Totals Betting Explained - What is a Totals Bet?

A totals bet is an over/under wager based on how many points are scored in a game. Along with the moneyline and point spread, totals betting is popular amongst most gamblers. It’s easy to bet on total points in regulation time, and top betting sites offer a Cash Out option that lets you settle wagers early. 

Understanding how these betting strategies work can enhance your overall betting experience, so if you're interested in refining your approach, consider exploring middle betting techniques to take advantage of favorable odds.

How Does Totals Betting Work?

A totals bet is a wager on the number of points, games, or goals scored in a match. The final score is irrelevant in this type of bet: all you’re interested in is the total points from either both teams or players. 
You predict whether the total points or goals will be over or under the point set by the bookmaker. Guess correctly and your bet comes in. 

Here’s a simple example:

888sport lists their price for the Croatia v Hungary game for Over/Under 2.5 goals:

•    Over 2.5 goals: 1/1
•    Under 2.5 goals: 4/5

You can’t have 0.5 goals in a soccer game, but this is how the betting site determines the Over/Under. So, if the match ended 2-0 to Croatia, the total goals would be 2.0, and the Under 2.5 bet would win. If the game ended 2-1 to Croatia, the total goals would be 3.0, so the Over 2.5 bet would win. 

Pre-Match Total Wager

You can bet on total match points before a game has started. This is a classic fixed-odds bet where you must predict the Over/Under before a ball has been kicked. 

In-Play Betting

You can also bet on totals while a game is happening. The betting site will adjust its totals betting odds depending on the current score and gameplay. You can keep making totals bets until the end of the game. 

Using Cash Out

It’s possible to cash out your total parlay or single bets early if the scores are going your way. Imagine you bet Over 60.5 in our Chiefs vs. Dolphins game and the score is 30-20 with 20 minutes to play. 

The bookmaker may offer you an early payout to end your bet there and then. You may want to let the bet ride and see how it plays out. However, the Cash Out option means you can tie up a small profit without seeing if your bet wins. 

How Are Totals Betting Odds Calculated?

Bookmakers use implied probability to determine the most likely total points in a game, depending on that sport. 

For example, they may calculate that an NFL game between the Chiefs and Dolphins has produced an average of 60 points over the past few seasons. They then price the Over/Under totals market at 60.5. 

The online betting sites make it impossible for you to bet both sides (i.e. both Over and Under at the same time) to make a profit. You will always lose by backing both results at once. 

Plus, the bookmaker incorporates a small “vig” into its calculations. If the true odds of Over 60.5 points in our NFL game are +200, the bookmaker would make it around +150. 

Popular Sports for Totals Betting

With the total bet meaning explained, let’s explore a few options across multiple sports. 

NFL Totals Betting

The total points band can be found at all good bookmakers alongside the moneyline and spread odds. You can bet on the O/U for both team total points in a game, plus team and player props, including:

•    Total Team Points (Over/Under)
•    Total Player Points (Over/Under)
•    Total Points 1st/2nd/3rd/4th Quarters (Over/Under)
•    Total Passing Yards O/U
•    Total Rushing Yards O/U
•    Total Touchdowns O/U

Basketball Totals Bet

Basketball totals betting is a little trickier, given the high aggregate scores in many games. It’s not uncommon to see O/U markets set around 165.5. In addition, you can bet on individual player total points and totals per half. 

Some online bookmakers, such as 888, also let you choose your O/U point. Use the slider to determine the O/U point and bet either way. 

Soccer Total Goals

Totals betting has come a long way in soccer. In the old days, you’d be restricted to Over/Under 2.5 goals. Now, you can You’d be restricted to Over/Under 2.5 goals in the old days. Now, you can bet O/U 1.5 goals, or bet on totals markets including: 

•    1st Half Total Goals
•    2nd Half Total Goals
•    Team Total Goals Over/Under
•    Total Corners Over/Under
•    Booking Points O/U (Yellow/Red cards)
•    Total Passes
•    Total Shots on Target

Tennis Total Games

What is a totals bet in tennis? You can find odds on Total Games Over/Under, but most good betting sites provide player props totals too, including: 

•    Total Player Games (each player)
•    Total Aces
•    Total Sets

Hockey