How to bet totals
If you are going to get into the sports betting industry then you are going to find that there are many betting options available to you. One of the most popular options is what is called a total bet.
You will also hear this bet referred to as an "over/under" bet, and it is quite different from some of the other popular betting options. With a total bet, you don't have to pick the winning team at all.
This guide walks you through what a totals bet looks like and gives you some tips to use when making your next totals bet. A total bet is a great bet for someone just starting in the industry, but it is also a bet that is popular with experienced bettors.
What is a totals bet?
A totals bet, or an over/under, is a bet that focuses on the total number of points or runs scored in a particular game. There are several different variations of a totals bet, but for this article we will only be looking at a totals bet in the simplest form.
The reason that some people in the sports betting industry call it an over/under is that those are your two options when making a total bet. You can either bet "over" or "under" the line that has been set by the oddsmaker or sportsbook.
You always want to remember that this is a bet on the total number of points scored, and you get that total by adding up the totals from each team. You can and will see some movement of the betting lines with a totals bet, especially in the moments leading up to a game.
This is also a bet that can sometimes result in a "push," but most of the odds you see will use a .5 so that this result doesn't occur. You will also find that the over/under betting lines are usually extremely close to what the final score ends up being.
Don't worry about winner
This has already been mentioned before, but it bears repeating. With a totals bet, you do not have to worry about the winning and losing team at all.
This is why a total bet is a good option for beginners as it takes some of the pressure off when making the bet. You will still have to make the proper bet in terms of how many points or scored, but you won't be burned if there is a shocking upset.
Example of a totals bet
Now that you have a better understanding of what a total bet is, it is time to further explain that by looking at an example. For this specific example we will use a basketball game between Eastern Carolina and Davidson College.
When you first see the totals betting lines listed, it will look something like this:
Eastern Carolina vs. Davidson College
Over 145.5 | (-110)
Under 145.5 | (-110)
You will notice for this particular example that the odds are set at -110 for both sides of this wager. This is typical for most totals bets, but those odds could be slightly different depending on the matchup.
This also means that the oddsmakers believe that the two teams will combine to score right around 145 points. It doesn't matter which team scores the most points and wins the game as you are only focusing on the final number.
If Eastern Carolina and Davidson combine for 146 points or more than the "Over" is the right pick. If these teams score 145 points or less then betting on the "under" would be the right play.
Pros of totals betting
- Don't have to worry about picking a winner
- Popular betting type with a number of sports
- Odds are usually the same for both sides
Cons of totals betting
- Number of unexpected factors can ruin bet
- Won't be getting any big payouts
- Bet could be decided in last second of a game
Tips for how to bet totals
Betting totals is a solid betting option for beginners, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is an easy bet to make. Here are a few tips on how to bet totals, and the hope is that you will be more successful by giving these tips a try.
Look at recent trends
You have to do some research if you are going to bet totals, and most of that research should be looking at recent scoring trends from each team. Trends can always be changed, but this should at least give you a pretty good idea of how teams have been performing lately.
There are always going to be some teams that score points or runs really well, while others tend to struggle offensively. You need to have a good idea of how both teams score in a given matchup if you are going to be successful betting totals.
Check the weather
If you are betting on a sport that is played outdoors then one of the first things that you need to do is check the weather. Weather can not only affect the overall outcome of a game, but it can have a big impact on the total number of runs, points, or goals as well.
The problem with weather is that it is constantly changing, and that could make planning for this extremely difficult. It is best to wait as long as possible before making a total bet on any game that could be affected by adverse weather conditions.
Which team has the edge?
Even though you don't have to pick the winner when betting totals, you can still look at the overall matchup to help when betting totals. It is much easier to make an over/under bet if you have a good understanding of how a game will be played out.
Close games can also affect the total in a number of ways, and blowouts can do the same thing. Look at the team that you think will be in control of the matchup, and then try to decide how the game will go from there.
