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The over-under sports betting market is a popular betting option for punters looking to steer away from the match winner market. Instead of betting on which side will win a game, you predict whether a match will reach a certain threshold in the total points. For instance, you can predict whether a football match will result in over or under 2.5 goals. As such, you can cheer on any side since your bet is independent of the match winner market.
So, what’s the over/under market, and what’s its betting value? This total betting guide will help you understand this sports betting market and how it works.
What’s the over/under betting market?
Also called the totals market, over/under betting involves predicting whether the number of points or goals scored in a match will exceed a certain threshold set by the bookmaker. Instead of predicting which side will win a match, you bet on whether the total points will be higher or lower than a particular point. Leading sports betting sites like Betway allow you to bet on the over/under market at half-time or full-time.
For instance, soccer matches at Betway feature various over/under markets, ranging from 1.5 goals to 5.5 goals or more. That means if you place a bet on the over 1.5 goals market on an EPL match, you are predicting the game will feature at least two goals. The over/under markets are also available for other point-based sports like tennis, rugby, basketball, cricket, and others.
Understanding over/under (totals) betting
The odds on the total betting markets are set depending on the player statistics, their gaming strategies, past results, weather, and other factors that affect point production. For instance, teams that are popular for their scoring prowess might feature short odds on the overs market and strong odds on the unders market.
Skilled sports bettors also use the totals market to boost the odds when one side is heavily favored to win a match that is not worth betting on them. For example, in a game featuring a table leader like Liverpool against a mid-table team like Fulham, the moneyline odds on the favorite might be too short. That makes the overs/unders market worth betting when looking to boost the odds of a particular game or mitigate your risk.
How to Bet on the Over/Under (totals) Line
Betting on the totals market is a straightforward process similar to predicting which side will win. However, you need to understand the factors that might affect points or goal production in a particular game.
Here are a few points worth remembering when betting on the over/under market:
1. Research the teams playing
To accurately predict the number of expected goals in a match, you need to carefully research the player stats, weather conditions, recent performance, and coaching strategies. These factors influence goal production in different ways, and they can help you make more accurate betting choices. For instance, some football teams play defensively during rainy weather, and that might result in low goals.
2. Check the totals line
The over/under line set by the oddsmaker shows the expected combined score for both sides in a given event. Analyze the line given and determine whether the results will be above or under the set number.
3. Consider the matchup
Check whether the teams are evenly matched or whether one team is a heavy favorite. Top-ranking teams with attacking prowess might record more goals over defensive teams.
