Over/under betting is also known as totals betting, and it is a type of betting where you predict whether the total number of goals or points will be higher or lower than the value set by the bookmakers.
Here, we'll explore the meaning of over/under in betting, strategies for winning totals bets, and the different types of totals bets in football.
What is the meaning of Over and Under in betting?
Over/Under bets, also called totals bets, is a strategy that refers to betting on whether the total number of accumulated goals or points in a game will exceed the one set by the bookmaker. It is very common in football and basketball.
What's more, you can make a totals bet on a vast number of situations like team totals, a player's home runs, or home/away wins. So instead of betting on your favourite team to win, you can bet on their total goals in the match.
That can be quite favourable, especially in a situation where things started well for your preferred team and suddenly went downhill. You can walk away from the game with a happy pocket whether your team later wins or not.
Such can even serve as a consolation for you. But of course, that can only happen if your over/under bet prediction is correct.
You can bet over/under in a wide range of sports like tennis, soccer, basketball, and rugby. However, bettors use it more for soccer matches like in the EPL, French Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and popular tournaments. Bookmakers like Betano offer these betting options for all punters.
It is especially so for countries like Nigeria where the citizens are crazy about football. What's over under meaning in football? Read all about it below.
How does totals betting work?
Let's take a look at the 2022 World Cup which was won by Lionel Messi's Argentina. The final match against France ended 2-2 in regular time.
Any bettor who carried a bet ticket of over 3.5 would have still gotten a win even though the match ended in a regular time draw. Confused about how a bet of over 2.5 correlates with the number of goals scored? Here's how it works.
What is the meaning of Over /Under 0.5 in betting?
A 0.5 over under odds means you're either banking on the teams to score below 0.5 or saying it'll be over 0.5. That means they're to score 0 goals if it's under and 1 or more goals for the over market.
Perhaps you choose to stake on under 0.5 in a Premier League match. It means you predict the match will end with no goal. If that happens, you win! On the other hand, you'll lose if any goal is scored in that match.
What is the meaning of Over/Under 1.5 in betting?
Over/Under 1.5 in betting means you're predicting whether the total goals will be up to 2 or not. Over 1.5 means you're betting on the game to end with 2 or more goals, while Under 1.5 means you're betting on the match to end with 1 or no goal.
What is the meaning of Over/Under 2.5 in betting?
This is a type of betting where you predict whether the total goals will be up to 3 or not. Over 2.5 means you're betting on the match to end with 3 or more goals, while Under 2.5 means you're betting on the game to end with 2 or fewer goals.
What is the meaning of Over/Under 3.5 in betting?
Over/Under 3.5 means you're predicting whether the match will end with 4 goals or less. Over 3.5 means the match will end with 4 or more goals, while Under 3.5 means you're betting on the game to end with 3 or fewer goals.
What is the meaning of Over/Under 4.5 in betting?
Over/Under 4.5 in betting means you're predicting whether the match will end with 5 goals or less. Over 4.5 means you're predicting that the game will end with 5 goals or more, while Under 4.5 means you're betting on the game to end with 4 or fewer goals.
Home team over/under meaning
The home team over/under betting in football is a bet on the total number of goals you expect the hosts to score in a game or football match.
Let's say I carried a home team over 1.5 bet-ticket, I will win if they score two goals, but if I place an under 1.5 bet on them and the home team scores two goals, then I'll lose.
Away team over/under meaning
This involves placing a bet on the total number of goals the visiting team will score in a football match. An example of Away over/under bet is if there's a match between Chelsea and Liverpool at the Stamford Bridge, and I place a bet on Liverpool to score Over 2.5 goals (3 or more goals) in the match.
How to place Over and Under bets in football
Once you understand the meaning of totals betting, placing an over/under bet is simple. Little wonder, it is a top choice for bettors all over the world. You only need to follow these steps and you're done.
- Open your favourite licensed Nigerian bookmaker app or enter the website on your browser. We highly recommend Bet9ja and BetKing.
- Locate your preferred sport. You can use the search bar to find it faster.
- Tap the over/under option in the game section.
- You'll see different options. Choose the one you want to bet on.
- Click on your bet slip at the bottom of the screen. It could pop up automatically in some cases.
- Click “place bet”. It'll direct you to log in.
- Log in as directed and submit your bet. If you don't have a betting account yet, tap the “sign up” button to create one.
Can you tie in an over/under bet?
Fraction odds are commonly used in totals bets. That's because it sits in the middle of the terms and gives a definite result. There's no in-between. You either win or you lose, unlike if it's a whole number.
However, over/under bets with whole numbers do exist and can occur as the odds fluctuate. An Over/Under bet example is over/under 2. Here, you either:
- Predict the match will grant more than two goals(over); or
- Say it will end with less than two goals(under).
However, they could end up scoring exactly two goals in the match. If that happens, it's a tie with no definite result. Such a situation is called a push bet and the bookmaker will have to refund your stake. Conversely, you lose nothing and you win nothing from it.
How to win Over and Under bet
After understanding Over/Under meaning, many wonder which is better to bet on; over or under? There's no specific answer to this question. Like every other bet in gambling, it is hard to predict the outcome of either.
However, you should consider certain things while deciding your totals bet. For example, statistics record more successful Under bets than Over.
Meanwhile, anything can happen in a game even at the dying minute. As such, all hope is never lost with an over stake. The game could even go to overtime where a goal could happen.
And in case you're wondering- yes, goals scored during an overtime count in an over/under bet unless for certain markets like fourth–quarter and half bets.
Expert tip: Analyse the weather conditions, both teams' style of play, match motivation, and available players before placing your bet.
How much can you win from an over/under bet?
Most bookies attach a vig (or house edge) of -110 on totals bets. Therefore, you'll need to stake 110 for every 100 you hope to win. That means you can get 1 for every 1.10 you wager.
However, note that it is not so for all cases. A sportsbook can sometimes adjust the vig to improve the influx of customers to that bet.
Should you place Over/Under bets?
I highly recommend placing over/under bets because they tend to have highly competitive odds. Additionally, the betting market is always available for almost all football matches including EPL, UCL, and La Liga games. It is also quite easy to successfully predict the outcome of over/under bets if you're very good at analysing games.
Frequently Asked Questions about Over/Under meaning in betting
What is the meaning of Asian Over/Under betting?
Asian Over/Under betting involves predicting whether the combined score of a match will be higher or lower than the number specified by the bookmaker. Unlike traditional Over/Under bets, this variant can be placed on quarter and half goals like over 1.25 goals, and Under 2.75 goals.
How does Over/Under betting work in football?
Over/Under betting in football matches focuses on betting on the total number of goals scored in a match.
What does it mean when the Over/Under is a decimal, like 1.5?
This strategy is used to remove the chances of a tie. Over 1.5 goals means at least 2 goals must be scored, while Under 1.5 means the total number of goals scored in the match must be 1 or less.
Can I bet on the Over/Under for a specific team?
Yes, you can bet on the total number of goals a specific team (home or away) will score in the match. It is also referred to as the home team Over/Under.
