What Total (Over/Under) means
A total bet is a wager on the combined final score of both teams, entirely independent of who wins the game. If the total is set at 47.5 points, an Over bettor wins if the combined score is 48 or higher; an Under bettor wins if it's 47 or lower. Totals are driven by a completely different set of handicapping factors than spreads - pace of play, weather, injuries to key offensive or defensive players, and each team's specific playing style all weigh more heavily on totals than on point-spread outcomes.
Key points
- A total bet is a wager on the combined final score of both teams, entirely independent of who wins the game.
- If the total is set at 47.5 points, an Over bettor wins if the combined score is 48 or higher; an Under bettor wins if it's 47 or lower.
- Totals are driven by a completely different set of handicapping factors than spreads - pace of play, weather, injuries to key offensive or defensive players, and each team's specific playing style all weigh more heavily on totals than on point-spread outcomes.
Example and context
In practice
If the total is set at 47.5 points, an Over bettor wins if the combined score is 48 or higher; an Under bettor wins if it's 47 or lower.
Related glossary terms
These terms sit in the same part of the betting vocabulary and are useful to read next.
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