A totals bet is one of the most common types of wagers in the sports betting sector. They cover points, rebounds, assists, passes, yards and any other type of statistic that a player or team can rack up during the course of a game. Specifically, totals bets focus on the over/under of these stats.
Totals Betting Explained
Totals betting is a form of over/under betting where wagers are placed on the total points by a player or team during a game. Along with moneyline and spread betting, total bets are one of the most popular wagering choices at sportsbooks.
Understanding Totals Betting Odds
Similar to prop bets, totals bets are usually extremely close calls with any given outcome being able to occur. This means that over/unders usually have odds of -110 in order for a sportsbook to turn a profit on these wagers.
Of course, the further a bet strays from the lines set out by a sportsbook the more favorable the odds will be. For example, if the over/under line for total points was -110 for over 200.5, placing an over bet on there being 220.5 points would see the odds significantly improve as it is unexpected to happen.
Different Types of Totals Bets
There are technically only two types of totals bets that you can wager on, no matter what event you are betting on taking place.
The Over
Over bets are when users wager on there being more points by a player team or in a game than the number listed by a sportsbook.
Example – The Miami Heat have odds of -110 to score over 103.5 points in their upcoming game against the Boston Celtics.
The Under
Under bets are when users wager on there being less points by a player, team or in a game than the number listed by a sportsbook.
Example – The Boston Celtics have odds of +130 to score under 109.5 points in their upcoming game against the Miami Heat.
How to Place a Totals Bet
In order to place a totals bet, you will need to have a sportsbook account. We’ve laid out a brief guide on how exactly to do this in a few simple steps.
Get a Sportsbook Account
If you’re in DC, Maryland or Virginia you can access some of the greatest sports betting sites and apps in the entire country and claim up to $2,250 in bonus bets when you sign up.
Welcome Bonus
Up To $1,000 In Bonus Bets
Bonus Expiry
7 days
Welcome Bonus
Up To $1,250 In Bet Credits
Bonus Expiry
14 days
Find a Totals Bet
Once you have a sportsbook account, find a game you want to wager on and then go to the totals bets that are available for the game. In this example we can see a huge range of options for an upcoming NBA game.
Place a Totals Bet
After browsing through the different totals bets, select at least one and add it to your betslip. You will then be able to input how much money you want to wager on the bet. In this example we can see that the under bet for the Celtics to score less than 100.5 has odds of +240. This means that a total payout of $340 with a profit of $240 is up for grabs if it wins.
Helpful Resources For DC, Maryland & Virginia
Which Sports Use Totals Betting?
The majority of sports that can be bet on have some type of totals betting available on their games. Here are the four biggest leagues in the country and whether or not you can place over/under bets on them.
NFL – You can place over/under bets on football games. The NFL is by far the most watched sports league in the country so it’s only right that sports betting fans can access totals bets on these games. When the season returns in September you can place totals bets on all of the action.
NBA – The finals are just around the corner, meaning there’s no better time to wager on NBA games! The high scoring nature makes totals bets a truly exciting prospect as it’s always so incredibly close.
NHL – The Stanley Cup finals are here and you can bet on the total points by both players and teams. Additionally you will be able to wager on the total game points. Ice hockey is relatively low scoring compared to other sports, making the odds very tight for these types of bets.
MLB – You will be able to bet on the total home runs, strikeouts and many other statistics throughout the course of the extremely long baseball season. This is great news for both betting fans and MLB fans across the country.
Totals Betting FAQs
A totals bet is a form of over/under betting where wagers are placed on the total points by a player or team during a game.
Unless you wager far from the line set out by sportsbooks, traditionally totals bets don’t offer particularly great odds.
Yes, usually totals bets are covered by games that go to overtime.
Sportsbooks set the points on over/under bets to end in a .5 in order to make sure that a totals bet will always either win or lose.
Other Sportsbook Bets
Find out more information about the range of different bets you can place at sportsbooks in our sports betting guide.
Moneyline Betting Guide
Learn more about moneyline betting in our helpful guide.
Spread Betting Guide
Get a better understanding of spread betting here.
