What is Over/Under in Sports Betting?

Over/Under Explained in Detail

Over/under betting is one of the three core bet types alongside moneylines and point spreads. Instead of picking a winner, you are predicting the pace and scoring of the game. This makes totals attractive to bettors who have a strong read on game flow but are unsure which team will win.

Sportsbooks set the total based on each team's offensive and defensive efficiency, pace of play, weather conditions for outdoor sports, and historical scoring patterns in similar matchups. A typical NFL total might be 45.5, meaning you bet on whether the two teams will combine for 46 or more points (over) or 45 or fewer (under).

Totals move based on betting action and news, just like point spreads. Weather is one of the biggest factors that can move a total. Rain, wind, and extreme cold tend to push football totals down. In basketball, pace-of-play mismatches can create value, as a fast team playing a slow team often leads to a total set somewhere in between that savvy bettors can exploit.

Over/under bets can also apply to individual statistics, such as a player's total rushing yards, passing touchdowns, or rebounds. These are technically player props but use the same over/under format. The proliferation of player prop markets has made over/under betting more popular than ever.