mike Spector |
Jun 15, 2020

Whether youâ€™re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our 101 section â€” including Common Sports Betting Terms â€” or head to more advanced strategy â€” like 10 Tips to Become a Sharper Sports Bettor â€” to learn more.

There are three types of sports bets that every bettor should know: moneyline, spread, and totals. Totals are more commonly referred to as over/unders. While spreads are more applicable to certain sports, totals apply to almost every team sport.

Suppose you do not have a lean on which team will win or cover a spread on a respective game, but know both teams have good offenses and the game can turn into a shootout. Or, what if both teams possess great defenses and you predict points will be hard to come by? If this is the case, a totals bet is what you should be seeking.

Here is a guide explaining what a totals bet is, as well as the step-by-step process to placing a totals bet online a sportsbook.

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What is a Totals Bet?

Totals or over/unders are lines that oddsmakers set reflecting what the total score of a game will be. A bet on the over means a bettor believes the two teamsâ€™ combined scores will be higher than the predicted total. On the other hand, a bet on the under implies a bettor thinks the two teamsâ€™ combined scores will be lower than the predicted total.

Here is an example from Super Bowl LIV:

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers (O/U 53.5)

The final score of Super Bowl LIV was 31-20 in favor of the Chiefs. Since the two teams combined for 51 points, bets on the under cashed while bets on the over did not.

How to Place a Totals Bet Online

Go to the league and game you wish to bet on.
The over/under should appear on the homepage next to the moneyline and spread.
Click on the total (over or under) that you think is correct.
Enter your wager amount and review the odds.
If agreeable, click â€œconfirm bet.â€

The Strategy Behind Totals Bets

Depending on the sport, a variety of strategies can be applied to totals bets. In football, one should take into consideration the strength of the defenses as well as the ability of each quarterback. In addition, will weather have an impact on the game?

Basketball by nature is the highest-scoring major sport. If it is available, one key statistic to analyze is a teamâ€™s tempo or willingness to either push the pace or slow it down offensively. Free throw shooting often is responsible for many totals outcomes, so are the two teams accurate from the charity stripe? Certain coaching tactics may also come into play, such as a coachâ€™s tendency to foul when behind late.

In baseball, an over/under is usually set based on the strength of the two teamsâ€™ starting pitchers. However, in the modern era of baseball, bullpens are being used more often and much earlier in games. How strong is a teamâ€™s bullpen? Who is in the starting lineup? Did a team rest any of its big sluggers? These are all things to consider when making a bet on the total in baseball.

Much like baseballâ€™s lines are dependent on pitchers, hockeyâ€™s lines are dependent on goaltending. Are the teamsâ€™ goalies hot, or in a slump? Does a team tend to score more at home versus on the road? How rested are each of the teams?

Soccer and tennis also have their versions of totals bets. One can wager on the number of goals combined in a soccer match. While these lines are typically set at 2.5 goals, one can find other variations of lines like 1.5 goals, 3.5 goals and so on at different odds. With tennis, one can either bet on the over/under amount of sets or games played.

Is There an Advantage to Betting a Total vs. a Spread?

A novice bettor may be wondering if it is more advantageous to bet a total as opposed to a spread. The answer is not necessarily, but it does change the way one would watch a particular game. Many bettors prefer to bet â€œundersâ€ as opposed to â€œoversâ€ since they are already winning when the game starts. However, the appeal of betting â€œoversâ€ is that one could potentially win their bet well before a game ends.

No matter if you are betting totals, spreads, or moneylines, the fact remains you must do your research in order to be successful. Pay attention to team news leading up to games, and always stay up to date with injuries and team transactions when applicable.