Although potentially profitable, sports betting requires a well-planned strategy and a thorough understanding of betting terminologies to avoid losses. One of these critical concepts is over/under betting, also known as total betting. This article explains the mechanics of over/under bets, different types of such bets, and strategies you can employ.
Defining Total in Sports Betting
Over/Under or Total in sports betting represents a specific number of pre-defined units, like goals, points, or corners, depending on the sport. Bookmakers use the letter ‘T’ (Total), followed by ‘O’ (Over) or ‘U’ (Under) to denote these types of bets. These bets can apply to an entire match or even specific halves or quarters.
Different Kinds of Total Bets
Major bookmakers typically offer three forms of total bets:
- Regular Total.
- Asian Total.
- Three-way Total.
Let’s delve deeper into each type and understand its unique features and appropriate usage.
Regular Total
This is the standard total bet offered across all sporting events and virtually all bookmakers. It’s designated with an integer or a fraction like TO 1.5 or TU 1. If you place a bet on TO 1:
- The bet wins if the team scores two goals.
- You get your bet back (i.e., a draw) if the team scores 1 goal.
- The bet loses if no goals are achieved.
The outcomes are clear-cut with fractional totals—either a win or a loss, with no possibility of a draw.
Asian Total
You are represented as decimals ending with .25 or .75 (like TO 0.75 or TU 1.75); an Asian Total bet splits your bet into two halves. If you bet 1000 rubles on TO 1.75, 500 rubles go on TO 2, and the other 500 go on TO 1.5. It provides safety, as you win from half the amount if the teams score two goals and a total payout if three goals are achieved.
Three-way Total
A less common variant, the three-way total, also known as 3-way, is a bet on an exact total without the possibility of a refund. For instance, if the bet is “Total 2”, the bet wins only if precisely two goals are scored. Any other number of goals results in a loss.
Strategies for Total Betting
Several strategies can be employed for betting on totals, focusing on Over (TO) bets and Under (TU) bets.
Over Bets
Place a bet on TO 2.5 if:
- Over 60% of matches result in more than three goals.
- Bookmakers offer high odds, ideally at least 1.4.
- The away team concedes at least two goals per match on average.
Under Bets
Place a bet on TU 2.5 if:
- The team conceded less than ten goals in the last five games.
- The opposing team has scored less than two goals per game this season.
- Adverse weather conditions are expected during the match.
- The odds for winning teams exceed 2.4.
- The teams’ top scorers will be absent from the game.
Other Betting Strategies
A ” corridor ” strategy involves betting on opposing outcomes with high odds for the same event, which bookmakers usually frown upon due to its almost certain profitability. For instance, if one bookmaker offers high odds on TO 2.5, expecting a low-scoring match, while another offers high odds on TU 3.5, expecting a high-scoring game, betting on both ensures a profit regardless of the match’s outcome.
Avoiding Losses in Betting
To prevent significant losses in betting, you should:
- Stick to a defined strategy.
- Avoid risky bets.
- Only gamble money you can afford to lose, given the inherent risk.
- Manage your betting bankroll responsibly.
These tips and other resources on our website should help you develop effective betting strategies and select the ones that work best for you.