Over/Under odds

Over/under bets are one of the simplest wagers to understand, which is what makes it so easy to get involved with.

Below is our detailed guide explaining everything you need to know about over/under betting, from what this type of bet actually is to things to look out for.

What is over/under betting? 🤔

Over/under betting, also known as O-U betting or totals betting in the USA, means placing a wager on a game based on whether a specific figure or statistic will be higher or lower than a pre-agreed value known as a ‘line’

For instance, if a sportsbook sets the line at 2.5 goals in a football game, bettors can place wagers on whether they think the total score will add up to more or less than that figure. By adding a decimal point to the line the bookmaker avoids a tie, meaning this kind of bet will always end in a win or a loss. In this instance, if the final score of the football game was 1-1, anyone who bet on the total score being under 2.5 goals would have won.

This differs from traditional betting because the wager can be placed on a statistical total (like the total goals scored by both teams in the example above) instead of the match’s direct outcome (which team wins or loses and by how much).

The most common over/under bet is betting on the combined final score of both teams, however, over/under bets can also be placed on things like individual player props or game-specific metrics. 

Here are some examples:

• A basketball player's total points, assists, rebounds, or blocks

• A quarterback's passing yards in American football

• A baseball pitcher's total strikeouts

• The total number of corners or fouls in a football match

• The total number of overs in cricket match

• The total number of games or sets in a tennis match

While the majority of over/under bets are made based on the full duration of a game, it’s possible to make over/under bets on a certain part of a match, like the first half of a basketball game or the first period of a hockey game. You can even place a long term bet such as a team’s total number of wins from the whole season. It’s worth noting that if your bet is for the entirety of a match, overtime will usually count, except when it comes to football. If you get to a knockout game (meaning extra-time and penalties), the bet applies to regulation time only (90 minutes plus injury time).

Where to place over/under bets?

Over/under betting is one of the most widely accessible forms of betting. You can place this kind of bet at any licensed online sportsbook or physical betting shop. Different sportsbooks will have slightly different rules and lines on over/under betting, meaning that it’s essential you make an informed decision about where to place your bet.

To place an over/under bet, pick the sport or league you’d like to wager on and select the ‘over/under’ tab at the sportsbook of your choice. You will see the line set by the sportsbook and the odds for betting over or under that number. Simply tap ‘over’ if you think the score will be higher than the set line or ‘under’ if you believe it will be lower, which will place your selection in the betslip. Lastly, choose how much you’d like to wager.

Popular sportsbooks to place over/under wagers at include bet365, BetMGM, Ladbrokes, Betfred, Paddy Power and Coral. I’ve gone into more detail about what makes these companies a good choice below:

Over/under betting on bet365

Bet365 has one of the largest sports betting selections on the market, which includes specific over/under betting options on things such as goals, corners and cards in specific football matches. This means that bettors can find lines for numerous elements of a single game or for events that might not be available elsewhere. On top of this, bet365 allows you to combine up to 12 different markets into one bet in its bet builder feature, making the over/under bet more exciting for experienced bettors. Football betting at bet365 is more developed than with most other sportsbooks, they tend to give higher lines than anyone else. These can go up to 6.5 or even 7.5.  Bet365 also have many other functions - like live betting for example

>Go to Bet365

Over/under betting on Betfred

Betfred’s market variety is excellent, but what makes it truly stand out are its insight articles. Research is perhaps the most tedious part of placing an over/under bet and these articles give you an easy jumping off point. They offer detailed strategies and tips for placing over/under bets based on team form analysis, weather conditions and defensive records. Betfred has one of the most competitive odds on this type of bet in the entire sports betting market. 

>Go to Betfred

Over/under betting on Unibet

Unibet, like Betfred, is universally recognised for its competitive odds, particularly when it comes to football, giving bettors better potential returns on successful over/under bets. This sportsbook is highly-rated for its live streaming service called Unibet TV. Bettors have the opportunity to monitor real-time action, odds changes and stay updated about player statistics. This enables them to place educated wagers mid-match. You can get a betting bonus as soon you open an accont.

Why make over/under bets? 🤔

These are the biggest advantages and drawbacks when it comes to placing over/under bets. 

