Over/Under Betting – An In-Depth Guide

The Basics of Over Under Betting

New to over/under betting? This market offers an incredible amount of depth. Rather than betting on the result or outcome of a sporting event, you’re betting on a particular event occurring a certain number of times. 

Take football, for example — the bookmaker will set a ‘goal line’ and you can bet whether the combined number of goals scored by both teams during the match will be above or below this line. Say the goal line is set at 2.5 and you bet on over. If the final score is 2–1, that’s 3 goals in total and your bet wins. 

But the number of goals or points is just the start. You’ll find a huge range of over/under markets at the best bookies, whether it’s the number of aces in a tennis match or the number of kills in a League of Legends map. Further down the page, we’ll run you through some of the top totals to bet on across a range of sports.

How Over Under Betting Odds Work

When it comes to over/under betting odds, they look just like any other type of market. Take a game of basketball for example — Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers. The sportsbook has set the point line at 237.5, so you might see the following markets:

• O 237.5, 11/10
• U 237.5, 11/10

In this instance, both outcomes have odds of 11/10. The numerator, or left number, represents the amount you stand to win from a stake equal to the denominator, the right number. So a winning £10 bet on either outcome would yield £11 in profit, plus your original stake for a total return of £21. 

Some bookies represent odds in a decimal format. For odds of 11/10, that would look like 2.10. To calculate the total return (stake plus profit) on a winning bet, simply multiply the decimal odds by your stake: 2.10 x £10 = £21. 

Popular Sports for Over Under Betting

Totals are available on a huge range of events, with markets tailored to the minutiae of each specific sport. Take a look at some of the options below.

Football

You’ll find the most over/under options in the football betting category, with simple markets like goal line at full or half time, stats like corners and cards, or individual player props like shots on target, fouls, and tackles. 

Basketball

Point line is a hugely popular totals market in basketball. You can also break things down by team and quarter or half. Some bookies get really specific on leagues like the NBA, letting you bet on stats like assists, blocks, steals, rebounds, and three-pointers.

Tennis

Match or player total games are the most popular over/under bets in tennis. You can also bet on the total games in a specific set, and match statistics like number of aces, double faults, breaks of serve, and tie breaks. 

American Football

As with other sports from across the pond, American football presents some fantastic opportunities for over/under betting. Point total is the easiest place to start. But if you really want to get into the weeds, there are loads of player totals to explore. Passing or rushing yards, longest reception, total kicking points, defensive interceptions — it’s heaven if you’re a stickler for the stats. 

Esports

The sometimes weird and wacky world of esports presents some intriguing over/under betting markets. League of Legends, for example, allows you to bet on total kills, towers, dragons, barons, or inhibitors. Or take Valorant, where you can bet on total maps and rounds, or player stats like kills and deaths. A strong knowledge of the esport you’re betting on certainly comes in handy here!

UFC and Boxing

Total rounds won by a fighter is the most prominent over/under market offered at online bookies when it comes to UFC and boxing betting. There may be player totals available, like the number of strikes landed. You can sometimes bet across the entire fight card too, including things like number of KOs or submissions on the night.

Getting Started with Over Under Betting

Betting on totals is easy — just follow these simple steps.

Over Under Betting Promotions

Once you sign up at one of our recommended bookies, you’ll be able to take advantage of a welcome offer. And once that’s dried up, plenty of sites keep things rolling with ongoing promos for existing bettors. Here’s a quick preview of what you can claim.

Placing In-Play Over Under Bets

In-play or live betting is an exciting feature offered at most sportsbooks. Here, you can place wagers once an event has already begun. If you’re not sure whether to back over or under, sometimes it’s worth waiting for things to get underway. Then, you can get a sense of how the teams are playing and make a more informed choice.

Of course, the odds will change as the match develops. So if you were planning to bet over on the goal line and players start scoring left, right, and centre, the updated price may not be worth it. As such, there’s always an element of timing to in-play betting if you’re looking for the best value. 

Responsible Gambling

With any form of gambling, you’re putting your money at risk. While winning can be thrilling, the activity can quickly become addictive. Before you get started with over/under betting, be sure to set a strict budget in accordance with what you can afford and are comfortable losing. 

Need some more tips? Check out our responsible gambling guide, full of expert advice. You can also find plenty of support over at GamCare or BeGambleAware.org — if gambling is affecting you negatively, these sites are excellent places to get help.

Compare Over Under Betting Sites and Sign Up

Now you’re clued up on how to bet on totals, you’re ready to get started. Here at Compare.bet, our experts have selected the finest bookies around to make your search easy. Explore our full range of betting sites for yourself and click through to our detailed reviews if you need more information. Then, follow our link to sign up and claim your welcome bonus.