Totals (Over/Under)
4 min read · Free
Betting on the Score, Not the Winner
A totals bet (also called an over/under) ignores which team wins. Instead you bet on whether the combined final score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook.
This makes totals one of the simplest markets to understand: you don't need to evaluate teams against each other, only whether the game will be high-scoring or low-scoring.
How It Works
Example: Chiefs vs. Bills — Total: 47.5
Game ends 28-24: combined score = 52. Over wins.
Game ends 17-13: combined score = 30. Under wins.
How the Line Is Set
The book sets the total based on how many points it expects both offenses to produce. Relevant factors include offensive and defensive efficiency, weather (outdoor games), pace of play, and injury reports.
Lines move as bettors place action. If most money comes in on the Over, the book may raise the total from 47.5 to 48 or 48.5 to balance the action.
Pushes and Half-Point Lines
Half-point totals (47.5, 48.5) eliminate pushes entirely — a final score can't land exactly on 47.5. Full-point totals (48) can push if the combined score lands exactly on the line, in which case stakes are refunded.
For promo qualifying bets, prefer half-point totals to avoid the ambiguity of a push.
Why Totals Are Useful for Matched Betting
Totals markets have three properties that make them useful:
- Balanced pricing. Over and Under are almost always both priced at −110, which simplifies hedge math more than moneylines (where favorite/underdog pricing differs).
- Wide availability.Every major game has a total. You're never stuck waiting for a specific matchup.
- Low qualifying cost. At −110/−110, hedging a $10 qualifying bet on Over at one book and Under at another costs roughly $1 regardless of the final score.
Totals are an excellent market for your first few qualifying bet hedges — clean odds, no push surprise (with half-point lines), and no team loyalty involved.