The multitude of goal thresholds means that over/under bets cater to every risk profile and can be enjoyed by both novice and veteran bettors, making this bet type a great option. 

Even the most inexperienced punters can effortlessly grasp the process while expert bettors can create accumulator or bet builder bets (which allow them to place numerous over/under bets on different aspects of the same match) to enjoy a more complex and thrilling wager.

Finding out your over/under betting results generally requires waiting until the final whistle, making bettors significantly more invested in the entirety of the event they’re watching. 

However, the success of over/under bets is far less dependent on the match outcome than traditional wagers. The scope for winning an over/under bet is much larger because you don’t have to predict a specific figure. 

For example, if you bet ‘over’ on a 2.5 line for a football game, as long as three goals are scored, it doesn’t matter which team scored them or whether more than three were scored by the end for the bet to land.

While there are several reasons why many individuals are choosing over/under betting instead of traditional wagers, there are downsides to this form of betting - which is not the same for moneyline betting or asian handicap.

The house advantage is generally quite low for this type of bet, which in this instance makes finding consistent over/under winners quite difficult. 

The potential psychological bias must also be acknowledged, wagering with your heart instead of your mind is a sure way to lose. Some bettors tend to have an ‘over’ bias when placing their bets, as high-scoring games are generally more exciting to watch.

Over/under betting strategies 📈

Betting strategies for making over/under wagers include a blend of research, analysis and strategic decision-making. Things like team form, playing styles and match conditions are just a fraction of the factors you should be considering. 

Here’s a list of research-worthy areas include:

• Recent performances from the given teams (goal scoring, conceding patterns)

• Typical team formations and tactical strategies (attacking and defensive capabilities)

• Head-to-head statistics if the teams have faced each other in the past

• Player injuries and suspensions

• Extreme weather conditions (outdoor sports) 

Evaluating inconsistencies between your estimations (by pricing up markets yourself) and the sportsbook’s odds is a valuable method of identifying potential opportunities.

Another beneficial tactic to reduce risk and enhance potential returns is spreading your bets out across a couple different thresholds and matches.

Most importantly, you should never bet recklessly or over-extend your budget. Protecting your funds is crucial, especially when facing unavoidable fluctuations that come with the sportsbetting market.

Common mistakes to avoid with over/under betting ❌

The biggest blunders that bettors tend to make when it comes to over/under betting are insufficient research and misinterpreting data. This generally comes in the form of overreacting to recent trends instead of relying on the long-term data and context to support their decision when placing a wager. 

Other frequent mistakes include chasing losses and emotional decision making. While it can be advantageous to place multiple bets, placing too many and spreading yourself too thin across numerous games can lessen your focus. Making fewer well-researched wagers is a more sustainable approach.

On that note, settling for the first sportsbook you find and not exploring other options means you might end up with  less favourable odds over the long term, which can add up to weighty losses over time. It’s good to keep your eyes peeled on the betting market, as bookmakers will often compete to offer the best pricing. On top of this, things like injury news, recent form and weather reports can also dictate odds in the build-up to the event. 

Over/under betting in different sports

In the UK, you’ll find that football, tennis, rugby and cricket are the clear favourites when it comes to over/under betting. I have compiled sport-specific examples of over/under bets on different sports below:

⚽Football

Football is widely considered to be the most popular sport for over/under bets across the globe. Different over/under bets include:

• Over/under goals (the most popular line is 2.5 goals)

• Over/under cards 

• Over/under corners

• Over/under shots on target

🏀Basketball

The fast paced and high scoring nature of basketball makes it a great option for over/under betting:

• Over/under points (particularly popular when a very favoured team such as the Boston Celtics are playing)

• Over/under individual player points 

• Over/under individual player assists

• Over/under individual player blocks

🥎Tennis

Over/under betting in tennis is not the most popular type of bet to place, but its popularity has been growing steadily as the sport itself has surged in acclaim. You can place over/under bets on things like:

• Over/under games

• Over/under sets

• Over/under aces 

• Over/under double faults  

Conclusion

Over/under betting is a fantastic way to wager. It’s varied, invigorating and accessible while also being easy to understand for people new to sports betting. As long as you gamble responsibly you will have a smashing time regardless of which sport you’d like to bet on.